Rep. Ann Roe

Maddy summaryAB 656 eliminates a legal exception that previously protected spouses from prosecution for sex crimes against child spouses. It amends statutes 948.09 (sexual intercourse with a child age 16+) and 948.093 (underage sexual activity) to remove the provision stating these laws "do not apply if the child is the defendant’s spouse." This change directly affects individuals in marriages where one spouse was a minor at the time of marriage, making spousal relationships no longer a defense for sex crimes against children. The bill also updates marriage-related provisions, including allowing minors under 18 to file for divorce (767.185) and clarifying consent requirements for minors seeking marriage licenses.

Maddy summaryAB 433 changes the required typeface for legal notices published in newspapers from Times New Roman to Arial. It mandates that all legal notices use a standard 6-point Arial sans-serif font with specific spacing, while allowing larger Arial sizes (up to 12-point) with proportional fee adjustments based on column area. This directly affects newspapers publishing legal notices and the agencies or individuals placing those notices. The bill repeals the previous typeface requirement and clarifies fee adjustments for non-standard font sizes.

Maddy summaryAB 607 creates new programs and modifies existing ones to address housing, homelessness, and related services in Wisconsin. It establishes a lead service line replacement program for water systems, creates an annual review process for homelessness services, and funds emergency rental assistance for households earning under 80% of county median income. The bill allocates $43 million for indigent civil legal services, $5 million for emergency rental assistance (2026-27), and $2.5 million for housing grants. These provisions directly affect low-income residents, homeless individuals, and service providers by expanding access to housing support, legal aid, and water infrastructure improvements.

Maddy summaryAJR 117 is a non-binding Wisconsin legislative resolution calling on the federal government to immediately resolve the U.S.-China trade war. It specifically highlights harm to Wisconsin’s soybean industry, noting that 16,000 farmers and a $1.3 billion sector face lost access to China - the world’s top soybean buyer - while Argentina now supplies China instead due to federal trade actions. The resolution argues that current federal priorities, including a $20 billion Argentina bailout, undermine Wisconsin farmers without addressing the trade war. As a symbolic measure, it does not change laws but urges federal action to protect the state’s agricultural economy.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution formally designates October 2025 and October 2026 as "Cybersecurity Awareness Month" in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or programs but makes an official state proclamation to highlight the importance of cybersecurity education. The resolution cites rising online threats like phishing scams and identity theft as reasons to promote public awareness. It directly affects all Wisconsin residents by encouraging broader attention to online safety practices during those months.

Maddy summaryAB 97 extends health coverage under Wisconsin's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance) for postpartum women from 60 days to 365 days after pregnancy, directly affecting pregnant and postpartum women who qualify for the program. The bill changes eligibility rules to ensure coverage continues without regard to income changes during this extended period. It also adds a provision allowing women with family incomes above 300% of the poverty line to qualify if their income is spent on medical care or health insurance premiums. This policy update aims to provide longer-term health coverage for new mothers during a critical postpartum period.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the required disability rating for veterans to qualify for the property tax credit from 100% to 70% or higher. It allows veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at least 70% to claim a credit proportional to their disability percentage (e.g., a 70% rating would yield 70% of the full credit amount). Surviving spouses of eligible veterans also qualify under these updated terms. The change directly affects veterans and surviving spouses with service-connected disabilities below 100% but at or above 70%.

Maddy summaryAB 698 designates the hen-of-the-woods mushroom (Grifola frondosa) as Wisconsin's official state mushroom. The bill adds this designation to Wisconsin's state symbols by creating a new section (1.10 (3) (w)) in the statutes and amends another section to include "mushroom" in the list of items covered by the Wisconsin Blue Book. This is a ceremonial measure with no regulatory or financial impact, solely recognizing a specific mushroom species for symbolic state identity. It does not affect any laws, regulations, or individuals beyond this symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryAB 695 creates a state grant program to help landlords of residential buildings pay for fire safety upgrades like installing sprinklers or providing fire extinguishers. Landlords can apply for grants covering up to half the cost of these measures, with a total funding cap of $10 million across all applicants. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis through the Department of Housing. The program is funded by a new $10 million appropriation specifically designated for this purpose in the state budget.

Maddy summaryAB 688 creates a temporary Shared Revenue Advisory Council to review and recommend improvements to how Wisconsin distributes supplemental county and municipal aid. The council, composed of legislative leaders, local association representatives, and the revenue secretary, must study revenue variations, evaluate current distribution formulas, and propose fairer methods for 2027 and beyond. It requires the council to submit recommendations by January 2027, including a formula that maintains or increases aid for all counties/municipalities and accounts for population and equalized value changes. The bill also establishes a new funding mechanism: starting in 2026, payments will adjust annually based on tax revenue changes (using $16.2575 million as the base for 2026-27) and include a population-based supplement for larger cities. This directly affects all Wisconsin counties and municipalities receiving supplemental aid under existing statutes.