Sen. Chris Larson

Maddy summarySJR 21 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late Senator Timothy Francis Cullen, a longtime Wisconsin State Senator and public servant who passed away in December 2024. It commemorates his career, including service as Senate Majority Leader (1982-1986), advocacy for workers' rights and consumer protections, and efforts to promote bipartisan governance and fair redistricting. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely serves to recognize Cullen’s life and public service through formal acknowledgment by the legislature. It was formally passed by both chambers and deposited with the Secretary of State on November 25, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill would establish ranked-choice voting for certain Wisconsin elections and provides funding to help local governments implement the system. It directly affects voters, election officials, and municipalities by changing how ballots are counted and how ties are resolved. The key provisions allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference, require tie-breaking by lot when candidates receive equal votes, and authorize grants to counties and cities for updating voting equipment and software. The bill also gives municipalities flexibility in combining polling wards to facilitate ranked-choice voting while maintaining separate vote counts for reporting purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a teacher longevity bonus program for Wisconsin school districts, providing a $7,000 payment to teachers who have been continuously licensed and employed by the same school board for five consecutive school years. The program begins in the 2031-32 school year and allows teachers to receive additional bonuses for each subsequent five-year period of continuous service, provided those years were not already used to qualify for a prior bonus. School boards must annually report eligible teacher names to the Department of Public Instruction, and the funding comes from a new state appropriation. The legislation amends existing statutes to create this new bonus structure and clarifies which school district provisions apply to first-class city school districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to create a tuition exemption for certain nonresident students at University of Wisconsin System institutions. It would allow individuals with approved deferred action status under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to qualify for in-state tuition rates if they have lived in Wisconsin for 12 months before enrolling. The exemption would apply to students registering in semesters following the bill's effective date. This legislation directly affects eligible nonresident students and the state's higher education funding structure.

Maddy summarySB 949 prohibits carrying firearms within 100 feet of polling places during voting hours (one hour before opening to one hour after closing), defining this as a Class A misdemeanor. It directly affects voters, election workers, and anyone near polling locations during elections. Key exemptions include law enforcement officers, private property owners on their own land, and security personnel acting in their professional duties. The bill creates new criminal penalties for violations, specifically targeting firearm presence at voting sites to enhance polling place safety. This is a policy change focused on election security, not procedural or commemorative.

Maddy summarySB 569 requires private schools participating in the Special Needs Scholarship Program to implement each student's most recent individualized education program (IEP) or services plan, adjusted through agreement between the school and the student's parent. It also mandates that these schools share all IEP-related records with the student's public school district within 5 days of a formal request. The law directly affects private schools in the scholarship program, parents of students with disabilities, and public school districts seeking IEP documentation. These requirements will take effect for the 2026-27 school year. The bill focuses on ensuring consistent educational planning and record-sharing between private and public schools for scholarship program participants.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wisconsin school boards to provide age-appropriate, medically accurate instruction on human growth and development in grades K-12, covering topics like puberty, reproductive anatomy, gender identity, and healthy relationships. It mandates that schools teach abstinence as the most reliable way to prevent pregnancy and STIs while also including information on contraceptives, consent, and digital safety. The legislation defines key terms such as "age-appropriate" and "medically accurate" to ensure content is scientifically based and recognized by leading health organizations. School boards must decide whether to separate students by gender during instruction and include specific subjects like enthusiastic consent and parental communication. The bill also connects marriage and parenting to parental responsibility while addressing bullying and stereotyping prevention.

Maddy summarySB 837 creates a new state grant program providing $1.6 million annually to counties and tribes for mental health treatment alternatives to prosecution and incarceration. It directly affects low-to-medium risk individuals with mental illness who interact with the criminal justice system, excluding violent offenders as defined by law. Key provisions require grantees to establish programs using restorative justice principles, integrate mental health services, and meet evidence-based treatment standards while tracking outcomes like reduced jail populations and recidivism. Grantees must submit annual reports on program impact to the Department of Justice and an oversight committee, with data shared monthly for state evaluation. The bill mandates collaboration between courts, prosecutors, public defenders, and health agencies to coordinate care and services.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state grant program to help school districts pay student teachers an hourly wage of at least $15 for the hours they spend teaching in district schools. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, school boards must compensate student teachers enrolled in approved teacher preparation programs, with the state reimbursing districts based on the number of hours taught. The legislation also gives the state department authority to create rules for administering the program and includes an appropriation to fund the payments.

Maddy summarySB 248 modifies Wisconsin's driver's license rules for individuals required to use ignition interlock devices (IIDs) after DUI convictions. It extends license restrictions by 180 days for specific IID violations, including three or more failed breath tests within 60 days, tampering with the device, or unauthorized removal. Drivers can dispute violations by providing documentation within 15 days, such as proof of device malfunction or an explanation for the incident. The bill also clarifies eligibility for a work driving license (occupational license) after 30-45 days of license suspension, contingent on IID installation and compliance with safety plans. These changes apply to drivers with multiple DUI convictions or license suspensions under existing law.