Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner

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 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 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directly affects state legislators who would no longer be subject to the specific record-keeping rules outlined in the repealed statute.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.

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts how Wisconsin calculates and distributes state funding for special education costs and general school aid. It modifies the reimbursement rate for special education expenses, allowing the state to distribute up to 100 percent of eligible costs rather than a lower fixed percentage. The legislation also increases the general school aid appropriation for the 2026-27 fiscal year by approximately $446 million to support public school districts. These changes directly affect school districts and the state Department of Public Instruction by altering how funds are allocated and calculated for educational programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public and private elementary and secondary schools and licensed child care centers with fuel-burning appliances to install carbon monoxide detectors in rooms containing those appliances. The law specifies that detectors must be battery-powered or permanently wired with monitoring for older buildings, while newer buildings must have permanently wired, monitored detectors certified by an independent safety organization. Schools can apply for up to $3,000 grants to purchase and install these detectors, and the Department of Justice will provide annual reports on grant usage. The bill also updates maintenance requirements and allows authorized inspectors to check detector functionality in covered facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes cities, villages, towns, and counties to establish fair housing departments to educate residents about housing discrimination rights and enforce local fair housing ordinances. It creates a grant program that provides up to $10 million in state funding to help local governments set up these departments, with grants distributed across state regions to ensure equitable access. The legislation includes specific rules for grant applications, limits each region to receiving no more than 12.5 percent of available funds, and restricts grant usage to supporting fair housing department operations. The bill also establishes a sunset provision that prevents new grants from being awarded after June 30, 2029.

Maddy summaryAB 1008 clarifies eligibility for Wisconsin's child care subsidy program (Wisconsin Shares) by expanding "relative" definitions to include "like-kin" caregivers. It allows non-relatives who provide care as family (e.g., close family friends) to qualify for subsidies if they meet specific criteria, such as having a court order and receiving payments under certain statutes. The bill also adjusts income calculations for eligibility, including court-ordered support payments exceeding $1,250 monthly. This directly affects caregivers of children under 13 (or 19 if disabled) who seek child care assistance through Wisconsin Shares.

Maddy summaryAB 1023 creates a dedicated $500,000 annual appropriation (for 2025-26 and 2026-27) specifically for training and technical assistance for tribal child care providers. The bill directs the Department of Children and Families to use this funding to contract with agencies or award grants aimed at improving the quality of child care services provided by tribal organizations. This funding is separate from other child care funding streams and must be used exclusively for these tribal provider support activities. The bill directly affects tribal child care programs in Wisconsin by providing a new, dedicated resource for their professional development and operational support.

Maddy summaryAB 1029 creates Wisconsin's first state-level estate tax, applying to estates of Wisconsin residents and non-residents owning property within the state. It taxes the "Wisconsin taxable estate" (based on federal estate valuation rules, adjusted for Wisconsin-specific exclusions) at rates tied to federal tax exclusion amounts. The tax applies to transfers from decedents who were Wisconsin residents at death or to property with a "situs" (location) in Wisconsin, with specific exemptions for certain intangible property. This bill directly affects estates of Wisconsin residents and non-residents holding in-state assets, imposing tax where federal estate tax would not apply.

Maddy summaryAB 1028 authorizes Wisconsin counties and municipalities to impose a local income tax on the portion of a resident's Wisconsin taxable income exceeding $1 million for single filers, $500,000 for separately filing married individuals, or $1 million for jointly filing married couples. Localities must adopt the tax via a referendum and apply it only to taxpayers who reside, own property, or work in the jurisdiction for at least 30 days annually. The state Department of Revenue would administer the tax, with 1.75% of collected revenue funding administrative costs.