Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner

Maddy summaryAB 1074 creates an Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman within the Department of Financial Institutions to assist borrowers with student loan issues. The office will handle complaints, analyze borrower data, and provide guidance on loan terms, working directly with student loan servicers and educational institutions. It establishes specific duties including resolving disputes, monitoring laws affecting borrowers, and requiring servicers to cooperate with the ombudsman. This bill directly affects student loan borrowers in the state and the student loan servicers who must now engage with this new oversight office.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Wisconsin's Medical Assistance program (similar to Medicaid) to reimburse certified doulas for services provided to program recipients. It mandates that hospitals and birthing centers allow Medical Assistance-certified doulas to accompany patients during labor and birth without counting them toward visitor limits. Facilities must create written policies for this access, post them online, and ensure doulas don't conflict with medical standards. The bill directly affects low-income pregnant people, certified doulas, and healthcare facilities.

Maddy summaryAB 1089 creates a state working group to improve coordination of the Medical Assistance program (state Medicaid) and enhance the experience for program recipients. The Department of Health Services must form this group by June 1, 2026, including representatives from the department, resource centers, multicounty consortia or tribal programs, legislators, healthcare providers, and at least one recipient. The group must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the department and legislature within seven months of its first meeting. This bill directly affects state program administration and recipients by requiring structured collaboration to address changes from recent federal law.

Maddy summaryAB 1059 increases funding for home-delivered meals by $250,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 and another $250,000 for fiscal year 2026-27. This directly affects seniors and vulnerable adults who rely on state-funded home-delivered meal programs under Section 46.80(5)(a). The bill modifies the budget allocation to the Department of Health Services, specifically boosting the available funds for these services. It does not change program eligibility or service requirements, only increasing the financial support.

Maddy summaryAB 1090 establishes a statewide policy to prevent and end homelessness, requiring specific strategies for older adults. It creates a property tax credit for Wisconsin seniors aged 65 or older who own their primary home, allowing them to claim a credit equal to the increase in their annual property taxes compared to the previous year. The credit is funded through a state appropriation, with eligibility limited to full-time homeowners who file tax claims, excluding part-year residents and nonresidents. The bill also amends statutes to integrate this credit into the state’s tax code under section 71.07(8d).

Maddy summaryAB 825 creates a $2 million grant program to support parent and guardian volunteer programs in elementary and secondary schools. It authorizes the Department of Public Instruction to award grants to public school boards, charter schools, and private schools participating in specific state education programs. The grants, starting in the 2026-27 school year, aim to help schools create or expand opportunities for parents and guardians to volunteer. The bill also gives the department rule-making authority to implement the program.

Maddy summaryAB 826 amends Wisconsin statute 118.07(4)(bm)2 to require school districts to include specific procedures in their safety plans. The bill mandates schools establish clear guidelines for informing students and families when an incident triggers the safety plan, as well as procedures for debriefing students, staff, and families after such events. These requirements apply directly to all public school districts in Wisconsin, impacting how they communicate during and after safety incidents. The changes take effect on July 1, 2026, adding standardized communication and follow-up steps to existing school safety planning.

Maddy summaryAB 827 requires the Department of Justice to create and provide free prerecorded audio messages for school lockdown announcements to all public, private, and tribal schools. The bill mandates that schools include this specific audio message in their individualized safety plans when those plans require lockdown procedures. It directly affects school districts and administrators responsible for developing and implementing safety protocols. The law standardizes how lockdowns are communicated, replacing potentially inconsistent verbal announcements with a consistent, pre-approved audio message. This change applies to all school buildings regularly occupied by students.

Maddy summaryAB 816 creates the Office of the Public Affairs Network within Wisconsin's Department of Administration to provide live, unedited video and audio coverage of state government proceedings - including legislative sessions, committee meetings, court proceedings, and related public events - through a permanent online network. The bill establishes a Public Affairs Network Board (with members including the governor, legislative leaders, and public appointees) to oversee the office, which must operate strictly nonpartisanly and maintain a free, unrestricted digital archive of all covered proceedings. The legislation appropriates $2 million annually for the office's operations and includes provisions to acquire WisconsinEye's existing digital archives and equipment to transition the network to state management. This directly affects state government operations and provides the public with free, real-time access to unedited coverage of official proceedings without registration requirements.

Maddy summaryAB 828 creates a new program to provide grants to licensed school counselors in Wisconsin for mental and behavioral health training. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, the Department of Public Instruction will award these grants to cover costs related to continuing education in this field. The bill appropriates $2 million for the program in the 2026-27 fiscal year. It requires the department to develop rules to administer the grants, targeting counselors who hold a specific state license under Wisconsin Administrative Code § PI 34.059.