Rep. Andrew Hysell

Maddy summaryAJR 72 is a ceremonial resolution that officially recognizes June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth Day in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or policies but formally declares this date to honor the historical significance of Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States following Union troops' arrival in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. The resolution acknowledges Wisconsin’s longstanding Juneteenth observance, including Milwaukee’s celebration beginning in 1971. As a symbolic gesture, it has no legal effect beyond promoting awareness of this historical milestone.

Maddy summaryAB 317 creates the Child Care Quality Improvement Program to provide monthly payments to certified child care providers, including licensed centers and school-based programs. It allocates $221 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and $220 million for 2026-27 from the Department of Children and Families budget. The program grants the department rule-making authority to set eligibility, payment amounts, and usage requirements for recipients. The bill repeals outdated sections of existing law and updates funding allocations for quality improvement activities.

Maddy summaryAB 344 authorizes Wisconsin to place liens on federal properties within the state if federal aid is unlawfully withheld by a presidential executive order or in violation of a court order. The state secretary must calculate the withheld aid amount, report it to the legislature within 60 days, and identify federal properties where liens could be filed. The attorney general would then seek liens totaling no more than the withheld aid amount, and these liens would be released once the federal aid is restored. The bill directly affects state officials (secretary, attorney general) and the state's ability to recover funds from federal property. It creates a specific procedural mechanism for addressing unlawful withholding of federal funds, not new funding programs.

Maddy summaryAB 331 creates a new legal right for individuals who believe their constitutional rights (such as due process or equal protection) were violated by government officials acting under color of law, including police or state employees. It allows victims to sue for damages, court orders to stop violations, and court-ordered attorney fees. The law sets a 6-year deadline to file such lawsuits and applies to both federal and state civil rights violations. It does not apply to cases already covered by existing statutes like 893.80 or 893.82.

Maddy summaryAB 345 requires the state treasurer to withhold state payments to the federal government if federal aid to the state is unlawfully withheld (e.g., via presidential order or court violation). Specifically, the state must calculate the lost federal aid amount, submit a detailed report within 60 days, and withhold matching state payments up to that loss amount over the next year. Once federal aid is restored, the withheld state funds must be paid to the federal government. The bill directly affects state treasury operations and federal budget coordination, with no impact on federal aid recipients.

Maddy summaryAJR 79 is a ceremonial joint resolution recognizing June 2025 as LGBTQ Pride Month in Wisconsin. It formally acknowledges the state’s historical support for LGBTQ rights - including being the first to pass anti-discrimination laws in 1982 - and highlights ongoing community efforts, though it does not create new policies or affect specific groups. As a symbolic resolution, it has no legal force or binding requirements.

Maddy summaryAB 355 removes specific restrictions on abortion access and requires certain health insurance plans to cover abortion care without cost-sharing. It directly affects patients seeking abortion services and health insurers offering coverage under specified plans. Key provisions eliminate mandatory waiting periods and counseling requirements, while mandating coverage for abortion services in state-regulated health insurance plans. This policy change aims to improve access by removing regulatory barriers and ensuring insurance coverage.

Maddy summaryAB 267 requires Wisconsin state parks to waive all daily admission fees (including any issuing fees) on April 22 each year, commemorating Earth Day and its founder, Gaylord Nelson. This policy directly affects all visitors to Wisconsin state parks on April 22, making entry free on that specific date. The bill creates a new statutory provision (27.01(9)(b)) that mandates this automatic fee waiver annually. It does not change existing fee structures outside of Earth Day or create new funding obligations.

Maddy summaryAB 17 creates tax incentives to encourage business transitions to employee ownership. It provides a credit covering 70% of conversion costs (up to $100,000) for worker-owned cooperatives and 50% (up to $100,000) for employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), plus a deduction for capital gains tax on business transfers to these models. The bill directly affects business owners in Wisconsin who convert their companies to employee ownership structures, requiring employee ownership to exceed 50% to qualify. It also establishes an education program to support these transitions, aiming to make such conversions more financially accessible.

Maddy summaryAJR 81 is a Wisconsin legislative resolution urging federal authorities to immediately release all unredacted documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's criminal activities, including sealed court records and investigative files. It specifically calls for transparency about Epstein's network, which allegedly involved influential individuals across politics and other sectors, while allowing limited redactions only to protect ongoing cases or victim identities. The resolution directs Wisconsin's state officials to send this request to the U.S. President, Attorney General, FBI Director, and Wisconsin's federal lawmakers. As a non-binding resolution (not a law), it does not mandate policy changes but formally advocates for public access to Epstein-related records to promote accountability.