Rep. Jessie Rodriguez

Maddy summaryThis bill amends residency requirements for people circulating nomination papers or recall petitions. It requires circulators to certify their residence (with street address if applicable) and confirms they are either a qualified elector of the state or a U.S. citizen aged 18+ who would not be disqualified from voting if they lived in the state. For recall petitions specifically, the certification must state the circulator is a qualified elector. These changes directly affect individuals collecting signatures for candidate nominations or recall efforts, ensuring circulators meet clear residency and eligibility standards before submitting petitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state program requiring the Department of Financial Institutions to contribute to "Trump accounts" for eligible children who reside in the state and have prior payments made to such accounts. The contribution amount would match prior payments made under a specific IRS code (26 USC 6434), subject to available funds and only for accounts without prior state contributions. It defines key terms like "Trump account" and "eligible child" using IRS code references, though the bill's use of these codes appears inconsistent with actual tax law. The program would apply to children born and residing in the state, with contributions made as "qualified general contributions" under the referenced IRS section. The bill passed the Assembly in February 2026 with 62-35 support.

Maddy summaryAB 997 increases funding by $60 million for the Department of Financial Institutions for payments to "Trump accounts" in fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, contingent on statutory authorization. The bill directly affects the department’s budget and its ability to make these specific payments. It modifies existing appropriations under Section 20.144 (1) (g) without changing the department’s core responsibilities. This is a procedural budget adjustment, not a substantive policy change. The bill is currently pending in the Financial Institutions committee.

Maddy summaryAB 1071 requires baby food manufacturers selling in the state to test for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury (toxic heavy metals) and publicly disclose results. If tested, manufacturers must post metal levels, testing dates, and product details on their website with a QR code on the product label linking to this information. If not tested, they must clearly state this on the label and website with a QR code. The law applies to all baby food (including infant formula) sold in the state, with violations subject to a $100 daily penalty per product. It aims to provide consumers with transparent safety information about heavy metals in products for children under age 2.

Maddy summaryAB 1081 adjusts payment rates for opioid treatment programs using medication-based care to match Medicare rates for comparable services starting in 2027. It also sets new staffing requirements, including a medical director with addiction medicine experience who must be present 40% of dosing time (reduced to 20% for the first 60 days of operation), and mandates one counselor for every 55 enrolled patients. The bill changes admission rules for minors, requiring documented failed detox attempts and written parental consent, while adding requirements for initial physical exams and Hepatitis/HIV testing with patient consent. These provisions directly affect all Wisconsin opioid treatment programs providing medication-assisted therapy.

Maddy summaryAB 837 modifies Wisconsin law to require that serious child sex offenders placed on supervised release must reside in housing not adjacent to properties where children primarily live. Specifically, it prohibits placement within 1,500 feet of a child’s primary residence, defining "adjacent" as properties sharing a boundary line without a road or alley. The bill also mandates that counties assess proposed residences for compliance with this rule before court approval and report findings to the court. Courts must then review this assessment and reject plans that fail to meet the safety standard, requiring revised housing options if needed. This directly affects serious child sex offenders on supervised release, the Department of Corrections, counties, and courts.

Maddy summaryAB 974 establishes a permanent "public affairs network fund" to provide annual grants to WisconsinEye, the public affairs network broadcasting state government proceedings. The bill creates a new trust fund using state appropriations, donations, and interest earnings, which will fund WisconsinEye’s operating costs for live broadcasts, civic events, and free online archives of unedited government proceedings. WisconsinEye must meet specific requirements, including appointing legislative designees to its board, focusing coverage on official government business, and providing continuous free public access to broadcasts and archives. If WisconsinEye ceases operations, it must repay all grant funds to the state and transfer its archives to the state historical society.

Maddy summaryAB 716 requires the state to direct at least 5% of spending on architectural and engineering services to woman-owned businesses certified under existing state law. It defines "woman-owned business" as one certified by the Department of Administration under Section 16.285. The bill mandates annual reports tracking state spending with woman-owned businesses, disabled veteran-owned businesses, and other certified firms, including the percentage of total spending they receive. This policy directly affects state procurement contracts for architectural and engineering services, aiming to increase contracting with certified woman-owned businesses. The law sets a specific spending target (5%) for these contracts while requiring transparency through annual reporting.

Maddy summaryAB 720 requires health insurance plans - including defined network plans, preferred provider plans, and government self-insured plans - to cover emergency ambulance services provided by non-participating ambulance providers. It mandates payment at the lowest of three rates: a mutually agreed rate, a local governmental rate, or 350% of the Medicare rate for the same area. Plans must pay ambulance providers directly within 30 days for clean claims, cannot impose additional costs on enrollees beyond standard cost-sharing, and must provide clear explanations for denied claims. The bill excludes air ambulance services and applies to all health insurance plans covering emergency medical services.

Maddy summaryAB 702 creates a new income tax credit for individuals incurring unreimbursed medical expenses related to in vitro fertilization (IVF), directly affecting those who pay for IVF consultations, procedures, or prescribed drugs out-of-pocket. The credit allows a maximum $5,000 annual reduction against state income tax for eligible individuals with adjusted gross income under $100,000 (single) or $200,000 (joint filers). It excludes expenses covered by insurance, travel, lodging, or health savings accounts, and prohibits claiming the same expenses under other tax provisions. The credit must be claimed using forms provided by the state tax department when filing annual returns.