Rep. Tara Johnson

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.

Maddy summaryAB 337 requires public school staff in Wisconsin to receive training focused on student mental health and social-emotional learning. This bill directly affects school staff, including teachers and administrators, by mandating new training programs. It authorizes a $500,000 funding increase for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support these training initiatives through the Department of Public Instruction. The legislation creates a new statutory requirement (115.28 (63)(d)) for schools to implement this training, funded by the specified appropriations.

Maddy summaryAJR 77 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley upon her retirement from the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The resolution formally recognizes her 40-year career, including her 1985 appointment as Marathon County's first female circuit court judge, her 1995 election as the first woman to reach the Supreme Court via election, and her 2025 service as Chief Justice. It does not create any new policy or affect any laws, as it is purely a symbolic gesture of legislative appreciation. The resolution was introduced by 32 assembly members and 14 senators in July 2025.

Maddy summaryAB 481 repeals Section 104.001 of the statutes, which currently allows local governments to establish minimum wage rates higher than the state minimum. This bill would eliminate the legal authority for cities and counties to set their own local minimum wage ordinances. As a result, only the state-level minimum wage would apply uniformly across all jurisdictions. The bill does not create new wage requirements or affect existing state minimum wage rates.

Maddy summaryAB 534 requires public high schools to offer voter registration during regular school days for enrolled students and school staff. It creates a process where schools appoint "school registration deputies" to collect forms, which are then sent to the local election office; students who register as minors will be automatically added to the voter rolls when they turn 18. Private or tribal high schools with many local students may also participate if they request it. The bill directly affects high school students (especially those approaching voting age) and school staff by expanding access to voter registration at school locations.