Rep. Margaret Arney

Maddy summaryAB 537 requires municipal clerks to return absentee ballots with incomplete or missing voter certification forms to the voter, rather than discarding them. This directly affects voters who make minor errors on their ballots and municipal clerks who process mail-in votes. The bill mandates that clerks return the ballot (in its sealed envelope) with a new envelope if needed, giving voters time to correct the error before the deadline. It changes the law from allowing clerks to return ballots ("may") to requiring it ("shall").

Maddy summaryAB 540 would allow 17-year-old residents to vote in primary elections if they will turn 18 by the date of the general election. The bill amends voting statutes to change eligibility requirements from "age 18 or older" to include "age 17 on the primary date if turning 18 by the general election date." It updates voter verification processes, including the oath required for challenged voters, to reflect this age adjustment. The bill's title mentions requiring a referendum, but the provided text does not detail this requirement. This policy change directly affects eligible 17-year-olds in the state who meet residency and registration requirements.

Maddy summaryAB 337 requires public school staff in Wisconsin to receive training focused on student mental health and social-emotional learning. This bill directly affects school staff, including teachers and administrators, by mandating new training programs. It authorizes a $500,000 funding increase for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support these training initiatives through the Department of Public Instruction. The legislation creates a new statutory requirement (115.28 (63)(d)) for schools to implement this training, funded by the specified appropriations.

Maddy summaryAJR 77 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley upon her retirement from the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The resolution formally recognizes her 40-year career, including her 1985 appointment as Marathon County's first female circuit court judge, her 1995 election as the first woman to reach the Supreme Court via election, and her 2025 service as Chief Justice. It does not create any new policy or affect any laws, as it is purely a symbolic gesture of legislative appreciation. The resolution was introduced by 32 assembly members and 14 senators in July 2025.

Maddy summaryAB 481 repeals Section 104.001 of the statutes, which currently allows local governments to establish minimum wage rates higher than the state minimum. This bill would eliminate the legal authority for cities and counties to set their own local minimum wage ordinances. As a result, only the state-level minimum wage would apply uniformly across all jurisdictions. The bill does not create new wage requirements or affect existing state minimum wage rates.

Maddy summaryAB 534 requires public high schools to offer voter registration during regular school days for enrolled students and school staff. It creates a process where schools appoint "school registration deputies" to collect forms, which are then sent to the local election office; students who register as minors will be automatically added to the voter rolls when they turn 18. Private or tribal high schools with many local students may also participate if they request it. The bill directly affects high school students (especially those approaching voting age) and school staff by expanding access to voter registration at school locations.

Maddy summaryAB 427 prohibits possessing a firearm on university or college campus property, including buildings and grounds owned or leased by the institution. It establishes a Class A misdemeanor charge for violations, with specific exceptions for law enforcement officers, military personnel on duty, individuals leasing residential or business spaces on campus, and firearms in approved programs or locked vehicles. The bill directly affects anyone on campus property - students, staff, visitors - by restricting firearm possession where it was previously not specifically prohibited under state law. Key mechanisms include creating new legal language (941.236) to define campus firearm rules and amending related statutes to clarify campus exemptions.

Maddy summaryAB 504 requires property tax bills to include specific information about state aid reductions for school districts. It mandates disclosing the dollar amount and percentage change in state aid reductions from the previous year to the current year, and explicitly identifies if reductions resulted from enrollment in choice programs (like Milwaukee or Racine Choice) or special needs scholarships. School districts receiving reduced aid must also note that they could raise property taxes to offset the loss. This applies only when an actual aid reduction occurs, not every year. The bill aims to provide property owners with clear, transparent details about how state funding changes affect their local schools.

Maddy summaryAB 533 requires all public K-12 schools in the state to incorporate at least one hour of voter education annually into the social studies curriculum, effective July 1, 2026. It mandates age-appropriate content: elementary students learn election basics, voting importance, and mock elections, while high school students receive instruction on voter registration, absentee ballots, military/student voting procedures, and accessing official election resources. The bill updates state social studies standards to include these requirements and applies to all public schools, including charter schools, through curriculum adjustments. This policy directly affects students, educators, and school districts by embedding civic education into standard coursework.

Maddy summaryAB 586 amends Wisconsin statutes to clarify and strengthen shared governance at University of Wisconsin System institutions by defining the roles of faculty, academic staff, and students in institutional decision-making. The bill requires faculty to ensure STEM disciplines are represented in governance structures, gives academic staff the right to organize and advise on policies affecting them, and ensures students actively participate in policies related to student life and fee management. Key provisions specify that faculty have primary responsibility for academic matters, academic staff for their own policies, and students for advising on campus life and fee use. These changes directly affect all faculty, academic staff, and students across UW System campuses by formalizing their participation in governance and policy development.