Rep. Jessie Rodriguez

Maddy summaryAJR 83 is a symbolic resolution designating September 15 to October 15, 2025, as Hispanic Heritage Month in Wisconsin. It formally recognizes the historical contributions and ongoing cultural impact of Hispanic and Latino communities across the state, including their roles in Wisconsin's agricultural economy, public service, and military service. As a recognition resolution, it does not create new policies, alter rights, or affect any specific groups. The resolution serves only to honor these contributions through official state acknowledgment during the designated period.

Maddy summaryAB 148 allows courts to permit interpreters to provide services remotely via telephone or live video in civil and criminal court proceedings (excluding trials), upon a party's request. This amendment updates statutes to explicitly include remote interpretation as an option for civil cases (via 807.14) and criminal cases (via 967.09), replacing previous restrictions. It directly affects individuals involved in court cases who require language assistance, making it easier to access interpreters without in-person attendance. The bill does not mandate remote interpretation but expands court flexibility in approving it. This change applies to all relevant civil and criminal proceedings where an interpreter is requested.

Maddy summaryAB 256 designates April 24 as Armenian Genocide Awareness Day in Wisconsin public schools, to be observed annually as part of Genocide Awareness Month. The bill requires schools to recognize this day on their calendars but does not mandate specific curriculum or activities. It directly affects all public K-12 schools in Wisconsin, beginning with the school year after the law takes effect. The legislation creates a new statutory provision (118.02 (7d)) to formalize this observance without altering existing educational requirements.

Maddy summaryAJR 94 is a symbolic resolution that would officially recognize January as "Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month" across Wisconsin. It directly affects all Wisconsin residents by designating a specific month for statewide awareness efforts focused on human trafficking. The resolution has no binding legal requirements but serves as a formal declaration to encourage educational events, community outreach, and resource sharing related to human trafficking prevention during January. It does not create new laws or allocate funding.

Maddy summaryAB 175 requires owners of parking structures to hire a licensed engineer for a structural safety inspection at least once every five years, starting from the bill's effective date. Owners must submit inspection reports to their local government agency (like a city or county) and face penalties for missing deadlines, including $200 per month in fines and potential closure after 12 months. The law directly affects all parking structure owners statewide, ensuring ongoing safety checks to prevent structural failures. It does not apply to inspections already required under other existing statutes. Violations trigger mandatory reporting to state authorities and may lead to temporary closure of un-inspected structures.

Maddy summaryAB 77 prohibits the use of devices designed to conceal, alter, or obstruct license plates on vehicles. It defines such devices as any manual, electronic, or mechanical tool that switches plates, moves them, or makes registration numbers unreadable. The bill bans possessing, selling, installing, or using these devices, and allows police to impound vehicles equipped with them (with costs paid by the owner). Violators face fines up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail. This directly affects vehicle owners who might use such devices to obscure license plates.

Maddy summaryAB 587 requires ticket sellers (including operators, resellers, and online platforms) to clearly display all fees during purchase and prohibits reselling tickets above face value without event operator approval. It applies to all commercial ticket resales, with small sellers earning under $10,000 annually exempt. Violations incur $1,000 fines per violation plus forfeiture of profits from illegal sales. The bill aims to increase transparency and prevent price gouging in entertainment ticket markets.

Maddy summaryAB 627 modifies licensing fees for animal-related businesses in Wisconsin. It creates three new market license classes: Class A ($420 annual fee) for markets selling livestock and wild animals, Class B ($220) for livestock-only sales with limited auctions, and Class E ($280) for equine-only sales (no wild animals or non-equine livestock). The bill also establishes a $20 annual fee for each animal transport vehicle and clarifies a $150 reinspection fee for violations. These changes directly affect animal market operators, dealers, truckers, and transport vehicle owners by adjusting their required annual fees and reinspection costs.

Maddy summaryAB 410 provides state funding through grants to community organizations for falls prevention awareness programs and initiatives. It directly affects local health agencies, senior service providers, and community groups working with at-risk populations, particularly older adults. The bill establishes a specific appropriation from the state budget to support these prevention efforts. This is a funding measure, not a regulatory change, and focuses on allocating resources for education and outreach programs.

Maddy summaryAB 583 helps people wrongfully imprisoned in Wisconsin by providing them with tax-exempt compensation, health coverage, and transition support. It exempts state compensation payments for wrongful imprisonment from state income tax, covers health insurance premiums (with shared costs), and requires a 5-day transition plan for released individuals to access housing, job help, and healthcare. The bill creates new funding mechanisms (like appropriations under 20.515) to pay for these benefits and mandates state agencies to coordinate with counties on post-release support. It directly affects individuals who receive state compensation under wrongful imprisonment claims (s. 775.05) and the state budget.