Rep. Jill Billings

Maddy summaryAJR 38 is a ceremonial resolution that proclaims 2025 as the "Year of the Snake" in Wisconsin. It recognizes the cultural significance of the Lunar New Year and the snake symbol in Asian traditions, specifically honoring Asian American communities across the state. The resolution does not create new laws or policies; it is a symbolic gesture to celebrate cultural diversity and community connections. It directly acknowledges Wisconsin's Asian American populations, including long-time residents and recent immigrants, without imposing any requirements or changes.

Maddy summaryAB 154 requires potato farmers planting 5 or more acres in Wisconsin to use officially certified seed potatoes, directly affecting commercial potato growers. The bill allows the department to waive this requirement for specific potato varieties if certified seed is unavailable and poses no serious disease risk, with conditions like geographic restrictions. Violations trigger a 72-hour order to remove and destroy non-compliant seed potatoes, with penalties of up to $5,000 plus $5,000 per acre planted in violation. The bill also permits penalty waivers if violations are corrected by destroying affected potatoes per department orders.

Maddy summaryAJR 89 is a symbolic resolution honoring Wisconsin's Hispanic veterans, directly affecting approximately 8,500 Hispanic veterans residing in Wisconsin. The resolution recognizes their service in U.S. military conflicts from the Civil War through recent wars, noting they represent 18.4% of the armed forces and include 61 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. It formally resolves that the Wisconsin Legislature "recognize and honor the bravery and sacrifice" of Hispanic veterans during Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15). This resolution has no funding, policy changes, or enforcement mechanisms - it is purely a ceremonial acknowledgment.

Maddy summaryAB 435 restructures funding and governance for Wisconsin's Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 conservation program. It establishes a new Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Board with specific member appointments (including assembly/senate representatives, environmental groups, tribal representatives, and outdoor recreation stakeholders) and creates two new grant programs: one for nonprofit conservation organizations ($5 million annually) and a tribal co-management program ($3 million annually). The bill also adjusts debt limits for the program and modifies how funds are allocated from the capital improvement fund to support state parks, local recreation, and boating facilities. This directly affects conservation organizations, tribal governments, local municipalities, and outdoor recreation businesses receiving program funding.

Maddy summaryAB 378 requires all state agencies to mask or anonymize personally identifiable information (PII) before sharing it with the federal government, directly affecting state agencies handling sensitive data like health records or social services. The bill allows limited exceptions for sharing unmasked data when required by law, for legislative constituent services, or for court operations. It also creates a civil lawsuit option for individuals harmed by negligent violations, allowing recovery of actual damages, up to $1,000 in punitive damages, and attorney fees. The law aims to strengthen data privacy protections by limiting federal access to identifiable state records without explicit safeguards.

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 summaryAB 504 requires property tax bills to include specific information about state aid reductions for school districts. It mandates disclosing the dollar amount and percentage change in state aid reductions from the previous year to the current year, and explicitly identifies if reductions resulted from enrollment in choice programs (like Milwaukee or Racine Choice) or special needs scholarships. School districts receiving reduced aid must also note that they could raise property taxes to offset the loss. This applies only when an actual aid reduction occurs, not every year. The bill aims to provide property owners with clear, transparent details about how state funding changes affect their local schools.

Maddy summaryAB 31 gives farmers and businesses who buy or lease new farm equipment clear rights when warranty issues can't be fixed. If a farm implement has a warranty problem that remains unresolved after four repair attempts or 30 total days out of service, the buyer or lessee can choose a replacement machine or a full refund. The bill requires manufacturers to cover related costs like alternative equipment rentals during repairs. This applies to new equipment purchased from authorized dealers or leased under written agreements, directly affecting agricultural equipment consumers.

Maddy summaryAB 586 amends Wisconsin statutes to clarify and strengthen shared governance at University of Wisconsin System institutions by defining the roles of faculty, academic staff, and students in institutional decision-making. The bill requires faculty to ensure STEM disciplines are represented in governance structures, gives academic staff the right to organize and advise on policies affecting them, and ensures students actively participate in policies related to student life and fee management. Key provisions specify that faculty have primary responsibility for academic matters, academic staff for their own policies, and students for advising on campus life and fee use. These changes directly affect all faculty, academic staff, and students across UW System campuses by formalizing their participation in governance and policy development.