Rep. Christine Sinicki

Maddy summaryAB 579 creates a new University of Wisconsin System tuition grant program to help cover the gap between other scholarships and full tuition and fees for eligible students. It directly affects Wisconsin residents enrolled in their first bachelor's degree program at a non-Madison UW campus with household income under $71,000 annually. The bill appropriates $11.86 million for 2025-26 and $28.11 million for 2026-27 to fund grants covering up to 8 consecutive semesters for freshmen or 4 for transfers (excluding summer terms). The program requires students to meet academic standards and excludes those with unmet selective service or child support obligations.

Maddy summaryAB 516 would allow local governments (counties, cities, towns, school districts) to adopt ranked-choice voting for nonpartisan local elections. Under this system, voters would rank candidates in order of preference instead of selecting just one. The bill provides funding for local governments to update election equipment and software to implement this system. It also modifies tie-breaking procedures for elections where candidates receive equal votes, requiring selection by lot if ranked-choice voting isn't used.

Maddy summaryAB 49 allows minors aged 14 or older who are unaccompanied youth (homeless youth without parental supervision) to consent to medically necessary health care without parental permission. To qualify, a minor must be verified as unaccompanied by specific professionals like school counselors, shelter staff, or social workers. The bill defines "medically necessary care" as treatment meeting established medical standards, including safety, effectiveness, and cost-efficiency. Healthcare providers following this law are protected from liability for providing such care, though the law does not override existing mandatory reporting requirements or other minor consent rights under Chapter 51.

Maddy summaryAJR 49 is a joint resolution expressing formal congratulations to the Milwaukee Rufus King Cheer and Stunt Team for winning two state championships in the Wisconsin Association of Cheer and Pom Coaches (WACPC) competition on February 22, 2025. It recognizes their historic achievement as the first Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) team to win both the Non-Tumble and Cheer Dance division titles in a single season, marking their sixth overall state championship. The resolution specifically thanks the team and their coaches - Olivia Raasch, Ryonna Hendricks, Kydra Johnson, and Destiny Tillman - for their "determination, perseverance, and talent." As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any policies, only formally acknowledging the team's athletic accomplishment.

Maddy summaryAB 492 creates a new Music Therapy Examining Board within the Department of Safety and Professional Services to regulate the practice of music therapy. The bill requires music therapists to register with this board (replacing previous certification requirements), mandates renewal based on maintained national certification, and sets specific renewal dates (October 1 of odd-numbered years). It defines music therapy as evidence-based use of music interventions within a therapeutic relationship but explicitly excludes diagnosing physical or mental disorders. The law also clarifies that music therapists cannot perform psychotherapy without an additional license, and it establishes penalties for unlicensed practice. This directly affects licensed music therapists seeking to legally practice in the state.

Maddy summaryAssembly Bill 464 revises state laws concerning prevailing wages for public works projects. It establishes new definitions for terms related to wage determination areas, types of projects, and specific work classifications, directly affecting local governmental units and contractors. The bill aims to create uniform prevailing wage requirements across the state, explicitly stating that local ordinances requiring prevailing wages are inconsistent with state law. It also outlines the applicability of these wage rules to various public works projects, including infrastructure and facilities acquired by local units, and adds a provision to protect employees' personally identifiable information on these projects.

Maddy summaryAB 389 would require California's Department of Motor Vehicles to add a visible symbol or notation on driver's licenses and identification cards to indicate veteran status for certain service members. It directly affects veterans who have received an honorable discharge or have a service-connected disability, allowing them to visibly identify their military service. The key provision mandates that the DMV create and implement this indicator on state-issued IDs, with the specific symbol to be determined by the agency. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly, having recently received a fiscal estimate and added co-authors.

Maddy summaryAB 466 repeals specific statutes that previously required municipalities to include project labor agreements (PLAs) in public construction contracts for buildings and structures (excluding highways). The bill removes legal provisions allowing cities to mandate PLAs - agreements between contractors and unions covering wages, hours, and working conditions - and eliminates related requirements for contractor classification. This directly affects public contractors and municipalities when awarding bids for non-highway construction projects, as they can no longer legally require PLAs. The amendment to Section 66.0901(6) clarifies that municipalities may set reasonable labor conditions but no longer must include PLAs in contracts. The bill is currently pending in the Workforce Development Committee with fiscal estimates received.

Maddy summaryAB 643 establishes November 11 (Veterans Day) as a state holiday when all state government offices must close. It directly affects state government employees (excluding limited-term staff) by adding Veterans Day as a recognized paid personal holiday, in addition to their existing 9-10 annual paid holidays. The bill amends statutes to include November 11 in the list of holidays requiring office closures and creates a new provision specifying that employees earn one additional paid personal holiday each year specifically for Veterans Day. This change clarifies the holiday schedule and ensures Veterans Day is treated as a standard paid holiday for state employees.

Maddy summaryAB 621 prohibits virtual schools from participating in parental choice education programs. It directly affects virtual schools (defined under Section 118.076(4)(a)) that would otherwise qualify for these programs. The bill adds new requirements to statutes governing parental choice, explicitly stating that participating schools cannot be virtual schools. This change takes effect for the 2026-27 school year.