Rep. Angelina Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill honors the life and public service of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a civil rights activist and politician who passed away in February 2026. It formally recognizes his contributions to the American civil rights movement, his work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and his role as a presidential candidate who built a diverse coalition of underserved Americans. The resolution expresses the Wisconsin Legislature's condolences to his family and community while acknowledging his legacy of advocacy for racial equity, economic justice, and voting rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Wisconsin Public Food Administration Authority and includes provisions for its funding. The legislation primarily affects state government by adding this new authority to various legal definitions of state agencies and authorities throughout Wisconsin statutes. Key provisions establish the authority's legal status, grant the Legislative Fiscal Bureau access to its financial records, and require its cooperation with state oversight officials. The bill also includes an appropriation to fund the new authority's operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill would remove specific legal restrictions that currently prohibit state and local government entities from contracting with companies that boycott Israel. By repealing sections 16.75(10p) and 20.931 of the statutes, the legislation aims to eliminate contractual barriers that prevent public agencies from working with businesses involved in such boycotts. The bill also amends related statutes to clarify how state agencies can proceed with procurement decisions without being hindered by these prohibitions. This change would allow government entities to consider all potential bidders without regard to their positions on Israel-related boycotts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of the Ombudsperson for Corrections within the Department of Administration to investigate complaints from prisoners, staff, contractors, and their families regarding abuse, unfair treatment, or rights violations in state correctional facilities and community-based correctional services. The ombudsperson, appointed by the governor with Senate approval, will receive complaints at no cost to the complainant after internal processes are exhausted, investigate facility policies and practices, and make recommendations to facility operators, the governor, or the legislature. The office will have authority to subpoena records and witnesses, require facility operators to cooperate with investigations, and publish annual reports with statistics on complaints and recommendations on a public website. The bill also authorizes funding for the new position and establishes the ombudsperson's role within the state's correctional oversight structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state minimum wage schedule that gradually increases from $15 per hour in 2026 to $20 per hour by 2030, with slightly lower rates for small employers defined as those with 50 or fewer employees. It also sets specific minimum wage rates for tipped employees, which increase more slowly over the same period. Beginning in 2031, the state department of labor gains authority to adjust the minimum wage annually based on changes in the consumer price index. The bill also grants the department power to create rules for special categories of workers, including agricultural employees, students, and those with disabilities, while exempting certain types of casual employment from minimum wage requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $1 million annual grant program to help school districts install or upgrade emergency notification systems that are accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The funding, allocated for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years, is intended to cover the costs of making emergency alert systems compatible with needs of students who cannot hear traditional alarms. Under the legislation, the Department of Public Instruction can award grants to eligible school districts, but the amount awarded cannot exceed what the district actually spent on the installation or upgrade. The bill creates new statutory provisions in the Wisconsin statutes to authorize and regulate this specific grant program.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a moratorium on operating new data centers in the state unless specific conditions are met, directly affecting companies that build or operate large-scale digital storage and processing facilities. It requires the creation of a statewide planning authority and mandates that data centers cannot shift their energy or water costs to residential customers. The legislation also includes requirements for mandatory public reporting of resource usage, environmental safeguards, 100% renewable energy from newly built projects, prevailing wage standards for construction workers, and prior approval by local voters before a data center can be built. Additionally, it prohibits financial subsidies for data centers, bans nondisclosure agreements between data centers and local officials, and restores public utility planning authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new basic health plan for individuals with household incomes below 200 percent of the poverty line and creates a purchase option program allowing eligible people with higher incomes to buy coverage through the state program instead of private insurance. The program would offer benefits similar to existing state coverage, include tax credits for eligible participants, and set premium rates comparable to managed care plans while requiring federal waivers to implement. It also directs the creation of a state-based insurance exchange where individuals can access these purchase options and grants officials authority to create rules needed for implementation. The bill requires a report on federal waiver status and economic analyses by March 2027 before the program can be fully launched.

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 decriminalizes prostitution by removing criminal penalties for consenting adults engaging in sex work and establishes a sex workers' bill of rights. It directly affects sex workers, law enforcement agencies, and employers by prohibiting arrests and charges solely for engaging in sex work while granting workers protections against discrimination, harassment, and unsafe working conditions. The legislation reclassifies sex work as legal labor, ensuring sex workers receive minimum wage protections, access to health benefits, and the right to control their work and negotiate contracts. It also mandates that employers, clients, and service beneficiaries maintain safe working environments free from violence and exploitation. The bill defines sex workers as legitimate sole proprietors or businesses and extends existing worker protections to this group.