Rep. Deb Andraca

Maddy summaryAB 942 requires municipalities to mail notice to all residents in an area if a polling place is discontinued after an election. Specifically, the municipal clerk must send this notice by mail at least 30 days before the next election. The bill directly affects voters in communities that change polling locations and ensures they receive timely notification. It modifies existing election procedures to add this mandatory notice requirement after a public hearing process for discontinuing polling places. This is a procedural change focused on improving voter communication, not altering voting rights or eligibility.

Maddy summaryAB 945 reduces the residency requirement for voting in Wisconsin from 28 consecutive days to 10 days before an election. It directly affects voters who move within the state, allowing those who meet the 10-day residency at a new address to vote there instead of their previous location. Key provisions include amending statutes to reflect the shorter residency period for general voting, presidential elections (where voters with less than 10 days' residency can still vote for president only), and military voter extensions. The bill also updates registration forms and affidavits for voters meeting the revised residency threshold.

Maddy summaryAB 920 automatically registers eligible voters for state elections when they interact with the Department of Transportation (e.g., renewing a driver’s license or ID card). It requires the election commission to match DOT data (including name, address, date of birth, and verified citizenship proof) with existing voter records. If someone appears eligible but isn’t registered, they’re added to the voter list with a multilingual notice explaining how to opt out. Individuals can request exclusion from the list at any time, and the commission must verify eligibility before re-registering someone previously removed. The bill directly affects voters who use state-issued licenses or IDs but does not change voter eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryAB 951 requires retail stores that sell firearms to securely store all firearms when the business is unattended. It mandates specific security methods, such as locking firearms in fireproof safes, using reinforced display cases with thick polycarbonate or laminated glass, securing firearms with hardened steel rods through trigger guards, storing them in windowless rooms with deadbolts, or using steel roll-down doors. These provisions apply directly to retailers engaged in the commercial sale or transfer of firearms. The law aims to prevent unauthorized access to firearms during unattended periods, with additional requirements for street-level stores like bollards or roll-down doors. The bill was introduced in January 2026 and referred to the Criminal Justice Committee.

Maddy summaryAB 944 creates a state grant program to fund municipalities' purchases of election supplies and equipment, such as electronic poll books and accessibility tools. It allocates $5 million biennially (split equally for 2025-26 and 2026-27), with funding amounts tiered by municipal population size: up to $2.5 million for cities over 250,000, $1 million for 100,000-250,000, $500,000 for 50,000-100,000, and $250,000 for smaller cities. Municipalities must apply 180 days before elections and agree to random inspections of grant-funded equipment, with a minimum $250 grant per recipient. The bill directly affects all cities and towns in the state based on their population, providing targeted funding for election infrastructure.

Maddy summaryAB 909 creates a joint legislative steering committee to conduct a state-wide study of data sharing practices across government agencies. The committee will hire an external firm to assess current data management systems, identify barriers to efficient data sharing, and recommend improvements like standardized frameworks or an enterprise data office. The study must evaluate best practices from other states and identify high-value use cases for better data collaboration. The committee must submit its final report with recommendations by December 31, 2026, to the legislature. This bill focuses on improving internal government efficiency through data standardization, not on direct policy changes affecting the public.

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 975 prohibits probationary license holders and drivers with instruction permits from using cellular or wireless phones while driving, except to report emergencies. The bill amends Wisconsin statute 346.89(4)(a) to explicitly ban phone use for these new drivers, expanding an existing restriction. Violations would be subject to penalties under the statute, though specific penalty details aren't outlined in the bill text. This law directly affects new and learning drivers, aiming to reduce distractions during their early driving experience. The bill was introduced in the 2026 Legislature and referred to the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

Maddy summaryAB 976 clarifies how tax credits for low-income housing projects are claimed by business entities. It modifies rules so partnerships, limited liability companies, and tax-option corporations cannot claim the credit directly; instead, their members or shareholders (including insurers who are part of such entities) may claim it based on the entity's eligible costs. The bill requires entities to calculate and distribute credit amounts to members/shareholders, with specific allocation rules for ownership interests or written agreements. It directly affects housing developers, investors, and insurers involved in low-income housing projects financed through tax-exempt bonds in the state. The changes standardize credit allocation across multiple tax code sections without altering eligibility or credit amounts.

Maddy summaryAJR 120 is a resolution celebrating the U.S. Postal Service's 250th anniversary and opposing efforts to privatize, dismantle, or weaken it. It highlights the Postal Service's role in delivering essential services - such as prescriptions, ballots, and mail - to all communities, including rural, remote, and Indigenous areas that private companies often bypass. The resolution urges continued public funding and protection of the Postal Service as a vital national institution that serves all Americans regardless of geography or income. (This is a procedural resolution, not a law, so it does not create new policies or directly affect specific groups.)