Sen. Chris Kapenga

Maddy summarySJR 116 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit governors from using their partial veto power to create or increase taxes or fees. If approved by voters, it would amend Article V, Section 10(1)(c) of the state constitution to block governors from altering tax or fee provisions during the veto process. This measure directly affects the governor's executive authority and state budget negotiations, requiring legislative action for any tax or fee changes. The amendment is now pending voter approval in the November 2026 election after passing the legislature with 18 "yes" votes.

Maddy summarySB 4 establishes legal requirements for direct primary care agreements in Wisconsin. It defines these contracts as written arrangements between healthcare providers and patients (or employers) where providers offer ongoing primary care services for a fixed subscription fee. Key provisions mandate that agreements must detail specific services, specify the fee, allow termination with written notice, and be signed by both parties. The bill was vetoed by the Governor on August 11, 2025, preventing it from becoming law.

Maddy summarySB 315 raises the minimum net worth requirement for mortgage bankers from $100,000 to $250,000, while maintaining the $100,000 requirement for mortgage brokers. The bill requires mortgage bankers to submit audited financial statements and a CPA-certified statement verifying their net worth, ensuring financial stability. This change directly affects licensed mortgage bankers who must now meet the higher threshold, though mortgage brokers remain subject to the existing lower requirement. The legislation aims to strengthen financial oversight for mortgage bankers through standardized, independently verified financial documentation.

Maddy summarySB 405 creates a legal right for minors injured by gender transition procedures to sue healthcare providers for physical, psychological, emotional, or physiological harm. The bill defines "gender transition procedure" broadly (including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones) but excludes treatments for certain medical conditions like disorders of sexual development. It requires providers to document a minor's gender identity for two years, obtain certification from multiple healthcare professionals confirming the procedure is the only treatment for a mental health concern, and provide specific risk warnings to minors and parents before consent. The law allows lawsuits to be filed before the minor turns 33, with defenses available if providers follow the required documentation and consent protocols.

Maddy summarySB 275 establishes time limits for statements of scope used by state agencies when creating administrative rules. It requires permanent rule scope statements to expire after 30 months and emergency rule statements after 6 months, after which agencies cannot base new rules on expired statements. The bill also mandates separate scope statements for concurrent emergency and permanent rule proposals and prohibits agencies from using a single scope statement for multiple rules. These changes apply to all Wisconsin administrative agencies creating new rules under the state's rulemaking process.

Maddy summarySB 289 requires state agencies to provide detailed economic impact analyses for proposed rules that impose costs on businesses, local governments, or individuals. Agencies must quantify expected implementation and compliance costs (and potential savings) for each affected group, attribute all costs directly to the rule (not other laws or federal requirements), and include this in their analysis. If an independent analysis shows costs exceed $10 million over two years, the rule must be paused until costs are addressed or offset. This bill directly affects state agencies creating new rules and the businesses, local governments, and individuals who would bear the financial impact.

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 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 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 summaryThis bill's title claims to address LLC filing fees, but the provided text actually amends an unrelated education-related statute (183.0122) regarding student enrollment criteria. The bill text modifies a section defining where students must be enrolled to qualify for certain benefits, specifying they must be in a postsecondary institution, public/private/tribal high school, or home-based program in the state. The content does not relate to LLC fees or business filings as indicated in the title. The inconsistency between the title and the actual bill text suggests a potential error in the document provided.