Rep. Brent Jacobson

Maddy summaryAJR 133 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to suspend any state agency rule through a joint resolution approved by a majority of all elected members in both houses. If enacted, the legislature could immediately halt the enforcement of agency rules (for a set period or indefinitely) without requiring governor approval or following standard lawmaking procedures. The suspension would make the rule unenforceable during the suspension period, shifting authority from agencies to the legislature regarding rule implementation. This change would require voter approval after legislative passage, as it modifies the state constitution.

Maddy summaryAJR 10 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would amend Article I, Section 18 to prohibit state or local governments from closing places of worship or banning gatherings there during a state of emergency (including public health emergencies). If approved by voters, this change would directly affect religious congregations and local officials responsible for emergency orders. The amendment would require that places of worship be treated equally with other businesses during emergencies, preventing restrictions specifically targeting them. This is a voter-approved constitutional change, not a law, and is currently awaiting submission to the November 2026 ballot.

Maddy summaryAB 1027 requires the state's Department of Health Services to compile and share specific data about the food stamp program (SNAP) with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) within six months of the bill's effective date. The data must cover individuals who received, are receiving, or applied for benefits under SNAP since January 1, 2020, as specified in a July 2025 USDA letter implementing a federal executive order. This law directly affects the state agency responsible for administering SNAP, mandating a formal data-sharing process with federal authorities. The bill does not change eligibility or benefits but establishes a new administrative requirement for state-federal data coordination.

Maddy summaryAB 955 limits state agencies' ability to interpret laws by requiring explicit statutory permission before creating rules that interpret statutes they enforce. It adds a new section (227.11(1m)) stating agencies cannot interpret laws without specific legislative authorization. The bill also repeals existing language that allowed broader agency interpretation authority and reorganizes related sections. This directly affects all state agencies that develop rules for enforcing or administering laws, ensuring they cannot interpret statutes without clear prior legislative permission. The change focuses on clarifying rule-making boundaries, not altering policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryAB 750 amends state rules for admitting students to technical college programs. It establishes new admission priority rules for in-state residents versus non-residents (Section 38.22(5)(a)) and creates two new options for community college districts (Section 38.22(5)(b)). Districts may now reserve program spaces for students facing hardship or participating in school-to-work programs, or for protective services training like law enforcement, firefighting, or emergency medical services. These changes give colleges flexibility to address specific student needs and workforce preparation goals within existing admission frameworks.

Maddy summaryAB 100 requires public and participating private schools to designate athletic teams and sports as "males" or "females" based solely on the sex assigned at birth (as recorded on a birth certificate). It prohibits students assigned male at birth from participating on female-designated teams or using female-designated locker rooms. The bill allows students denied participation or harmed by violations to sue for relief, and gives schools legal recourse if they face penalties for following the policy. This directly affects student athletes in school sports programs and defines participation eligibility based on biological sex at birth.

Maddy summaryAB 103 requires all school boards to adopt policies by July 2026 governing changes to a student’s legal name or pronouns in official school records. It mandates that students under 18 need parental consent (with documentation or an affidavit for name changes), while students 18+ can use an affidavit verifying legal name change and consistent use of new name. School staff must use a minor’s legally provided name/pronouns unless parents provide written authorization for exceptions (e.g., shortened names), and schools must notify parents before approving name changes for minors. The bill aims to balance student privacy, parental rights, and school record accuracy while aligning with federal student privacy laws.

Maddy summaryAB 102 requires University of Wisconsin and technical college athletic programs to designate intercollegiate and club sports teams exclusively for "males" or "females" based on birth sex as recorded on a student's birth certificate. It prohibits students assigned male at birth from participating on teams designated for females or using female-designated locker rooms. The bill creates legal remedies for female students denied participation or harmed by violations, and for institutions facing penalties for compliance. It applies to all such teams starting in the first semester after the law takes effect, overriding existing anti-discrimination protections for these specific athletic contexts.

Maddy summaryAB 104 prohibits health care providers from performing or referring minors under 18 for medical interventions intended to change their physical characteristics to match a gender different from their biological sex. It specifically bans surgeries (like hysterectomy or orchiectomy), mastectomies, puberty-blocking drugs, and high-dose cross-sex hormone treatments. Exceptions apply for genetic disorders of sex development, treating complications from prior procedures, or immediate life-threatening conditions. Violations could result in license revocation for health care providers by the licensing board.

Maddy summaryAssembly Bill 202 primarily removes residential rental agreements from the scope of the Wisconsin Consumer Act. It changes how certain problematic provisions in residential leases are handled, allowing tenants to elect to void the entire agreement or sever only the voidable clauses, rather than the agreement being automatically void. Such voidable clauses include those that authorize landlords to take action against tenants for contacting law enforcement or health services, or for being a victim of a crime. If a tenant voids the agreement, it converts to a periodic tenancy under similar terms, or if a provision is severed, the rest of the agreement remains in effect. Tenants who suffer financial loss due to these voidable provisions can sue for double damages, costs, and attorney fees, excluding rent payments.