Technology

AB 673 bans medical and research facilities receiving state or federal funds from using genetic software or sequencers developed by foreign adversaries (as defined by federal regulations). It also prohibits storing human genome data of state residents in foreign adversary countries, with exceptions for certain clinical trials. The law applies to facilities, companies, and nonprofits handling genetic data, requiring them to keep such data inaccessible to foreign adversaries. Violations carry a $10,000 penalty per offense, enforced by the state Attorney General.

Senate Bill 241 creates special provisions for "data center districts" within tax incremental financing (TIF) districts. It exempts a TIF district from a standard 12 percent limit requirement if all its project costs are dedicated to a qualified data center located within its boundaries. This aims to streamline the creation or amendment of TIF districts specifically for data center development. However, districts receiving this exemption cannot later amend their project plans to include costs unrelated to the data center, and their value increment will not count towards the 12 percent limit calculation for other TIF districts.

SB 325 establishes a three-year pilot program to test virtual reality (VR) technology in public school math and science education for grades 6-12. The bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to select one rural, one suburban, and one urban school district (based on student enrollment thresholds) to participate, with the VR program needing to meet specific criteria like alignment with state academic standards and proven effectiveness in improving Algebra 1 outcomes via third-party research. The program must serve at least 16,000 students across participating districts and provide 3,200 VR headsets, while also offering teacher training on using the technology for classroom instruction. The Department must report monthly to legislative education committees on the program’s progress. This pilot directly affects participating school districts, their middle and high school math teachers, and students in grades 6-12.

AB 497 requires charter schools and private schools participating in state school choice programs to follow public records and open meeting laws, but explicitly excludes student records from public access. The bill amends statutes to define these schools as "authorities" under public records law (Section 1), while adding a specific provision (Section 2) that states pupil records at these schools cannot be inspected or copied by the public. Key mechanisms include mandating compliance with Chapter 19 (Sections 4-6) for open meetings and records, but preserving privacy for student data. This directly affects families, parents, and community members seeking access to student information at participating schools. The bill does not change access to other school records or operational details.

SB 490 amends Wisconsin's prevailing wage laws to establish a statewide standard for construction projects funded by public entities. It creates new privacy protections (Section 1), prohibiting authorities from sharing employee names or personally identifiable information without consent on projects subject to prevailing wage rules. The bill also defines key terms like "prevailing wage rate" (Section 6), clarifies that local governments cannot impose stricter wage requirements than the state standard (Section 8), and specifies which projects qualify for prevailing wage coverage (Sections 2-9). These changes directly affect contractors bidding on public works projects and local governments administering construction contracts.

AB 576 limits most uses of automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), allowing them only for parking enforcement, secured private areas with restricted access, or weigh stations. It requires law enforcement to obtain a warrant before accessing ALPR or private security camera data, with exceptions only during emergencies involving immediate danger. The bill also restricts data retention to 90 days and imposes fines up to $10,000 for violations of these rules.