Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner

Maddy summaryAB 729 requires all state correctional institutions and county jails to install transparent windows in inmate cells by October 2030 that are at least 1.5 square feet and provide 92% visibility to the outdoors. It mandates that every inmate must have access to view outdoors through such windows for at least 3 hours daily (unless in lockdown or solitary), achievable via time outdoors, in-cell viewing, or shared facility windows. The bill directly affects all state prisons and county jails in the state, requiring physical modifications to cell structures. Funding of $500,000 for 2025-26 and $3 million for 2026-27 is allocated specifically for window installation under this law.

Maddy summaryAB 741 requires state correctional facilities and county jails to provide inmates with access to essential personal hygiene products at capped prices based on a leading retail chain's sales. It mandates commissaries to sell 18 standard items (like soap, toothpaste, and razors) at no more than 125% of retail price, plus culturally specific items (e.g., hair products for diverse hair types and cocoa-butter lotion) at no more than 100% of retail price. The bill also provides a $25 monthly stipend for state inmates immediately and for county jail inmates after 91 days of confinement to purchase these products. This legislation, funded by a $6.45 million annual appropriation, directly affects all inmates in state prisons and county detention facilities.

Maddy summaryAB 745 creates a new eligibility category for state reimbursement of military funeral honors costs, specifically for individuals who were naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000 and were residing in the state at the time of death. It requires the state department to reimburse certified veteran organizations for providing military funeral honors, with a maximum payment of $85 per funeral (adjusted annually for inflation based on the U.S. consumer price index). The bill directly affects families of qualifying Hmong veterans who served in the U.S. military and were naturalized under the 2000 federal law. This establishes a clear reimbursement mechanism for organizations providing these honors, replacing the previous $50 limit with an inflation-adjusted $85 cap.

Maddy summaryAB 731 requires state and county correctional facilities to provide inmates and juveniles with minimum weekly telecommunications access at no cost, including 180 minutes of phone calls, 60 minutes of video calls, and 100 text messages. It directly affects individuals in state prisons, juvenile correctional facilities, and county jails by mandating these service levels, which must be maintained or improved from existing access levels. The bill establishes funding through specific appropriations ($4.46 million for adult inmates, $517,500 for juveniles) and requires counties to join a state telecommunications contract or report why they don’t, with the state reimbursing counties for costs if they opt out. It also prohibits using telecom services to replace in-person visitation and bans charging inmates for services beyond the minimums.

Maddy summaryAB 765 creates a state bonding program to fund lead service line replacement for private water users connected to public water systems. It authorizes up to $274.95 million in state bonds (increasing previous limits) and allocates $200 million from bond proceeds to provide forgivable loans covering up to 50% of replacement costs for homeowners. The bill directly affects private residents with lead pipes by reducing their financial burden for replacing hazardous infrastructure. Key provisions include the new bonding authority and the specific allocation for forgivable loans to address public health concerns related to lead in drinking water.

Maddy summaryAB 769 creates a new grant program to fund food waste reduction pilot projects, allocating $100,000 annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. The grants support projects focused on preventing food waste, redirecting surplus food to hunger relief organizations, and composting food waste. The Department of Agriculture must prioritize proposals serving low-income census tracts (below statewide median income) without grocery stores. The bill also authorizes the department to create rules for administering the program. This directly affects local pilot projects and hunger relief organizations in underserved communities.

Maddy summaryAB 777 designates the week containing November 11 (Veterans Day) as "Veterans Benefits Education Week" each year. The bill requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation highlighting veterans' entitlements during this week. This procedural measure directly informs veterans about available benefits and establishes an annual observance, with no changes to actual benefit programs. (AB 777, introduced December 17, 2025)

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (not a law) that formally recognizes November 20, 2025, and 2026, as Wisconsin’s Transgender Day of Remembrance. It does not create new policies or affect any specific group directly - it simply asks the Wisconsin Legislature to acknowledge the day through a formal proclamation. The resolution cites the purpose of memorializing transgender and nonbinary people killed due to transphobic violence and aligns with the established international observance. As a procedural resolution, it has no legal force but serves to affirm the state’s recognition of this day.

Maddy summaryAB 773 requires correctional facilities to provide specific care for incarcerated pregnant and postpartum individuals (within 6 weeks of birth). It prohibits unnecessary restraints on these individuals except in extreme safety circumstances, mandating written documentation and staff training. Facilities must offer pregnancy testing, STI/HIV screening, continuing medication, doula/lactation support (if available at no cost), mental health assessments, and breastfeeding supplies. The bill directly affects all pregnant or postpartum people held in state prisons or jails, ensuring access to healthcare and support services during incarceration.

Maddy summaryAB 763 caps the annual percentage rate (APR) for most consumer loans at 36%, affecting licensed lenders regulated by the Department of Financial Institutions. It requires these lenders to report detailed data on high-rate loans, including the number of loans above 18% APR, repossession rates, and default outcomes. The bill also clarifies who qualifies as a lender to prevent evasion, such as disguising loans as property sales or leasebacks. These changes aim to increase transparency and limit excessive interest charges for borrowers.