Rep. Renuka Mayadev

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.

Maddy summaryAJR 108 proposes adding a constitutional amendment to guarantee equality of rights under state law, prohibiting discrimination by state or local government based on characteristics like sex, gender identity, race, disability, religion, or other immutable traits. It would create a new right for individuals to directly sue the state or local government in court if their rights under this amendment are violated. This amendment, if approved, would establish a constitutional standard for equality and provide a legal path for people to seek remedies when state actors deny them equal treatment.

Maddy summaryAB 356 requires firearms stored in a residence to be kept securely when a child is present, prohibiting unsafe storage. It directly affects residents who keep firearms in homes where children live or visit. The bill establishes penalties for failing to store firearms safely under these circumstances. Key provisions mandate secure storage (e.g., locked containers or safes) and define violations with associated fines or penalties. The bill is currently in committee referral after introduction.

Maddy summaryAB 290 creates a special vehicle registration plate titled "Protect Pollinators" with a voluntary $25 annual or $50 biennial fee for vehicle owners who choose it. All fees collected beyond $23,700 (or production costs, whichever is less) are deposited into the conservation fund to support pollinator protection programs. The plate must display "Protect Pollinators" and cover the entire plate, as specified in the bill. This directly affects Wisconsin vehicle owners who select this plate option, directing funds toward conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryAB 622 amends Wisconsin's unemployment insurance law to extend the period during which job seekers may refuse work without losing benefits from 6 to 10 weeks after becoming unemployed. It clarifies that workers who quit jobs they could have refused (e.g., due to unsafe conditions) may still qualify for benefits within this 10-week window, regardless of their stated reason for leaving. The bill also updates the definition for "suitable work" in the 7th-11th week of unemployment to require wages above the lowest wage quartile for similar jobs in the area. These changes directly affect unemployed workers applying for benefits and the Department of Workforce Development’s eligibility determinations.

Maddy summaryAB 577 increases annual funding for Wisconsin's birth defect prevention and monitoring system from $95,000 to $500,000, plus adds 3.3 full-time staff positions for the Department of Health Services to maintain the system. The bill allocates an additional $405,000 for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support this program. It directly affects the Department of Health Services, which will use the funds to operate the birth defect surveillance system. The bill makes concrete changes to existing funding levels without altering program requirements or eligibility.

Maddy summaryAB 570 redirects remaining scholarship funds to public school districts when students switch schools. If a student withdraws from a private school under a parental choice program, the Special Needs Scholarship Program, or an independent charter school during a school year and enrolls in a public school district, the state department must pay the unused scholarship amount to that district instead of the original school. This applies to all specified programs and covers the remainder of the school year's funding. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026. It directly affects students transferring programs, public school districts receiving funds, and the state's scholarship payment process.

Maddy summaryAB 635 requires the state environmental department to notify county health departments, tribal health departments, and county land conservation departments within 7 business days whenever groundwater protection standards or PFAS standards are exceeded. The bill creates a formal notification system to alert affected local governments and adjacent counties that might face negative impacts, with notices available for public review under state law. This law directly affects local health and land management agencies in counties where water contamination breaches are confirmed, ensuring timely public awareness of groundwater safety issues.

Maddy summaryAB 656 eliminates a legal exception that previously protected spouses from prosecution for sex crimes against child spouses. It amends statutes 948.09 (sexual intercourse with a child age 16+) and 948.093 (underage sexual activity) to remove the provision stating these laws "do not apply if the child is the defendant’s spouse." This change directly affects individuals in marriages where one spouse was a minor at the time of marriage, making spousal relationships no longer a defense for sex crimes against children. The bill also updates marriage-related provisions, including allowing minors under 18 to file for divorce (767.185) and clarifying consent requirements for minors seeking marriage licenses.

Maddy summaryAB 97 extends health coverage under Wisconsin's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance) for postpartum women from 60 days to 365 days after pregnancy, directly affecting pregnant and postpartum women who qualify for the program. The bill changes eligibility rules to ensure coverage continues without regard to income changes during this extended period. It also adds a provision allowing women with family incomes above 300% of the poverty line to qualify if their income is spent on medical care or health insurance premiums. This policy update aims to provide longer-term health coverage for new mothers during a critical postpartum period.