Rep. Deb Andraca

Maddy summaryAB 531 creates a $200,000 annual grant program for counties and law enforcement agencies to establish safe firearm disposal initiatives. Agencies must advertise the program, use law enforcement personnel (with grant funds covering overtime), securely store firearms until destruction, prevent fraud, and have firearms inspected by licensed dealers before payment. Participants receive gift cards (not cash) that cannot be redeemed for guns or ammo, and agencies must report firearm details and program outcomes to the state. The bill also funds staff positions to administer the program and requires annual reports on participation and improvements.

Maddy summaryAJR 98 is a symbolic resolution that would officially proclaim October 2025 as "Filipino American History Month" in Wisconsin. It directly affects Wisconsin residents by encouraging the state to recognize and celebrate Filipino American heritage, contributions, and history. The resolution cites historical milestones, including the first Filipino settlement in the U.S. and Wisconsin's Filipino population of over 22,000 people. It does not create new laws or policies, but rather serves as a ceremonial recognition of Filipino American contributions to Wisconsin and the U.S. The resolution was introduced by multiple legislators and refers to the established national observance of Filipino American History Month.

Maddy summaryAJR 111 is a symbolic resolution recognizing September 23, 2025, and September 23, 2026, as "Celebrate Bisexuality Day" in Wisconsin. It formally acknowledges the bisexual community's resilience and contributions without creating new laws, funding, or requirements. The resolution aims to increase visibility and respect for bisexual individuals within Wisconsin, aligning with an internationally observed day. It directly affects Wisconsin's bisexual community by affirming their inclusion through legislative recognition. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on symbolic support rather than policy changes.

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 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 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 633 grants Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin, specific legal rights, including the right to clean water, natural ecosystems, and freedom from harmful activities. The bill prohibits state agencies, businesses, and government entities from infringing these rights, requiring agencies to review and adjust policies within one year and complete full park restoration within five years. Violations carry $1,000 fines per offense, and damages must fund park restoration via the conservation fund. It also allows individuals to sue to enforce these rights, with courts prioritizing ecological restoration over scientific uncertainty.

Maddy summaryAB 581 creates two new disaster assistance grant programs funded through the state budget: a $10 million annual program for individuals affected by disasters and a $20 million annual program for businesses impacted by disasters. The bill establishes new statutory sections (20.465(3)(bf) and 20.465(3)(bg)) to formalize these biennial funding streams. These grants will directly assist residents and small businesses recovering from declared disasters by providing direct financial support. The legislation specifies the exact funding amounts for each program in the state's budget schedule without detailing eligibility criteria or application processes.