Rep. Ann Roe

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 384 regulates virtual currency kiosks (machines that exchange cash for cryptocurrency or vice versa) by requiring operators to obtain state licenses, display a specific fraud warning before every transaction, and verify customer identities using government ID and photos. It limits daily transactions to $1,000 in cash, caps fees at $5 or 3% of the transaction amount, and mandates refunds for fraud victims who report incidents within 30 days. The law directly affects kiosk operators (who must comply with licensing and ID rules) and customers (who receive fraud protections and transaction limits). These provisions aim to reduce scams and financial risks associated with in-person crypto exchanges.

Maddy summaryAB 389 would require California's Department of Motor Vehicles to add a visible symbol or notation on driver's licenses and identification cards to indicate veteran status for certain service members. It directly affects veterans who have received an honorable discharge or have a service-connected disability, allowing them to visibly identify their military service. The key provision mandates that the DMV create and implement this indicator on state-issued IDs, with the specific symbol to be determined by the agency. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly, having recently received a fiscal estimate and added co-authors.

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 621 prohibits virtual schools from participating in parental choice education programs. It directly affects virtual schools (defined under Section 118.076(4)(a)) that would otherwise qualify for these programs. The bill adds new requirements to statutes governing parental choice, explicitly stating that participating schools cannot be virtual schools. This change takes effect for the 2026-27 school year.

Maddy summaryAJR 114 is a non-binding resolution recognizing nature's inherent rights - including the right to exist, flourish, and regenerate - and affirming Wisconsin's duty to protect these rights as part of its conservation legacy. It calls for exploring policies to implement "rights of nature" principles, engaging Indigenous communities and experts, and encourages local governments and agencies to adopt such approaches. The resolution does not create new laws but urges future legislative action and collaboration to address environmental challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss.

Maddy summaryAB 222 establishes a $1.50 per gallon tax credit for producers of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the state. The credit applies to SAF meeting a 90% renewable source requirement (from synthetic, renewable, and nonpetroleum sources like energy crops grown in the U.S.) and is available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2027. Producers can claim the credit against state tax liability, but partnerships and similar entities cannot claim it directly - they must distribute credit eligibility to owners based on ownership shares. The bill also clarifies administrative rules and integrates the credit into existing tax code sections for consistency.

Maddy summaryAB 589 eliminates specific abortion-related requirements from medical licensing regulations. It removes references to abortion procedures from statutes governing medical board investigations (amending §448.02) and repeals sections requiring parental consent, ultrasound disclosures, or abortion-specific definitions (like §253.10). This directly affects physicians and medical licensing boards by removing mandatory reporting obligations related to abortion care. The bill streamlines medical oversight by excluding abortion-related violations from the list of unprofessional conduct that triggers board investigations.