Rep. Angela Stroud

Maddy summaryAB 743 adds post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosed from military service as a potential mitigating factor in sentencing for veterans convicted of crimes. It specifically applies to veterans (defined as those who served in U.S. armed forces) who have a documented PTSD diagnosis linked to their military service. Courts may now consider this PTSD diagnosis when determining sentences, potentially leading to reduced penalties. The bill takes effect for offenses committed after it becomes law.

Maddy summaryAB 736 requires state correctional facilities and county jails to provide free, nontoxic menstrual products to all inmates with active menstrual cycles. It mandates facilities to offer at least three verified brands each of tampons (with plastic applicator), pads, and reusable menstrual cups from a published list of nontoxic products. The bill defines "nontoxic" as free from harmful chemicals and requires facilities to sanitize reusable cups as needed. This directly affects incarcerated people who menstruate, ensuring access to essential hygiene products without cost. The law applies to all state prisons, county jails, and houses of correction in the state.

Maddy summaryAJR 120 is a resolution celebrating the U.S. Postal Service's 250th anniversary and opposing efforts to privatize, dismantle, or weaken it. It highlights the Postal Service's role in delivering essential services - such as prescriptions, ballots, and mail - to all communities, including rural, remote, and Indigenous areas that private companies often bypass. The resolution urges continued public funding and protection of the Postal Service as a vital national institution that serves all Americans regardless of geography or income. (This is a procedural resolution, not a law, so it does not create new policies or directly affect specific groups.)

Maddy summaryAB 739 prohibits state and local government agencies, including law enforcement, from detaining individuals solely based on their immigration status. It specifically bans officials from aiding federal immigration enforcement efforts that target people for being undocumented, while allowing access to facilities under valid judicial warrants. The bill also prohibits state or local governments from entering into or continuing agreements with the federal government that enable local police to enforce federal immigration law (such as 8 USC 1357(g) agreements). This directly affects all state agencies, local governments, and law enforcement entities in the state by restricting their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The law creates new restrictions on state and local actions, not on federal policies.

Maddy summaryAB 744 would provide free vehicle access to Wisconsin state parks for veterans and gold star families. The bill creates a new statute allowing any vehicle (excluding motor buses) occupied by a veteran - verified using the federal definition in 38 USC 101 - or a family member meeting gold star lapel button criteria (per 10 USC 1126) to enter parks without paying admission fees. It directly affects eligible veterans and surviving family members of service members who died in combat. The policy change removes a fee requirement for these groups when entering parks by private vehicle, with proof of eligibility required at the park entrance. The bill is currently in committee review after its December 2025 introduction.

Maddy summaryAB 728 creates a new statute (302.47) requiring immediate access (less than 24 hours' notice) for specific oversight personnel to visit correctional facilities. It directly affects state legislators on relevant committees and county employees overseeing jail operations, granting them access to residential areas, cells, dining areas, and prisoner discussions. Facilities may deny immediate access only between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. (with daytime access within 72 hours) or if the requester has exceeded 12 annual visits. The bill aims to enhance transparency by enabling regular oversight visits without unnecessary delays.

Maddy summaryAB 734 establishes specific temperature standards for state correctional institutions and county jails, requiring indoor temperatures to stay between 68°F and 76°F at all times in housing units. It mandates facilities to record temperatures in common areas and random cells during extreme weather (below 10°F or above 90°F) and submit annual reports to the legislature. The bill appropriates $65 million for 2026-27 to install and operate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, with phased implementation: one-third of facilities by 2029, another third by 2031, and the final third by 2035. This directly affects all state prisons and county jails/houses of correction in Wisconsin, requiring them to meet new climate control requirements and report compliance data.

Maddy summaryAB 725 requires state prisons and county jails to notify designated family members within 24 hours when an inmate faces restrictions affecting visits or communication (like solitary confinement). It also mandates an online public dashboard updated every 48 hours, showing current restrictions (with reasons and duration), solitary confinement numbers broken down by reason, and total inmate counts. The bill funds these systems with $780,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $275,000 for 2026-27, plus temporary staff to implement them. These changes directly affect inmates, their families, and correctional facilities by increasing transparency around restrictive practices.

Maddy summaryAB 726 requires all inmates in state correctional institutions and county jails to be paid a minimum wage of at least the hourly rate specified in statute 104.035(3)(a)1, with an immediate $2.33 per hour increase effective upon enactment. The bill mandates that wages must be based on productivity but cannot fall below this minimum rate, applies to all labor performed by inmates, and prohibits wage reductions without board approval. It also appropriates $58.9 million for 2025-26 and $88.4 million for 2026-27 to cover the increased inmate wages in state facilities, plus smaller sums for correctional enterprises. The law directly affects incarcerated individuals by guaranteeing a minimum wage for their labor, while ensuring funds are allocated to cover these new payment obligations.

Maddy summaryAB 729 requires all state correctional institutions and county jails to install transparent windows in inmate cells by October 2030 that are at least 1.5 square feet and provide 92% visibility to the outdoors. It mandates that every inmate must have access to view outdoors through such windows for at least 3 hours daily (unless in lockdown or solitary), achievable via time outdoors, in-cell viewing, or shared facility windows. The bill directly affects all state prisons and county jails in the state, requiring physical modifications to cell structures. Funding of $500,000 for 2025-26 and $3 million for 2026-27 is allocated specifically for window installation under this law.