Rep. Andrew Hysell

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 600 establishes new rules for faculty tenure and probationary appointments at University of Wisconsin System institutions. It defines "probationary appointments" as temporary positions (capped at 7 consecutive academic years, excluding approved leaves) and "tenure appointments" as permanent roles. The bill requires tenure decisions to follow a multi-step process: a chancellor's recommendation, a committee review if the academic department rejects tenure, and adherence to board-defined rules prohibiting discriminatory or irrelevant factors in decisions. It also clarifies that tenure is institution-specific and mandates procedural safeguards, including due process for dismissals, for both tenured and probationary faculty.

Maddy summaryAB 608 allocates $10 million annually for two years (2025-26 and 2026-27) to support student success and retention programs at University of Wisconsin System institutions and Wisconsin technical colleges. The funding, designated as a continuing appropriation, directly supports institutions in enhancing academic advising and other retention-focused initiatives. It creates new statutory provisions to channel these funds through the University of Wisconsin System and technical college district boards. The bill does not establish new programs but provides dedicated annual funding for existing student support efforts at these public institutions.

Maddy summaryAB 532 updates Wisconsin's unemployment insurance benefit structure. It sets new maximum weekly benefit amounts: $370 for claims starting before January 4, 2026; $497 for claims starting January 4, 2026, through January 2, 2027; and establishes an annual inflation adjustment (using CPI data) for future years. The bill also raises the earnings threshold that reduces benefits from $500 to $672 for claims starting January 4, 2026, with future adjustments tied to inflation. These changes directly affect unemployed workers qualifying for state unemployment benefits by modifying benefit caps and the income level at which benefits decrease.

Maddy summaryAB 474 repeals two existing statutes (103.007 and 109.09(3)) that prevented local governments from creating their own employment regulations. This change would allow cities and counties to establish their own rules on issues like minimum wage, scheduling, or workplace safety, rather than being restricted by state law. The bill directly affects local governments and employers operating within municipalities that wish to implement stricter or different employment standards than the state currently permits. It is a procedural repeal with no new provisions or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryAB 468 modifies unemployment insurance eligibility rules for workers terminated due to misconduct. It creates a new definition of "misconduct" that includes deliberate violations of workplace policies, excessive absenteeism without valid reasons, and willful violations of government regulations. The bill requires workers terminated for misconduct to wait 7 weeks and earn wages equal to 14 times their weekly benefit rate before requalifying for benefits. These changes directly affect workers who lose jobs for specific workplace conduct and employers who pay into unemployment insurance funds.

Maddy summaryAB 593 amends Wisconsin statutes to clarify and strengthen collective bargaining processes for University of Wisconsin System employees covered by union contracts. It requires pay increases to align with existing compensation plans or collective bargaining agreements, prohibits closed-session negotiations for finalizing agreements, and updates funding mechanisms for grievance arbitrations and training. The bill directly affects UW System employees in unionized positions and their bargaining representatives. Key provisions include revised rules for pay adjustments, transparency in negotiation procedures, and specific appropriations for dispute resolution services under existing labor laws.

Maddy summaryAB 641 creates a dedicated $500,000 annual appropriation for the University of Wisconsin Missing-in-Action (MIA) Recovery and Identification Project within the 2025-27 fiscal biennium. The bill directly affects Wisconsin veterans missing in action by funding their recovery and identification efforts through the University of Wisconsin System. It requires the UW Board of Regents to allocate funds annually for this mission and mandates a detailed report on findings and spending to state legislative committees, the governor, and veterans agencies. The legislation establishes a continuing funding mechanism without altering existing veterans' benefits or services.