Rep. Maureen McCarville

Maddy summaryThis bill would add a nonvoting teacher representative to school boards in Wisconsin's common and union high school districts. The teacher representative would be selected through a secret ballot vote by teaching staff members and would serve a three-year term, attending all board meetings including closed sessions but without voting rights. The legislation also updates procedures for school board reorganization and special meetings to include notification requirements for the teacher representative.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum salary requirements for full-time public school teachers in Wisconsin. It mandates that all full-time teachers receive an annual salary at least equal to the higher of the state senator or representative salary for that fiscal year. Teachers with at least 10 years of experience must be paid no less than the legislator salary plus $15,000, while those with 20 years or more must earn at least $100,000 annually. The law applies to teachers whose contracts expire or are renewed after the bill takes effect and cannot be negotiated away through collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program called "Grow Your Own" to help Wisconsin schools recruit and train new teachers. The program would provide up to $5 million annually starting in the 2026-27 school year to school districts and charter schools for costs related to teacher development initiatives. These initiatives could include high school clubs that encourage teaching careers, paying for current staff to earn licensure, supporting dual enrollment pathways, and offering incentives for paraprofessionals to become licensed teachers. The Department of Public Instruction would administer the grants and establish rules for how schools apply for and use the funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new grant program to help residents of unserved areas pay for the costs of extending broadband service lines to their properties, with each grant capped at $4,000. It appropriates $1.75 million for 2025-26 and $3.5 million for 2026-27 to fund these grants through the Public Service Commission. The program prioritizes applications for primary residences and requires applicants to participate in federal affordable connectivity programs, while prohibiting grants that subsidize telecommunications provider expenses or customer monthly bills. Additionally, the bill amends existing broadband expansion grant criteria to ensure projects focus on designated unserved areas and require applicants to explain how their proposed projects will increase broadband access.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a funding mechanism for municipalities to receive payments from the state for services they provide to state facilities and University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority properties. It requires state agencies to make full payments at established rates for municipal services such as water, sewer, electrical, and waste disposal, with funds drawn from state appropriations for facility operations. The legislation also mandates that the state department assess program costs to cover these payments and prorate funding if the annual appropriation is insufficient. This bill directly affects municipalities providing services to state facilities and the state agencies that operate those facilities, with provisions taking effect in 2026.

Maddy summaryAB 1061 legalizes recreational cannabis possession and establishes a regulatory framework for cannabis production, sales, and medical use in Wisconsin. It directly affects individuals with past marijuana-related convictions (by creating a review unit to expunge these records), cannabis businesses (through new licensing and regulations), and state agencies (by creating a Division of Cannabis Regulation under the Department of Agriculture). Key provisions include allocating $30 million annually for regulatory operations, establishing medical cannabis registry fees, creating a $5 million fund for conviction reviews, and repealing outdated marijuana criminal penalties. The bill also introduces new taxes on cannabis sales to fund these programs and public health research.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow Wisconsin local governments to create rules requiring landlords to offer tenants a good faith renewal of their leases unless there is a valid reason not to do so. It also permits municipalities to set standards for lease renewals, limit when landlords can show properties to new tenants, and establish penalties for violations that could include relocation assistance. The bill would make these local rules mandatory and prevent landlords from waiving them in lease agreements. However, the bill failed to pass in the Senate on March 23, 2026, so it is not currently in effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend the Wisconsin Constitution to remove an exception that currently allows slavery or involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. If passed, it would prohibit all forms of slavery and involuntary servitude without exception, regardless of criminal conviction. The measure requires approval by two successive legislatures and ratification by voters before it becomes law. It directly affects the state's constitutional framework regarding human rights and criminal punishment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in Wisconsin to provide reasonable break time and specific accommodations for breastfeeding employees with children under one year of age. Employers must offer a private space shielded from view and free from intrusion, along with access to electrical outlets, running water, and a refrigerator for storing breast milk. The law applies to all employers, including state and local government agencies, but includes an exception for small businesses with fewer than 50 employees if compliance would cause undue hardship. Employees cannot be discriminated against or retaliated against for taking these breaks, and violations can be reported to the department for enforcement. The bill also clarifies how unpaid break time affects health care coverage eligibility and when it counts as paid work time.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state minimum wage schedule that gradually increases from $15 per hour in 2026 to $20 per hour by 2030, with slightly lower rates for small employers defined as those with 50 or fewer employees. It also sets specific minimum wage rates for tipped employees, which increase more slowly over the same period. Beginning in 2031, the state department of labor gains authority to adjust the minimum wage annually based on changes in the consumer price index. The bill also grants the department power to create rules for special categories of workers, including agricultural employees, students, and those with disabilities, while exempting certain types of casual employment from minimum wage requirements.