Maddy summaryThis bill would update Wisconsin's voter registration rules to ensure that people living in certain residential care facilities and retirement homes can request absentee ballots. It also establishes a process for the state election commission to automatically restore voting rights for individuals whose previous court rulings declared them ineligible to vote, provided a later court review overturns that decision. Under the proposed changes, the commission must notify affected voters of their eligibility within three business days and provide them with the necessary forms to re-register if needed. The legislation aims to streamline administrative procedures and correct past determinations without requiring voters to navigate complex legal hurdles to regain their right to vote.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits cities, villages, towns, and counties in Wisconsin from using their own funds to pay individuals under guaranteed income programs. It defines these programs as those providing regular, unearned cash payments that recipients can use for any purpose, while explicitly excluding initiatives that require work or training. The law restricts the use of local tax revenues, shared state funds, and fees for these payments, effectively banning municipal funding for such initiatives.
Maddy summaryThis Wisconsin bill proposes allowing the Secretary of Administration to temporarily transfer employees from any state agency to the Department of Workforce Development to help manage unemployment insurance appeals. Under the plan, transferred workers would serve as appeal tribunal members for up to 120 days, with the option to extend this period if the Joint Committee on Finance approves. The legislation ensures that neither the employee's original agency nor the Department of Workforce Development can raise the transferred employee's salary during the assignment. Although the bill was passed by the legislature, the Governor vetoed it in August 2023, and subsequent attempts to override the veto failed.
Maddy summaryThis bill, which was vetoed by the Governor, sought to change how Wisconsin taxes peer-to-peer car sharing services like Turo or Getaround. It aimed to exempt individuals who rent out their own vehicles through these platforms from local sales taxes that typically apply to commercial rental companies. The legislation would have also clarified that these private owners do not need to pay the standard vehicle sales tax again when they purchase a car specifically for sharing. Ultimately, the bill did not become law because the Governor rejected it.
Maddy summaryAB 545 proposed changes to the composition of the board of directors for Wisconsin's technical college districts. The bill aimed to adjust how members are selected or appointed to ensure broader representation within these educational institutions. Although the legislation passed the legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law. Consequently, the original membership structure for these districts remains unchanged.
Maddy summaryThis Wisconsin bill creates a revolving loan fund to help licensed child care providers finance renovations to their facilities. The program provides interest-free loans with no repayment fees, offering up to $30,000 for in-home care providers and up to $95,000 for center-based providers. To qualify, providers must submit a business plan and financial forecast, and they must maintain enrollment of children who are not relatives of the provider. The state retains the right to terminate the loan and demand immediate repayment if the facility fails to meet enrollment requirements or if the provider becomes unable to repay the debt. Although the bill passed the legislature, the Governor vetoed it, and the state legislature did not override the veto.
Maddy summaryAssembly Bill 150 updates Wisconsin's unemployment insurance law to rename the program "reemployment assistance" and establishes a new division within the Department of Workforce Development to manage it. The bill tightens eligibility rules by requiring job seekers to make at least two direct contacts with employers each week after their first week of benefits and mandates that they post current resumes on the state's job center website. Additionally, the legislation requires claimants nearing the end of their benefits to attend reemployment counseling and ensures they are offered at least four specific job opportunities weekly, including those with temporary staffing agencies. The bill also mandates that the department immediately create rules for drug testing applicants in occupations where such testing is standard and requires the state to continue participating in federal reemployment grants.
Maddy summaryThis Wisconsin bill defines voters who are indefinitely confined due to age, frailty, illness, or disability as eligible to automatically receive absentee ballots. It allows these individuals to apply for ballots via fax or email without needing to mail a physical application form and permits them to submit a copy of their signature instead of an original. The legislation also establishes a penalty for officials who fail to provide these ballots to eligible voters. Although the bill was passed by the legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor and subsequently failed to override that veto.