Rep. Lori Palmeri

Maddy summaryAJR 69 is a commemorative joint resolution honoring the late Wisconsin State Representative Terrence A. "Terry" Willkom, who died in 2025. The resolution formally recognizes his public service in the Wisconsin Assembly (1971-1976), including his role as majority leader, and his personal legacy, while extending condolences to his family. As a ceremonial measure, it does not create new laws or affect any policies.

Maddy summaryAB 343 increases state funding to help schools hire more mental health staff by reimbursing 50% of new spending on pupil services professionals (like counselors and social workers). It directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and participating private schools that increase their spending on these roles. The bill adds $16.5 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and $18 million for 2026-27 to the existing mental health aid appropriation. This creates a new reimbursement mechanism for schools that expand their mental health staffing beyond prior-year levels.

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 The bill repeals outdated sections of existing law and updates funding allocations for quality improvement activities.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 summaryThis joint resolution (AJR 70) formally proclaims June 2025 as "Immigrant Heritage Month" in Wisconsin. It recognizes the historical and ongoing contributions of immigrants to Wisconsin's culture, economy, and communities, citing statistics such as 308,000 immigrants in the state and their $13.5 billion in annual household income. The resolution does not create new laws or policies; it is a ceremonial declaration urging Wisconsinites to celebrate immigrant contributions and reject prejudice. It directly affects the public by designating a month for community recognition, with no specific groups or programs being altered or funded.

Maddy summaryAB 288 prohibits retailers and plant providers from labeling plants as "beneficial to pollinators" if those plants were treated with systemic insecticides that carry pollinator warnings on their labels (such as "bee protection" statements or environmental hazard notices). The law directly affects businesses selling plants at retail or to end users, requiring them to avoid misleading claims about pollinator benefits when insecticides with specific warnings were used. Key provisions define "systemic insecticide" and require that labeling aligns with the insecticide's actual pollinator safety status. This creates a clear policy change: plants treated with pollinator-risk insecticides cannot be marketed as pollinator-friendly, aiming to prevent consumer confusion about environmental impact.

Maddy summaryAB 338 requires most health insurance plans (including those offered by state/local governments) to cover at least 28 annual therapy visits for mental health or substance use disorders without prior authorization. It mandates that insurers provide this minimum coverage per policy year, based on the insured's treatment goals. The law includes a cost-check mechanism: if insurers' actuarial analysis shows coverage would increase plan costs by over 10%, enforcement may be paused. This directly affects health insurers, self-insured public employer plans, and individuals seeking mental health/substance use treatment. The bill takes effect for new policy years starting after its publication date.

Maddy summaryAB 333 creates a refundable tax credit for low-income residents who purchase bicycles (including electric bikes) for their dependents. Eligible claimants - those with family income under 200% of the federal poverty line - can claim up to $200 per dependent annually, based on actual purchase costs. The credit is refundable, meaning unused portions are paid directly by the state via a dedicated appropriation. Claimants must submit proof of purchase with their tax return and meet residency and income requirements.

Maddy summaryAJR 76 proposes removing a constitutional ban that currently defines marriage as only between one man and one woman. If passed, this change would eliminate the restriction preventing the state from recognizing same-sex marriages or creating equivalent legal status for unmarried couples. The bill directly affects all residents by removing a constitutional barrier to marriage equality, allowing the state to legally recognize same-sex marriages without requiring separate legal frameworks.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $2 million annually for two years to fund LGBTQIA+ rights training for school counselors and social workers in Wisconsin public schools. It requires school boards to provide department-approved training on LGBTQIA+ rights, defined as including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other nonheterosexual or noncisgender identities. The training must be developed or approved by the state Department of Public Instruction. School counselors and social workers employed by participating school boards will directly receive this training through the grant program. The funding is tied to specific statutory provisions creating new grant categories under education budgets.

Maddy summaryAB 336 would allocate $11 million annually for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to fund additional mental and behavioral health services at the University of Wisconsin System. The bill specifically directs these funds toward improving student health services through enhanced staffing, training, prevention programs, and assessment tools. It directly affects all University of Wisconsin System campuses and their students by expanding access to mental health support. The funding mechanism is a direct state appropriation with no additional requirements for institutions.