Sen. Cory Tomczyk

Maddy summarySB 36 creates a state income tax exemption for cash tips received by employees, directly benefiting service industry workers (like servers or bartenders) who report cash tips to their employers. The bill allows taxpayers to subtract up to $25,000 in qualified tips from their taxable income each year, provided the tips are reported via federal tax forms (like those used for IRS Form 1099-NEC). This exemption phases out for higher earners: single filers see reductions when their modified adjusted gross income exceeds $150,000, while joint filers face reductions above $300,000. To claim the exemption, filers must include their Social Security number and, for married couples, file a joint return.

Maddy summarySB 176 creates tax exemptions for income received from broadband expansion grants and federal high-cost program funding. It exempts from state income and franchise taxes funds provided by the state, local governments, tribal governments, or the federal government for broadband expansion projects. This directly affects businesses, internet service providers, and organizations receiving these specific grants or federal funding. The exemption applies to both state broadband grants and federal high-cost program funds (under 47 USC 254) used for expanding broadband access in the state, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summarySB 498 establishes new Wisconsin statutes to protect free speech and academic freedom at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges. It defines "employee" to include faculty, staff, and graduate assistants, and specifies that institutions cannot restrict First Amendment-protected speech - including protests, discussions, or virtual gatherings (except during instructional classes) - in public campus areas or designated forums. The bill allows limited restrictions only for speech that violates law, constitutes false defamation, poses a genuine threat, or causes material disruption, requiring all rules to be content-neutral and viewpoint-neutral. It also clarifies that institutions must uphold these protections while ensuring reasonable time, place, and manner regulations for expressive activities.

Maddy summarySB 16 clarifies that high school athletic associations coordinating sports for grades 9-12 can choose to be governed by specific public records and open meetings laws. If they elect this status, they can keep referee records and individual student athlete records private, exempting them from standard public inspection requirements. School districts must only join such associations if the association has chosen to follow these rules. The bill creates new definitions for "interscholastic athletic association" and updates statutes to define these groups as "governmental bodies" under certain conditions.

Maddy summarySB 389 adjusts how Wisconsin school districts calculate their maximum allowable spending limits (revenue limits) for specific school years. It adds $325 per student to the calculation for the 2023-24 through 2026-27 school years, while removing previous adjustments that would have affected spending limits for the 2015-16 through 2018-19 years and the 2021-22 year. The bill also modifies rules for consolidated school districts, changing how their revenue limits are calculated during the 2020-21 through 2026-27 school years. These changes take effect for the 2027-28 school year and beyond, directly impacting all public school districts in Wisconsin.

Maddy summarySB 525 streamlines the process for sign owners to remove vegetation obstructing outdoor advertising signs along highways. It creates a permit system allowing sign owners to trim or remove vegetation within a 500-foot "viewing window" around a sign, defined as the area where the sign must be visible. The bill requires permit applicants to describe proposed work, mandates 15-day advance notice and photo documentation for existing sign owners, and specifies that vegetation removal must include stump removal and proper disposal. This directly affects sign owners and highway departments managing rights-of-way, with new rules for permits, documentation, and compensation for removing trees in designated "living snow fences."

Maddy summarySB 10 requires Wisconsin public high school boards to allow military recruiters access to common areas (like hallways or cafeterias) during school visits and during school days or school-sanctioned events. It does not require access to classrooms during instructional time. The bill implements federal law (10 USC 503(c)) by mandating this access for all public high schools, directly affecting school boards and military recruiters. The law applies starting with the 2025-26 school year.

Maddy summarySB 652 removes race-based criteria from higher education programs by redefining "disadvantaged" students to focus solely on economic, familial, geographic, or personal hardship - not race, ethnicity, gender, or other identity factors. It repeals provisions requiring "minority" student programs and replaces them with "disadvantaged" student programs, while prohibiting state boards from considering race in admissions or financial aid decisions. Key changes include amending statutes to require annual recruitment and retention plans for disadvantaged students and modifying grant programs to prioritize economic hardship over racial identity. The bill directly affects public universities, technical colleges, and financial aid programs across the state by shifting eligibility criteria away from race-based classifications.

Maddy summarySB 277 establishes a 6-year expiration cycle for most Wisconsin administrative rules, requiring state agencies to proactively renew rules before they expire. It mandates that agencies submit renewal notices between January 1 and March 1 each year for rules expiring that year, including detailed justifications and statutory references. Rules not renewed through this process will automatically be removed from the Wisconsin Administrative Code on January 1 following expiration. This directly affects state agencies responsible for creating and maintaining administrative rules, ensuring regular legislative review of regulatory changes.

Maddy summarySB 134 extends the deadline for military-connected families to apply for school enrollment after a residency change due to military orders. It changes the requirement from a 30-day window to 90 days after receiving military orders, including orders from the National Guard, Reserve, or state defense forces. This directly affects service members and their dependents seeking to enroll children in public schools following a permanent relocation. The bill modifies existing statute 118.51(3m)(b)4 to provide more time for applications, ensuring families have sufficient opportunity to complete enrollment processes after a military assignment.