Rep. Deb Andraca

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new basic health plan for individuals with household incomes below 200 percent of the poverty line and creates a purchase option program allowing eligible people with higher incomes to buy coverage through the state program instead of private insurance. The program would offer benefits similar to existing state coverage, include tax credits for eligible participants, and set premium rates comparable to managed care plans while requiring federal waivers to implement. It also directs the creation of a state-based insurance exchange where individuals can access these purchase options and grants officials authority to create rules needed for implementation. The bill requires a report on federal waiver status and economic analyses by March 2027 before the program can be fully launched.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance policies and self-insured plans in Wisconsin to cover speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering, including both services that help maintain or improve skills and those that restore lost abilities. The law applies to disability insurance policies and health plans offered by the state, counties, cities, towns, villages, and school districts, ensuring coverage regardless of whether the stuttering is developmental or caused by other factors. Key provisions mandate that covered plans cannot impose annual visit limits, deny coverage based on the cause of stuttering, or require prior authorization for speech therapy services. The bill also includes telehealth options and establishes a process for the state insurance commissioner to seek federal waivers if the new requirements would trigger additional state costs under federal healthcare laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts how Wisconsin calculates and distributes state funding for special education costs and general school aid. It modifies the reimbursement rate for special education expenses, allowing the state to distribute up to 100 percent of eligible costs rather than a lower fixed percentage. The legislation also increases the general school aid appropriation for the 2026-27 fiscal year by approximately $446 million to support public school districts. These changes directly affect school districts and the state Department of Public Instruction by altering how funds are allocated and calculated for educational programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new criminal penalties for intentionally obstructing access to reproductive health service facilities or places of religious worship. It defines prohibited actions as using force, threats, or physical obstruction to injure, intimidate, or interfere with people seeking or providing reproductive health services, or to damage property at these locations. Violations are classified as a Class A misdemeanor for first offenses and a Class I felony for repeat offenses. The law also establishes civil remedies allowing affected individuals or entities to sue for damages, injunctive relief, and attorney fees, with the option to receive statutory damages of up to $25,000 per violation. Additionally, the bill modifies existing tort claim limitations to exclude cases covered under this new statute.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wisconsin statutes to increase penalties for repeat offenders convicted of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. It directly affects individuals with two or more prior DWI convictions within a 10-year period, as well as those with a lifetime history of alcohol-related driving offenses. The key changes include mandating longer license revocations ranging from one to two years, adjusting fine amounts, and establishing specific eligibility timelines for obtaining occupational licenses after revocation periods. The legislation also clarifies how prior convictions and suspensions are counted toward triggering these enhanced penalties, while allowing counties to offer reduced minimum jail sentences if offenders successfully complete alcohol and drug treatment programs.

Maddy summaryAB 1178 amends Wisconsin statutes to update definitions and procedures for regional transit authorities, ensuring they are recognized as eligible entities for various state programs including highway relocation orders, right-of-way applications, and employer classifications for employee benefits. The bill creates new funding mechanisms by establishing appropriation accounts to collect and distribute taxes imposed by transit authorities that choose to levy them, with a portion of those revenues retained for administrative costs. Additionally, the legislation clarifies which organizations qualify as municipalities and employers under existing laws, explicitly including transit authorities created under the specified chapter while excluding cultural arts districts from certain employer definitions. This bill does not mandate tax collection but provides the legal framework for transit authorities to adopt resolutions imposing taxes if they choose to do so.

Maddy summaryAB 1008 clarifies eligibility for Wisconsin's child care subsidy program (Wisconsin Shares) by expanding "relative" definitions to include "like-kin" caregivers. It allows non-relatives who provide care as family (e.g., close family friends) to qualify for subsidies if they meet specific criteria, such as having a court order and receiving payments under certain statutes. The bill also adjusts income calculations for eligibility, including court-ordered support payments exceeding $1,250 monthly. This directly affects caregivers of children under 13 (or 19 if disabled) who seek child care assistance through Wisconsin Shares.

Maddy summaryAB 1023 creates a dedicated $500,000 annual appropriation (for 2025-26 and 2026-27) specifically for training and technical assistance for tribal child care providers. The bill directs the Department of Children and Families to use this funding to contract with agencies or award grants aimed at improving the quality of child care services provided by tribal organizations. This funding is separate from other child care funding streams and must be used exclusively for these tribal provider support activities. The bill directly affects tribal child care programs in Wisconsin by providing a new, dedicated resource for their professional development and operational support.

Maddy summaryAB 999 clarifies that employees of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority (UWHCA) are covered under collective bargaining agreements. The bill amends specific statutes (including 40.02, 40.05, and 111.02) to explicitly include UWHCA employees in provisions governing union dues, sick leave conversion, and bargaining unit structures. This ensures UWHCA staff have the same collective bargaining rights as other state employees covered under Chapter 111. The changes directly affect UWHCA employees by integrating them into existing labor frameworks without creating new rights. The bill focuses on administrative alignment within current state labor laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for Wisconsin's child care subsidy program (Wisconsin Shares) by allowing families with incomes above 200% of the federal poverty line but below 100% of the state median income to continue receiving subsidies. It creates a new eligibility pathway (20.437 (2) (ct)) to cover families previously disqualified due to income thresholds and adjusts copayment rules for those exceeding income limits. The policy directly affects low-income working families who lost subsidies due to modest income increases but remain below the new 100% state median income cutoff. A $1.25 million appropriation for fiscal year 2026-27 funds this expansion.