Rep. Mike Bare

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans and self-insured programs to stop using the Salzmann Evaluation Index alone when deciding whether to cover treatment for severe misalignment or malocclusion of teeth. It directly affects dental coverage under disability insurance policies, self-insured plans, limited service health organizations, preferred provider plans, and defined network plans. The law mandates that these plans must consider additional factors beyond the index when making prior authorization decisions for orthodontic treatments. The changes apply to policy years starting after the law takes effect, with specific timing for plans affected by collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric utilities in the state to send notices to customers whenever they request rate changes from the public service commission. The notices must explain how proposed or approved rate changes would affect average residential and commercial bills, and inform customers where to find copies of the rate case application and request detailed explanations. Utilities must deliver these notices through their existing billing methods and on their websites, with the content updating after the commission issues its final decision. The law applies starting with rate case applications filed after the bill takes effect.

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 establishes a state-based health insurance exchange and provides funding for its operation. It requires the state insurance commissioner to set up an exchange that joins the federal platform by 2029 and transitions to a fully state-run system by 2030. The legislation creates a new fee structure where insurers using the exchange pay a 0.5 percent charge on premiums during the federal platform phase, with different rates applying after the transition. Additionally, it sets rules for how unspent funds from the exchange program must be handled at the end of each fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance policies and self-insured plans in Wisconsin to cover speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering, including both services that help maintain or improve skills and those that restore lost abilities. The law applies to disability insurance policies and health plans offered by the state, counties, cities, towns, villages, and school districts, ensuring coverage regardless of whether the stuttering is developmental or caused by other factors. Key provisions mandate that covered plans cannot impose annual visit limits, deny coverage based on the cause of stuttering, or require prior authorization for speech therapy services. The bill also includes telehealth options and establishes a process for the state insurance commissioner to seek federal waivers if the new requirements would trigger additional state costs under federal healthcare laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to update the legal definition of a political action committee (PAC) for campaign finance purposes in the state statutes. It would classify a group as a PAC if it spends more than $1,000 in a 12-month period on express advocacy, referendum support or opposition, or contributions to candidates, legislative committees, or political parties. The definition specifically excludes fundraising and administrative expenses from the spending calculation. This change would affect how organizations are categorized and regulated under campaign finance laws. The bill was introduced in March 2026 but failed to pass the Senate.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits employers from including clauses in employment contracts that require former employees to refrain from speaking negatively about their former employers after leaving the job. The law declares such nondisparagement provisions illegal, void, and unenforceable because they impose an unreasonable restraint on trade. Employers must also post a notice in conspicuous locations and on their websites informing current and former employees that these clauses are not legally binding. The restrictions apply to contracts entered into, extended, modified, or renewed on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow corporations, cooperatives, labor organizations, and federally recognized American Indian Tribes to make contributions to segregated political funds, but only up to a total of $12,000 per calendar year. The law currently prohibits these entities from contributing to most political committees, with this change creating a specific exception for segregated funds. The bill does not permit these groups to contribute to independent expenditure committees or referendum committees. This provision would apply to both foreign and domestic corporations as well as the other specified organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a grant program to help Wisconsin municipalities and community organizations earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications for their buildings. The Department of Administration would administer the program, awarding grants specifically for LEED certification costs. The legislation appropriates $1 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year to fund these grants. The bill also establishes the legal framework for the program within state statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to repeal a specific section of the state statutes that governs how members of the legislature manage and preserve their personal records and correspondence. By removing this provision, the legislation would eliminate the current legal requirements for legislators to maintain and archive their official documents and communications. The change directly affects state legislators who would no longer be subject to the specific record-keeping rules outlined in the repealed statute. This is a procedural amendment that modifies existing legislative record management policies without adding new obligations or restrictions.