Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin

Maddy summarySB 790 raises the monetary threshold for certain small claims court cases from $5,000 to $10,000. It specifically applies to third-party complaints, personal injury claims, and tort actions filed in small claims court. This change means more cases involving these claim types will qualify for the simplified small claims process instead of moving to higher-value civil court. The bill affects individuals and businesses filing such claims under the new $10,000 limit, directly changing which court handles these cases. It becomes effective for actions filed on its effective date.

Maddy summarySB 696 amends Wisconsin's rules for tax incremental districts (TIDs), which local governments use to finance development projects through future property tax revenues. It reduces a 12% tax levy limit to 5% for the town of Cable, adds park development costs to eligible project expenses, and adjusts how property value increases are calculated after TID termination. These changes directly affect cities and towns operating TIDs by altering how they determine tax levy limits and what projects qualify for TID financing. The bill simplifies calculations for property value increments and ensures consistent application of levy limits across districts.

Maddy summarySB 694 establishes a Shared Revenue Advisory Council to study and recommend improvements to how state aid is distributed to counties and municipalities. The council, composed of legislative leaders, municipal/town/county association representatives, and the revenue secretary, will analyze population, property value, and revenue data to evaluate current aid formulas. It requires the council to recommend a new distribution formula for 2027 and beyond that maintains or increases aid for all jurisdictions, while accounting for population changes and property value declines. The bill also sets a baseline funding level of $16,257,500 for supplemental aid in fiscal year 2026-27, with annual adjustments based on tax revenue changes.

Maddy summarySB 789 creates a new grant program providing up to $5 million annually for nonprofit religious organizations to improve security. It directly affects religious groups facing or at risk of bias-motivated attacks, prioritizing those targeted due to their religion. Grants cover physical security upgrades (like fencing or surveillance), staff training, or emergency planning, with a $500,000 limit per organization or $500,000 per member for umbrella groups. The program is funded through a new appropriation in the state budget and administered by the Department of Military Affairs.

Maddy summarySB 770 establishes two new grant programs: a $200,000 annual Farm to Fork grant for businesses, hospitals, and other non-school entities to connect local farms with cafeterias, and a $250,000 annual Farm to School grant for school districts. The Farm to School grants prioritize proposals from high-poverty school districts (where many students qualify for free/reduced meals) and support initiatives like expanding local food procurement, facility upgrades, and nutrition education. Both programs require the Agriculture Department to award grants with preferences for innovative models, value-added agricultural products (like processed local foods), and projects improving farm access to markets. The bill also adds administrative funding for the department to manage these programs.

Maddy summarySB 775 creates a state program reimbursing corn farmers for nonlethal seed coating costs to prevent sandhill crane damage. Eligible farmers (with at least $6,000 in annual farm revenue) can receive up to 50% of seed coating costs, capped at $6,250 per season. The program prioritizes farmers with federal crane permits, prior reimbursement recipients, or land identified as high-risk for crane damage. It is funded by a new $1.875 million annual appropriation for the Department of Agriculture.

Maddy summarySB 762 creates a state grant program to fund testing and mapping of privately owned wells to assess groundwater quality and contamination. It provides up to $10,000 per grant to counties, cities, villages, or towns for well testing and geologic studies, and up to $10,000 to health departments for public education on well testing. The bill requires grant recipients to submit anonymized testing results to the Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, while directing municipalities to inform residents about well testing importance. The program is funded with $2.5 million annually from the environmental fund, with rule-making authority granted to the Department of Natural Resources.

Maddy summarySB 711 requires health insurance plans (including preferred provider plans and self-insured government plans) to cover emergency ambulance services provided by non-participating ambulance providers at specific rates. It mandates payment at the lowest of: (1) a mutually agreed rate, (2) a local government-set rate, or (3) 350% of the Medicare rate for the same area. The bill also requires insurers to pay ambulance providers directly within 30 days for clean claims, prohibits billing patients for extra costs beyond standard copays/deductibles, and excludes air ambulance services from coverage. This directly affects health insurance plans, ambulance providers, and patients receiving emergency ambulance care.

Maddy summarySB 740 would create an online hub for Wisconsin small businesses, managed by the state department, to centralize key information. The clearinghouse must include details on government contract bidding opportunities, economic development programs, business training events, licensing requirements, and tax/fee obligations. It requires coordination with state agencies (like economic development and revenue departments), local governments, and economic organizations to compile and publish this information. The bill directly affects Wisconsin small businesses seeking to navigate state regulations, contracts, and support programs. The online resource aims to simplify access to state-level business support information.

Maddy summarySB 67 creates a state reimbursement program for schools providing universal free meals to all students. It directly affects public schools, charter schools, private schools, tribal schools, and residential care centers participating in federal meal programs. The bill establishes a 15-cent-per-breakfast reimbursement rate from state funds (using existing appropriations) for schools meeting federal meal requirements, while matching federal reimbursement rates for lunches. It repeals the previous school meal reimbursement statute (115.341) and requires schools to serve free meals to all students without cost during school days. Payments begin for meals served in the 2025-26 school year, with reimbursements calculated based on federal rates and prorated by meal counts.