SJR 88 is a symbolic resolution honoring Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, following his assassination. It expresses the Wisconsin Legislature's gratitude for his dedication to "faith, liberty, and truth," his work inspiring young Americans, and his commitment to family. The resolution commends his legacy as a "beacon of conviction and courage" and joins in prayer for his family and the nation. As a commemorative measure, it has no binding policy changes or direct impact on constituents.
AB 561 allows school buses to install and monitor cameras to record vehicles illegally passing them, and permits school bus operators or third-party vendors to submit photo or video evidence of these violations to local traffic authorities. Traffic officers can then issue citations based on this evidence, imposing fines of $30 to $500 on the vehicle owner. The bill specifies that these fines do not result in license suspension or demerit points. This law directly affects drivers who illegally pass school buses and the school bus operators or vendors reporting violations.
AB 451 creates new rules for "residential tax incremental districts" (RTIDs) in cities, limiting these districts to 3% of a city's total taxable property value (down from a 12% cap for other districts). It requires RTIDs to fund only infrastructure for residential developments meeting strict size limits: single-family homes under 7,500 sq ft lots, two-family homes under 15,000 sq ft lots, and strict setbacks/sizes for homes (e.g., max 1,500 sq ft for single-story). Project costs are restricted to district-wide infrastructure (like stormwater systems), not individual lots, and must be paid from tax increments or developer financing. The bill directly affects cities creating RTIDs and developers building qualifying residential projects.
This bill updates eligibility criteria for highways seeking agricultural road improvement grants. It adds a new requirement that an engineering analysis by a licensed professional must confirm a highway cannot safely handle heavy agricultural traffic. Previously, eligibility was based on structural deficiencies or posted weight restrictions. The change directly affects farmers and rural communities relying on specific highways for transporting equipment and crops.
AB 486 limits how Wisconsin public colleges and technical schools can reduce their own gift aid (like institutional scholarships) when students receive small private scholarships ($5,000 or less from Wisconsin-based groups). Schools must first attempt to adjust loans or work-study before cutting gift aid, and must inform students they can request a cost-of-attendance reassessment. This applies to all public universities and technical colleges in Wisconsin, ensuring students aren’t automatically penalized for external scholarships while preventing aid from exceeding financial need.
AB 455 establishes a grant program to reimburse owners of multifamily housing for costs incurred when converting properties to condominiums. The program covers specific expenses like attorney fees, permitting costs, and other project-related fees. Grants are limited to $50,000 per property and a total of $10 million from the existing Main Street Housing Rehabilitation Fund. The bill requires detailed reporting on each grant awarded, including recipient information, project descriptions, and location. This directly affects multifamily housing owners seeking to convert their properties to condominiums.
AB 411 would establish a "farmland link program" to connect agricultural producers with resources like land access, technical assistance, and market opportunities. The program would be administered by the Department of Agriculture, potentially using state funds identified in the fiscal estimate. This bill directly affects farmers and agricultural producers seeking support for land use and business development, with a public hearing held to gather input on its design. The proposal is still in committee review after its August 2025 introduction.
AB 31 gives farmers and businesses who buy or lease new farm equipment clear rights when warranty issues can't be fixed. If a farm implement has a warranty problem that remains unresolved after four repair attempts or 30 total days out of service, the buyer or lessee can choose a replacement machine or a full refund. The bill requires manufacturers to cover related costs like alternative equipment rentals during repairs. This applies to new equipment purchased from authorized dealers or leased under written agreements, directly affecting agricultural equipment consumers.
SJR 70 is a ceremonial resolution designating June 12, 2025, as "Women Veterans Day" in Wisconsin. It directly recognizes Wisconsin's over 29,000 women veterans, who currently make up about 10% of the state's veteran population. The resolution commemorates the anniversary of President Truman signing the Women's Armed Services Integration Act (June 12, 1948) and acknowledges women veterans' service and unique challenges like higher rates of PTSD and unemployment. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new programs or alter existing laws - it simply urges the state legislature to formally honor women veterans on this date.
AB 393 modifies restrictions on school bus drivers over 70 years old and those with certain medical conditions, allowing them to operate school buses under new medical review requirements. The bill requires school districts to implement a standardized medical evaluation process for qualifying drivers. This directly affects school bus drivers in these categories and their employers. The legislation is currently in the Assembly Transportation Committee after recent amendments.
SB 287 requires state agencies, local governments, and contractors working with government to verify employees' work eligibility through the federal E-Verify program before hiring. It prohibits contracts with employers not enrolled in E-Verify or knowingly employing individuals flagged as ineligible by the program. The bill mandates written verification statements in all contracts and allows termination of violating agreements. This applies to all state procurement, construction contracts, and local government hiring starting from the effective date, with an exception if the federal E-Verify program ends.
SB 522 requires courts to appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) for a minor child in family court cases where a nonparent (like a grandparent) petitions for reasonable visitation rights under Section 767.43. The bill mandates a GAL appointment if the nonparent petitioner presents a basic legal case supporting visitation. This applies specifically to cases seeking visitation rights, not custody or other family matters. The law directly affects minors involved in such visitation disputes and ensures courts consider the child's perspective through a dedicated representative.
