Rep. Jodi Emerson

Maddy summaryAB 479 reduces costs for individuals seeking trade licenses by creating a funding mechanism to offset fees for third-party-administered examinations. It allocates $181,900 annually (for 2025-26 and 2026-27) from the General Purpose Revenue fund to lower exam costs required for occupations like electricians or plumbers. The bill directly affects license applicants who must pay these third-party exams, as the funding lowers their out-of-pocket expenses. This is a straightforward appropriation bill with no new regulatory requirements, solely focused on reducing financial barriers for license seekers.

Maddy summaryAB 470 repeals the state's right-to-work law, which previously prohibited requiring employees to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment. The bill eliminates section 111.04(3) and amends labor statutes to allow employers to collect union dues with employee consent (via written authorization) and to enter "all-union agreements" requiring membership in collective bargaining units where a majority of workers have voted in favor. This directly affects employees, employers, and labor organizations by removing restrictions on mandatory union membership and dues in unionized workplaces. The bill also establishes a new policy declaration emphasizing fair employment relations and collective bargaining rights.

Maddy summaryAJR 94 is a symbolic resolution that would officially recognize January as "Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month" across Wisconsin. It directly affects all Wisconsin residents by designating a specific month for statewide awareness efforts focused on human trafficking. The resolution has no binding legal requirements but serves as a formal declaration to encourage educational events, community outreach, and resource sharing related to human trafficking prevention during January. It does not create new laws or allocate funding.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (AJR 104) proclaims November 2025 as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in Wisconsin. It directly encourages all Wisconsin residents to increase awareness and education about pancreatic cancer and support services for patients. The resolution cites state-specific statistics, noting pancreatic cancer caused an estimated 1,060 deaths in Wisconsin in 2025 and may become the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the state. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but aims to raise public attention through official recognition.

Maddy summaryAJR 103 designates the last full week of September as Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Awareness Week in Wisconsin. This symbolic resolution aims to raise public awareness about FTD - a progressive brain disorder affecting behavior, personality, or language - highlighting its challenges, misdiagnosis rates, and economic impact on families, without creating new policies or funding. It aligns with existing global awareness efforts but does not alter laws or provide resources.

Maddy summaryAB 517 prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to referendum committees and bans referendum committees from accepting such contributions. The bill directly affects foreign nationals (defined using federal campaign finance rules) and referendum committees organizing ballot initiatives. It adds a new provision to state law stating: "No foreign national may make a contribution to a referendum committee, and no referendum committee may accept a contribution from a foreign national." This clarifies existing federal restrictions apply to state-level referendum committees. The bill is currently in committee for review after its October 2025 introduction.

Maddy summaryAB 527 removes restrictions on county advisory referendums in Wisconsin. It eliminates a specific exception that previously barred counties from holding advisory votes on most issues, except for capital projects funded by property taxes. The bill amends statute 59.52(25) to allow county boards to conduct advisory referendums on any topic without prior restrictions. This directly affects county governments seeking to gather public input on local policy decisions through non-binding votes. The change removes barriers to community engagement on a broader range of local issues.

Maddy summaryAB 541 requires election officials to mark the poll list number on the back of each absentee ballot after verifying its validity. This affects local election boards handling absentee ballots, specifically the "board of absentee ballot canvassers" during the ballot processing step. The bill amends a statute to mandate that officials record the elector's poll list number on the ballot's back before depositing it into the ballot box. This is a procedural change to standardize ballot tracking, not a policy shift affecting voters or election outcomes.

Maddy summaryAB 537 requires municipal clerks to return absentee ballots with incomplete or missing voter certification forms to the voter, rather than discarding them. This directly affects voters who make minor errors on their ballots and municipal clerks who process mail-in votes. The bill mandates that clerks return the ballot (in its sealed envelope) with a new envelope if needed, giving voters time to correct the error before the deadline. It changes the law from allowing clerks to return ballots ("may") to requiring it ("shall").

Maddy summaryAB 540 would allow 17-year-old residents to vote in primary elections if they will turn 18 by the date of the general election. The bill amends voting statutes to change eligibility requirements from "age 18 or older" to include "age 17 on the primary date if turning 18 by the general election date." It updates voter verification processes, including the oath required for challenged voters, to reflect this age adjustment. The bill's title mentions requiring a referendum, but the provided text does not detail this requirement. This policy change directly affects eligible 17-year-olds in the state who meet residency and registration requirements.