Rep. Randy Udell

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 prohibits employers from including clauses in employment contracts that require former employees to refrain from speaking negatively about their former employers after leaving the job. The law declares such nondisparagement provisions illegal, void, and unenforceable because they impose an unreasonable restraint on trade. Employers must also post a notice in conspicuous locations and on their websites informing current and former employees that these clauses are not legally binding. The restrictions apply to contracts entered into, extended, modified, or renewed on or after the bill's effective date.

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 creates a grant program to help Wisconsin municipalities and community organizations earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications for their buildings. The Department of Administration would administer the program, awarding grants specifically for LEED certification costs. The legislation appropriates $1 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year to fund these grants. The bill also establishes the legal framework for the program within state statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retail sellers from using artificial intelligence or automated systems to set personalized prices for consumer goods based on individual customer data. It defines consumer goods as packaged items for personal use and dynamic price gouging as customized pricing generated through computational models that process consumer information. Retailers who violate this rule could face warnings, civil forfeiture of up to $10,000, or legal injunctions from state authorities. The law applies to both online and in-person sales of everyday products like groceries and household items.

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 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 defines who qualifies as a "qualified applicant" for buyer identification cards, which are used to purchase motor vehicles without paying sales tax. It expands the list of eligible individuals to include licensed dealers, wholesalers, salvage dealers from other jurisdictions, school districts, and their employees. The changes are administrative and clarify existing categories without altering tax rates or creating new programs. The bill was introduced in the 2026 legislature but failed to pass during committee review.

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.