SB 881 increases annual funding for crime victim services by $17.1 million for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, directed to the Department of Justice. This appropriation supports statewide victim services programs, including counseling, legal advocacy, and emergency assistance for crime victims. The bill also allocates $4.0 million to convert 17 existing FED (funded employee) positions to GPR (general purpose revenue) positions within the Department. These changes directly affect crime victim service providers and the Department of Justice’s capacity to deliver support.
AB 815 creates a "blue envelope" program to improve communication between law enforcement and individuals with invisible disabilities during traffic stops. The program provides free blue envelopes containing vehicle registration/insurance copies, safety information for recipients, and interaction guidelines for officers. Eligible individuals (including those covered by the ADA or needing accommodations) can request an envelope by declaring their disability on a form. The state will fund this initiative through general fund appropriations and develop training materials for law enforcement under the program.
AB 952 requires anyone living in a household with a person prohibited from possessing firearms (such as someone with certain felony convictions or domestic violence orders) to securely store their own firearms - either in a locked container, a locked location a reasonable person would consider secure, or with a trigger lock engaged. This law directly affects residents in households where one member has a legal restriction on firearm possession. Violating this storage requirement results in penalties: a first offense is a Class A misdemeanor, and repeat violations are classified as Class I felonies. The bill aims to prevent accidental or unauthorized access to firearms in homes where one resident cannot legally own them.
This bill requires courts to automatically seal personal details (like names or photos) of child victims and witnesses in human trafficking cases. It prohibits public disclosure of this information unless a court holds a hearing considering the child's safety and decides disclosure serves justice. Courts must also provide necessary support services - such as private testimony rooms or emotional support - to protect the child's well-being during proceedings. These changes directly protect children involved in trafficking cases from potential harm while ensuring fair legal processes.
SB 894 creates a new grant program to fund crime victim protective services, directly benefiting crime victims and the agencies serving them. It allocates $2.57 million biennially (starting 2025-26) from the Justice Department budget to provide grants to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors. These grants will cover services like temporary housing for victims of crime. The bill also authorizes one new full-time position at the Justice Department to administer the program.
AB 727 requires state prison leaders and county jail officials to provide inmates with 3 hours of outdoor access weekly, starting after specific waiting periods. For state prisons, this applies to most inmates after 91 days (except those in certain facilities under Section 302.01(1)(i)), while county jails must provide access after 31 days. Exceptions include inmates in lockdowns or solitary confinement. The law takes effect for the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility on January 1, 2028, with broader implementation following. This policy directly affects incarcerated individuals in state and county correctional facilities across the state.
SB 713 requires state correctional facilities and county jails to provide immediate access (within 24 hours) to certain oversight personnel for facility tours. It directly affects legislators on committees related to corrections and county employees responsible for overseeing county jails, granting them access to residential areas, cells, meal spaces, and prisoner discussions. Key provisions include a limit of 12 facility tours per year per person and restrictions on visits between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., with access required during daylight hours instead. The bill does not change prison operations but establishes a structured process for oversight access.
SB 725 requires state correctional facilities and county jails to provide inmates with at least two in-person visiting periods per week, with exceptions during lockdowns or solitary confinement (up to 10 days). The bill mandates that inmates may physically embrace visitors for 20 seconds at the start and end of each visit, and facilities must provide paper, pens, and art supplies upon request, allowing inmates to keep original visitor-made artwork. It directly affects all inmates in state prisons and county jails, as well as correctional staff (state department or sheriff’s office) responsible for implementing these visiting rules. The law also establishes a formal process for inmates or visitors to appeal unauthorized removal from a visitor registry.
SB 708 requires state prisons, juvenile correctional facilities, and county jails to provide inmates and juveniles with free telecommunications access, including at least 180 minutes of weekly phone calls, 60 minutes of video calls, and 100 text messages. It creates new funding lines ($4.46 million for adult facilities, $517,500 for juvenile facilities in 2025-26) to cover these services and mandates centralized contracting to reduce costs. Counties must either join the state’s contracted telecom provider or submit detailed reports and cost data to the legislature. The bill prohibits charging inmates for basic service access and ensures facilities maintain existing service levels while allowing additional access if possible.
SB 724 requires state correctional facilities and county jails to provide inmates with minimum weekly hours of recreational activities and structured programming, based on staffing levels. For state facilities, inmates must get at least 35 hours weekly (5 hours daily) if staffing is ≥80% (including 7 hours recreation and 14 hours structured programming), or 21 hours if staffing is lower. County jails must provide 10 hours weekly starting day 31 of confinement, increasing to 35 or 21 hours after day 90 based on staffing. The law prioritizes academic, vocational, reentry planning, and wellness programs, with exceptions for lockdowns (max 10 days). It directly affects all inmates in state prisons and county detention facilities.
