Rep. Alex Joers

Maddy summaryAB 355 removes specific restrictions on abortion access and requires certain health insurance plans to cover abortion care without cost-sharing. It directly affects patients seeking abortion services and health insurers offering coverage under specified plans. Key provisions eliminate mandatory waiting periods and counseling requirements, while mandating coverage for abortion services in state-regulated health insurance plans. This policy change aims to improve access by removing regulatory barriers and ensuring insurance coverage.

Maddy summaryAB 376 repeals key sections of Wisconsin retirement law that required retirees (annuitants) rehired by state agencies to suspend their retirement payments. Specifically, it removes provisions (40.26(1m), 40.26(5m), and 40.26(6)) that mandated annuity suspension when retirees returned to state employment. The bill also amends related statutes to clarify that rehired retirees no longer automatically trigger payment suspension under previous rules. This change directly affects state retirees who return to work for participating employers and the state agencies that employ them. The policy shift simplifies the process by eliminating the requirement to suspend retirement benefits upon rehiring.

Maddy summaryAB 334 requires state highway departments to include bicycle and pedestrian facilities in all new highway projects funded by state or federal money (such as those under statutes §20.395 or §20.866). The bill mandates this unless specific exceptions apply, such as if facility costs exceed 20% of the total project cost, if the location is too constrained, if there's no demonstrated need (e.g., low population/traffic), or if a community refuses to maintain the facilities. It grants the transportation secretary authority to review and approve such exceptions on a case-by-case basis. This directly affects state highway projects and transportation planning decisions across the state.

Maddy summaryAB 267 requires Wisconsin state parks to waive all daily admission fees (including any issuing fees) on April 22 each year, commemorating Earth Day and its founder, Gaylord Nelson. This policy directly affects all visitors to Wisconsin state parks on April 22, making entry free on that specific date. The bill creates a new statutory provision (27.01(9)(b)) that mandates this automatic fee waiver annually. It does not change existing fee structures outside of Earth Day or create new funding obligations.

Maddy summaryAJR 81 is a Wisconsin legislative resolution urging federal authorities to immediately release all unredacted documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's criminal activities, including sealed court records and investigative files. It specifically calls for transparency about Epstein's network, which allegedly involved influential individuals across politics and other sectors, while allowing limited redactions only to protect ongoing cases or victim identities. The resolution directs Wisconsin's state officials to send this request to the U.S. President, Attorney General, FBI Director, and Wisconsin's federal lawmakers. As a non-binding resolution (not a law), it does not mandate policy changes but formally advocates for public access to Epstein-related records to promote accountability.

Maddy summaryAB 314 updates state statutes to replace gendered terms like "husband and wife" with gender-neutral language across numerous legal provisions. The bill specifically amends fishing license statutes (such as 29.219(4), 29.228(5), and 29.228(6)) to use inclusive terms like "spouses" instead of gendered language. It also makes similar changes to marriage and parentage rights throughout the statutes. The bill does not create new rights but ensures consistent gender-neutral terminology in existing legal language. This affects how state agencies and legal documents refer to family relationships in multiple areas of law.

Maddy summaryAB 392 creates a state Task Force focused on addressing the crisis of missing and murdered African American women and girls in Wisconsin. The task force will develop recommendations to improve responses, prevention efforts, and support services for this community. The bill includes a funding appropriation to cover the task force’s operational costs. It was introduced by multiple legislators and referred to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety for further review.

Maddy summaryAB 402 requires all health insurance plans in Wisconsin to cover maternity and newborn care services. It grants the Commissioner of Insurance authority to create specific rules for implementing this coverage requirement. The bill directly affects health insurance providers and ensures these services are included in standard coverage for policyholders.

Maddy summaryAB 396 establishes procedures for the legislature to appoint legal counsel, specifying how the process will be managed internally. This procedural bill affects the legislative body's internal operations but does not change laws or impact the public. It focuses solely on the mechanics of hiring legal staff, without altering substantive policy or affecting constituents.

Maddy summaryAB 213 prohibits hedge funds managing $50 million or more in assets from acquiring or owning single-family homes in the state. It defines "hedge fund" as investment entities meeting specific criteria (not tax-exempt organizations, managing pooled investor funds). Violations require forfeiting the home to the state, enforced by the attorney general, but only apply to ownership acquired after a future effective date - existing holdings are unaffected. The bill directly affects large hedge funds meeting its financial and structural definition, not all real estate investors.