Rep. Christine Sinicki

Maddy summaryAB 500 bans corporal punishment in all public and private schools, defining it as intentional physical pain used for discipline (e.g., paddling or slapping). The bill prohibits school staff from using such punishment on students but allows reasonable force for safety under new school policies. Schools must adopt policies clarifying when force is permitted, excluding individualized education programs and athletic training. This directly affects all public and private schools and their staff in the state.

Maddy summaryAB 1012 establishes a family and medical leave insurance program that would allow eligible workers to take up to 14 weeks of leave per year to care for a newborn, newly adopted child, or family member with a serious health condition, or to address certain family military needs. The bill would require employers with 50 or more employees to provide this leave, funded through a new family and medical leave insurance trust fund. It defines "family member" broadly to include spouses, domestic partners, parents, children, siblings, and other close relatives or people in close association with the employee. The legislation also sets specific limits on leave availability, including a maximum of 6 weeks for certain family situations and 8-14 weeks for combined reasons within a 12-month period.

Maddy summaryAJR 126 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late Representative Rudolph L. "Rudy" Silbaugh (1930-2025), who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1991 to 1997. The resolution formally recognizes his 25 years of public service - including his work as a Stoughton alderman, his legislative committee roles, and his advocacy for seniors - and extends condolences to his family. It contains no policy changes or funding provisions, as it is solely a commemorative gesture by the Wisconsin Legislature. This procedural resolution directly affects no constituents or policies, serving only to memorialize Representative Silbaugh's legacy.

Maddy summaryAJR 11 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late Wisconsin State Assembly Representative Jim Soletski (2006-2010). It recognizes his career in the energy industry, service as chair of the Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee, advocacy for Native American relations, and community involvement with groups like JOSHUA. The resolution expresses the legislature's condolences to his family and extends recognition of his public service. Passed by both chambers in October 2025, it was deposited with the Secretary of State as a formal commemoration, with no policy or financial impact.

Maddy summaryAB 80 would allow social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors licensed in this state to practice in other states that join the Social Work Licensure Compact without needing separate state licenses. The bill amends existing statutes to align state definitions and requirements with the compact framework, ensuring professionals certified under Chapter 457 can work across participating states. It directly affects licensed social work professionals seeking to practice in multiple states and changes how their credentials are recognized in statutes related to child welfare, mental health, and professional practice. The compact aims to streamline licensure for these professionals while maintaining state-specific standards.

Maddy summaryAB 211 creates a new exemption in Wisconsin law allowing "tobacco bars" to operate without adhering to the state's public smoking ban. To qualify, these establishments must have opened after June 4, 2009, allow only cigar and pipe smoking (not cigarettes), not be classified as food establishments, display clear signage about smoking, prohibit minors under 21 from entering, require employee acknowledgment of secondhand smoke exposure, and demonstrate adequate air filtration in licensing applications. The bill directly affects tobacco bars meeting these specific criteria, enabling them to operate with smoking permitted while imposing strict operational requirements. It does not change the general public smoking ban but establishes a defined exception for this narrow category of businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes establishing an annual Education Foundation Day in Wisconsin on May 13, 2026, to recognize the role of over 350 education foundations in supporting public schools. The legislation aims to acknowledge how these foundations provide supplemental funding for programs, build community connections, and create endowments that traditional budgets cannot support. It does not create new funding or change existing laws, but rather designates a specific date to honor the contributions of these organizations. The measure was introduced in the 2026 Wisconsin Legislature but failed to advance after being referred to the Committee on Rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a public financing system for judicial campaigns in Wisconsin, allowing candidates for supreme court justice, court of appeals judge, and circuit court judge positions to receive state funding if they meet specific contribution requirements. To qualify, candidates must collect at least 1,000 qualifying contributions totaling between $5,000 and $50,000 during a designated period, and they must file detailed receipts showing each contributor's name and address. The bill also limits anonymous contributions to $5 for public financing candidates and $10 for others, requiring any excess to be donated to schools or charities. Additionally, it creates a mechanism for transferring unspent public funds to replacement candidates when a vacancy occurs, with funds reverting to the state if no replacement is filed within seven days.

Maddy summaryThis bill would update Wisconsin election laws to implement ranked-choice voting for certain offices and establish procedures for resolving election ties. It directly affects state and local election officials, candidates, and voters by changing how votes are counted and how ties are handled. The bill creates new provisions allowing candidates to be ranked on ballots, grants rule-making authority to the Department of Justice for implementing ranked-choice voting systems, and provides funding to counties and municipalities to update equipment and software needed for administering the new voting method. Additionally, it establishes specific procedures for resolving ties when candidates receive equal numbers of votes, including the option for candidates to draw lots if present. The legislation also allows municipalities to combine voting wards to facilitate the use of common polling places.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a longevity bonus program for teachers in Wisconsin school districts, providing a $7,000 payment to educators who have been continuously licensed and employed by the same school board for five consecutive school years starting in the 2031-32 academic year. The program allows teachers to receive additional bonuses for each subsequent five-year period of continuous service, with school boards required to annually report eligible teacher names to the Department of Public Instruction. The legislation creates new statutory sections to authorize funding for these payments and defines eligibility requirements based on continuous licensure and employment history.