Rep. Ann Roe

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Wisconsin attorney general's authority to file civil lawsuits on behalf of the state against individuals or entities accused of violating civil rights in housing, employment, education, and public accommodations. It allows the attorney general to investigate these potential violations by requiring sworn statements, accessing relevant documents, and issuing subpoenas to gather information. If a violation is found, the attorney general can seek court orders to stop the illegal conduct, recover investigation costs, and impose civil penalties of up to $50,000 for first offenses or $100,000 for subsequent violations within seven years. The bill also permits the attorney general to accept voluntary compliance agreements as an alternative to litigation, though breaking such agreements would still be treated as a violation subject to penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to update the legal definition of a political action committee (PAC) for campaign finance purposes in the state statutes. It would classify a group as a PAC if it spends more than $1,000 in a 12-month period on express advocacy, referendum support or opposition, or contributions to candidates, legislative committees, or political parties. The definition specifically excludes fundraising and administrative expenses from the spending calculation. This change would affect how organizations are categorized and regulated under campaign finance laws. The bill was introduced in March 2026 but failed to pass the Senate.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow corporations, cooperatives, labor organizations, and federally recognized American Indian Tribes to make contributions to segregated political funds, but only up to a total of $12,000 per calendar year. The law currently prohibits these entities from contributing to most political committees, with this change creating a specific exception for segregated funds. The bill does not permit these groups to contribute to independent expenditure committees or referendum committees. This provision would apply to both foreign and domestic corporations as well as the other specified organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wisconsin campaign finance laws to establish specific contribution limits for individuals, committees, and political parties supporting candidates for various state offices. It sets maximum donation amounts that differ based on the office being sought, ranging from $500 for state representatives to $43,000 for governor, while also defining contribution caps for political action committees and other persons not subject to individual limits. The legislation creates new statutory sections to organize these limits and adjusts the calculation method for local office contributions based on population size, capping donations at $2,500 per jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Civil Legal Aid overseen by a nine-member Civil Legal Aid Board to provide legal representation for residential tenants facing eviction. The legislation establishes a right to appointed counsel at state expense for tenants in eviction actions, requiring landlords to include notices about this right in rental agreements and eviction notices. A nine-member board, appointed by the state supreme court with at least five being licensed attorneys, would oversee program operations, manage budgets, and appoint lawyers to represent tenants who request assistance. The bill also authorizes funding for the office and sets up procedures for tenants to request appointed counsel by appearing in court or contacting the clerk before the eviction hearing date.

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 updates Wisconsin election laws to require political committees to report specific spending details when they make mass communications, such as sending 500 or more identical emails, making 500 or more identical phone calls, or distributing 500 or more identical printed materials. It defines mass communications as messages sent during the 60 days before an election that clearly reference a certified candidate and are intended to appeal for or against their vote. Committees including political action committees, independent expenditure committees, and legislative campaign committees must file registration statements and detailed reports about these expenditures within 10 business days of making the communication or exceeding spending thresholds. The changes apply to any group supporting or opposing candidates in elections and aim to increase transparency around campaign spending on large-scale outreach efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies state election law to require disclosure of a donor's job and employer address when they contribute more than $100 to various political committees during a calendar year. The change applies to contributions made to candidates, political parties, legislative committees, action committees, independent expenditure groups, recipients, referendum committees, and recall committees. Under current rules, this information is only required for contributions exceeding $200, so the bill lowers that threshold to increase transparency in political fundraising. The amendment affects individuals who make these contributions and the committees that receive them by mandating additional reporting details.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Wisconsin's campaign finance laws by creating new definitions for mass communications, including mass distribution, mass electronic communication, and mass telephoning, each requiring at least 500 pieces of substantially identical material or messages. It modifies how coordinated expenditures are defined for express advocacy and mass communications, specifying that coordination occurs when a candidate or their party exercises control over or engages in substantial discussions regarding the content, timing, or other aspects of a communication. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements for coordinated mass communications made during the 60-day period before an election, requiring political committees to report expenditures and candidate committees to report them as contributions. These changes directly affect political action committees, independent expenditure committees, and candidates by clarifying what constitutes coordinated spending and how such spending must be reported under existing contribution limits and source restrictions.

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.