Rep. Kalan Haywood

Maddy summaryAB 343 increases state funding to help schools hire more mental health staff by reimbursing 50% of new spending on pupil services professionals (like counselors and social workers). It directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and participating private schools that increase their spending on these roles. The bill adds $16.5 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and $18 million for 2026-27 to the existing mental health aid appropriation. This creates a new reimbursement mechanism for schools that expand their mental health staffing beyond prior-year levels.

Maddy summaryAB 317 creates the Child Care Quality Improvement Program to provide monthly payments to certified child care providers, including licensed centers and school-based programs. It allocates $221 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and $220 million for 2026-27 from the Department of Children and Families budget. The program grants the department rule-making authority to set eligibility, payment amounts, and usage requirements for recipients. The bill repeals outdated sections of existing law and updates funding allocations for quality improvement activities.

Maddy summaryAB 344 authorizes Wisconsin to place liens on federal properties within the state if federal aid is unlawfully withheld by a presidential executive order or in violation of a court order. The state secretary must calculate the withheld aid amount, report it to the legislature within 60 days, and identify federal properties where liens could be filed. The attorney general would then seek liens totaling no more than the withheld aid amount, and these liens would be released once the federal aid is restored. The bill directly affects state officials (secretary, attorney general) and the state's ability to recover funds from federal property. It creates a specific procedural mechanism for addressing unlawful withholding of federal funds, not new funding programs.

Maddy summaryAB 331 creates a new legal right for individuals who believe their constitutional rights (such as due process or equal protection) were violated by government officials acting under color of law, including police or state employees. It allows victims to sue for damages, court orders to stop violations, and court-ordered attorney fees. The law sets a 6-year deadline to file such lawsuits and applies to both federal and state civil rights violations. It does not apply to cases already covered by existing statutes like 893.80 or 893.82.

Maddy summaryAB 345 requires the state treasurer to withhold state payments to the federal government if federal aid to the state is unlawfully withheld (e.g., via presidential order or court violation). Specifically, the state must calculate the lost federal aid amount, submit a detailed report within 60 days, and withhold matching state payments up to that loss amount over the next year. Once federal aid is restored, the withheld state funds must be paid to the federal government. The bill directly affects state treasury operations and federal budget coordination, with no impact on federal aid recipients.

Maddy summaryAB 338 requires most health insurance plans (including those offered by state/local governments) to cover at least 28 annual therapy visits for mental health or substance use disorders without prior authorization. It mandates that insurers provide this minimum coverage per policy year, based on the insured's treatment goals. The law includes a cost-check mechanism: if insurers' actuarial analysis shows coverage would increase plan costs by over 10%, enforcement may be paused. This directly affects health insurers, self-insured public employer plans, and individuals seeking mental health/substance use treatment. The bill takes effect for new policy years starting after its publication date.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (AJR 73) is a symbolic recognition by the Wisconsin Legislature that June 2025 will be observed as Black Music Month in Wisconsin. It directly affects Wisconsin residents by formally acknowledging the state's support for celebrating Black musical contributions. The resolution highlights the historical significance of Black music genres like jazz, soul, and hip-hop, and honors Black artists' global influence on music and culture. As a commemorative measure with no new laws or funding, it serves solely to affirm and celebrate this cultural legacy through official state recognition.

Maddy summaryAJR 76 proposes removing a constitutional ban that currently defines marriage as only between one man and one woman. If passed, this change would eliminate the restriction preventing the state from recognizing same-sex marriages or creating equivalent legal status for unmarried couples. The bill directly affects all residents by removing a constitutional barrier to marriage equality, allowing the state to legally recognize same-sex marriages without requiring separate legal frameworks.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $2 million annually for two years to fund LGBTQIA+ rights training for school counselors and social workers in Wisconsin public schools. It requires school boards to provide department-approved training on LGBTQIA+ rights, defined as including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other nonheterosexual or noncisgender identities. The training must be developed or approved by the state Department of Public Instruction. School counselors and social workers employed by participating school boards will directly receive this training through the grant program. The funding is tied to specific statutory provisions creating new grant categories under education budgets.

Maddy summaryAB 336 would allocate $11 million annually for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to fund additional mental and behavioral health services at the University of Wisconsin System. The bill specifically directs these funds toward improving student health services through enhanced staffing, training, prevention programs, and assessment tools. It directly affects all University of Wisconsin System campuses and their students by expanding access to mental health support. The funding mechanism is a direct state appropriation with no additional requirements for institutions.