Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez

Maddy summaryAB 600 establishes new rules for faculty tenure and probationary appointments at University of Wisconsin System institutions. It defines "probationary appointments" as temporary positions (capped at 7 consecutive academic years, excluding approved leaves) and "tenure appointments" as permanent roles. The bill requires tenure decisions to follow a multi-step process: a chancellor's recommendation, a committee review if the academic department rejects tenure, and adherence to board-defined rules prohibiting discriminatory or irrelevant factors in decisions. It also clarifies that tenure is institution-specific and mandates procedural safeguards, including due process for dismissals, for both tenured and probationary faculty.

Maddy summaryAB 591 modifies Wisconsin's fee remission program for veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or technical colleges. It removes outdated provisions (like sections 36.27 (3n) (bm) 2. and 39.50 (3m)) and clarifies that the state will reimburse institutions for waived tuition and fees, with proration if funds are insufficient. This directly affects veterans and dependents who qualify for fee waivers, ensuring they receive proportional reimbursement when state funds fall short. The changes take effect for students enrolled in Fall 2026.

Maddy summaryAB 513 modifies Wisconsin law to clarify procedures for employment discrimination cases involving unfair honesty testing or genetic testing. It allows individuals or the department to file civil lawsuits in circuit court within 300 days of an alleged violation, with courts able to award compensatory damages and punitive damages up to specific caps based on employer size (e.g., $50,000 for businesses with ≤100 employees). The bill also establishes a process for automatic annual adjustments to these damage caps using the consumer price index. It ensures complainants receive clear notices about their right to pursue legal action after administrative decisions.

Maddy summaryAB 583 helps people wrongfully imprisoned in Wisconsin by providing them with tax-exempt compensation, health coverage, and transition support. It exempts state compensation payments for wrongful imprisonment from state income tax, covers health insurance premiums (with shared costs), and requires a 5-day transition plan for released individuals to access housing, job help, and healthcare. The bill creates new funding mechanisms (like appropriations under 20.515) to pay for these benefits and mandates state agencies to coordinate with counties on post-release support. It directly affects individuals who receive state compensation under wrongful imprisonment claims (s. 775.05) and the state budget.

Maddy summaryAB 469 modifies Wisconsin's unemployment insurance rules for claimants who concealed work. It repeals outdated provisions and amends Section 108.04(11)(bm) to clarify that claimants who hid work (triggering ineligibility) will not earn "waiting period credit" during their ineligibility period. Instead, if no benefit rate applies to their claim week, the department will use their next benefit year's rate to calculate any reduction. This directly affects unemployed workers who previously concealed employment when filing for benefits.

Maddy summaryAB 594 creates a state income tax subtraction for Wisconsin taxpayers who pay principal or interest on qualified education loans (defined by federal tax code). It allows a deduction of up to $5,130 for 2026, adjusted annually based on the previous year's August CPI inflation rate (rounded to the nearest $10). The subtraction excludes amounts withdrawn from college savings accounts and payments already deducted for federal income tax purposes. This policy directly affects Wisconsin residents with qualifying education loans by reducing their state taxable income.

Maddy summaryAB 465 revises state law to require permits for most employment of minors under 16 years old, with specific exemptions for home-based work not tied to the employer's business, nonprofit work for elderly or disabled individuals (e.g., snow shoveling), and election inspector roles. Employers must obtain and maintain these permits, and failure to produce them during inspections is considered evidence of unlawful employment. The bill also prohibits advertising for minor employment during school hours without stating the required minimum age and bans soliciting minors to leave school for work. Additionally, it removes an exception allowing minors to work during school hours with a permit, making such employment illegal.

Maddy summaryAB 532 updates Wisconsin's unemployment insurance benefit structure. It sets new maximum weekly benefit amounts: $370 for claims starting before January 4, 2026; $497 for claims starting January 4, 2026, through January 2, 2027; and establishes an annual inflation adjustment (using CPI data) for future years. The bill also raises the earnings threshold that reduces benefits from $500 to $672 for claims starting January 4, 2026, with future adjustments tied to inflation. These changes directly affect unemployed workers qualifying for state unemployment benefits by modifying benefit caps and the income level at which benefits decrease.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Wisconsin state highway maps to specifically identify the Brooklyn Area Veterans Memorial in Brooklyn, Green County. It creates a new statutory reference (84.02 (5) (d) 2. r.) to ensure the memorial's location appears on official state highway maps. The bill directly affects state transportation mapping practices but does not alter veterans' benefits, funding, or other policies. This is a procedural change to improve map accuracy for the memorial's location.

Maddy summaryAB 10 creates a sales and use tax exemption for gun safes specifically designed to store firearms, excluding general gun storage items like locking cabinets or racks. This exemption applies to buyers purchasing qualifying safes, meaning they won’t pay state sales or use tax on these items. The bill amends tax statutes to explicitly list gun safes under exempt categories, ensuring retailers don’t need to collect tax for these purchases. It directly affects consumers and retailers selling purpose-built gun safes, with no impact on other firearm-related products or tax policies.