Sen. Joan Ballweg

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to officially designate the monarch butterfly as the state butterfly of Wisconsin. It achieves this by adding a new section to the state statutes that explicitly names the monarch butterfly and amending the Wisconsin Blue Book to include information about state butterflies alongside other official symbols. The legislation does not create new regulations or funding but serves as a symbolic recognition of the insect's status within the state.

Maddy summaryThis Wisconsin bill updates state building program rules to improve budget oversight, streamline project management, and enhance energy efficiency. It requires state agencies to report major projects to the building commission and establishes a six-month deadline for resolving specific construction claims. The legislation also mandates quarterly financial reports for projects with budget increases, limits budget overruns to ten percent without legislative approval, and encourages agencies to partner with energy companies for facility upgrades. Additionally, it allows the building commission to waive certain competitive bidding requirements for projects costing $200 million or more at the agency's request.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program to help Wisconsin municipalities and community water systems address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. It allows public utilities to use up to half of their water or sewer service funds to pay for pretreatment or source reduction measures if these costs are lower than upgrading treatment facilities at the endpoint. Additionally, the bill creates a specific grant fund for testing PFAS levels in municipal water and wastewater systems, ensuring that funding is available to every eligible applicant without requiring them to provide matching funds. The legislation also includes provisions to prioritize projects that address the most serious health risks and assist small or disadvantaged applicants when ranking projects for assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill primarily updates Wisconsin statutes to expand the scope of medical professionals who can perform specific administrative and clinical tasks. It allows licensed chiropractors, podiatrists, and physician assistants to review applications for permits related to physical and visual disabilities, tasks previously reserved for physicians. Additionally, the legislation grants advanced practice registered nurses the authority to issue prescriptions under existing laws and clarifies the definition of a health care provider to include these expanded roles. The bill also modifies procedures for emergency rule-making, extending time limits and creating exemptions for certain rule changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require local governments in Wisconsin, such as cities, towns, and counties, to appoint a specific staff member to handle communications with the federal government about refugee resettlement. Under the proposed rules, local officials must report any initial contact with federal agencies regarding refugee placement within seven business days and then notify neighboring local units within 100 miles within 10 days. Following these notifications, the local governing body would be required to hold a public meeting to discuss the contact and officially designate an employee to serve as the point of contact for future federal consultations on refugee assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require owners of hybrid and nonhybrid electric vehicles in Wisconsin to display specific decals on their license plates to indicate the vehicle type. The legislation allows the Department of Transportation to issue new registration plates with "EV" markings instead, which would exempt those vehicles from the decal requirement. Although the bill passed the legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill would have allowed Wisconsin school boards to hire school district administrators without requiring them to hold a license from the Department of Public Instruction. The legislation proposed creating a new statute that explicitly permits these hires despite existing rules mandating licensure for such roles. By removing the mandatory licensing requirement, the bill aimed to give school boards more flexibility in selecting administrative staff. Although the bill passed the legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis Wisconsin bill, SB 21, establishes specific monetary limits on the personal property that prisoners and residents of state correctional facilities are allowed to own. Under the proposed rules, inmates could possess musical instruments or electronic items up to a value of $350, while other non-medical items would be capped at $150 each. The legislation also sets the legal framework for these allowances by creating a new section in the state statutes. Although the bill passed the legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor and ultimately failed to become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill sought to clarify Wisconsin laws regarding passengers on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs). It proposed updating statutes to explicitly prohibit riding on vehicles not designed for passengers, while allowing one passenger in a second seated position on certain models. The legislation also included an exception for vehicles with a single passenger in a secondary seat. Ultimately, the bill was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.