Rep. Alex Joers

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression in Wisconsin public schools and private schools that receive state funding through parental choice or scholarship programs. It requires these schools to adopt written policies for handling discrimination complaints and mandates that schools admitting only one sex must still allow students whose gender identity aligns with that sex. The legislation also adds gender identity and gender expression to the list of protected characteristics for hiring teachers and administrative staff, while allowing religious schools to decline instruction in religions other than their own. Additionally, the bill establishes penalties of up to $1,000 for officials who intentionally discriminate against students or staff in violation of these provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school districts in Wisconsin to ensure teachers have at least 45 minutes of daily self-directed preparation time, equivalent to one full class period. The provision applies to teachers covered by collective bargaining agreements or contracts, taking effect when those agreements expire or are modified. The legislation amends existing state statutes to mandate this preparation time as part of teachers' daily schedules.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits vaping on all public and private school property, including classrooms, playgrounds, and athletic facilities. It defines electronic smoking devices broadly to include e-cigarettes, vape pens, and similar products, regardless of whether they contain nicotine. The law applies to students, staff, and visitors on school grounds and allows schools or local governments to adopt even stricter rules if they choose.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits unfair pricing on food and beverages sold at publicly funded stadiums in the state. It directly affects stadium owners, operators, and concessionaires who sell items to fans at these venues. The law defines a stadium as a large facility with at least 3,000 seats that receives public financial support, while excluding schools and tribal schools from the restriction. Under the new rules, concessionaires cannot charge more than the retail cost of food or drinks plus a 20 percent markup. Selling items at higher prices would be classified as an unfair trade practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new section in state statutes to regulate how online services collect and use personal data from minors under 18 years old. It applies to businesses that operate online services in the state, earn most of their revenue from those services, and are likely to be accessed by minors. The law requires covered businesses to implement age-appropriate design features, restrict the collection of sensitive data like biometric and genetic information from minors, and prevent compulsive use patterns that disrupt a minor's daily activities. The bill also grants the state rule-making authority to establish specific standards for how these protections should be implemented and enforced.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes constitutional changes to give voters the power to directly reject laws passed by the legislature and to propose new laws or constitutional amendments themselves. Under the referendum provision, citizens could collect signatures equal to at least 4% of the last gubernatorial vote to force a vote on rejecting specific legislation, with rejected laws barred from being reenacted during the same session. The initiative provision would allow voters to propose laws or amendments by gathering signatures equal to 6% for laws or 8% for constitutional changes, with proposed measures limited to a single subject and requiring a 120-day waiting period before elections. The bill also prohibits payments based on the number of petition signatures collected and would require any approved initiative laws to be protected from legislative repeal for two years, with stricter rules for constitutional amendments.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require election officials to exclude candidates from federal ballots if there is conclusive evidence that the candidate is ineligible under the U.S. Constitution to hold the office. It directly affects election administrators and candidates for president, vice president, and other national offices by mandating that they verify constitutional eligibility before allowing names on ballots. The law specifies that ineligibility must be clear through candidate admission or other conclusive proof, and it prevents presidential electors from voting for candidates who are constitutionally ineligible. The bill creates new statutory sections to codify these requirements in state election laws.

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 would limit when health insurance companies can ask people to pay back money they already received for medical claims. It directly affects individuals with disability insurance policies, health maintenance organizations, and other health coverage plans. Under the new rules, insurers can only request repayment of already paid claims within 12 months of the initial payment, or 18 months if the claim involved coordination with other programs like Medicare or state medical assistance. The only exception allows retroactive denials if the original claim information was found to be fraudulent.