Sen. Mark Spreitzer

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance policies and plans in Wisconsin to cover maternal mental health screenings for each pregnancy, while also allowing the Medical Assistance program to reimburse these screenings. The legislation mandates that screening standards be developed in consultation with organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and other persons of color, and permits licensed midwives, nurse-midwives, advanced practice registered nurses, and other qualified healthcare providers to administer the screenings. Additionally, the bill requires state disability insurance policies and self-insured health plans that include maternity coverage to include these screenings. The law takes effect on the day after publication, with specific provisions for collective bargaining agreements to apply when new or renewed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires prescription drug manufacturers to report price increases and new drug introductions to the state health department and insurance office, affecting companies that sell brand-name or generic drugs in the state. Manufacturers must notify regulators at least 30 days before raising prices by more than 25 percent over two years or introducing high-cost drugs, providing justification including cost-effectiveness data and comparisons to similar medications. The bill also mandates annual reports on manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs and requires posting of pricing documentation online with public hearings to review trends. Failure to submit required notices or reports can result in daily penalties of up to $10,000. The legislation authorizes funding for two additional state staff positions to administer these reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to repeal a specific section of the state statutes that governs how members of the legislature manage and preserve their personal records and correspondence. The change would remove the requirement outlined in 16.61 (2) (b) 1., which currently sets rules for these legislative records. By eliminating this provision, the bill would alter the existing framework for how legislative members handle their official documentation. The legislation was introduced by Senators Larson and Spreitzer and cosponsored by several other lawmakers. It ultimately failed to pass when it did not meet the requirements of Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-based health insurance exchange that will operate on the federal platform by 2029 and transition to a standalone state-run exchange by 2030. It authorizes the state insurance commissioner to collect user fees from insurers offering plans through the exchange, starting at 0.5 percent of monthly premiums for the federal platform phase and adjusting rates for the standalone phase. The legislation also creates a specific appropriation account for exchange operations, with any unspent funds exceeding 10 percent of annual expenditures returning to the state's general fund at the end of each fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the building commission to allocate $1,000,000 from building trust funds to create preliminary plans for expanding mother-young child care facilities within the state women's correctional system. The funding is intended to evaluate infrastructure needs and develop specifications for a prison nursery program that would allow eligible inmates and their children to reside together in correctional institutions. The proposed expansion aims to support infant development and provide comprehensive postpartum care for incarcerated mothers. The legislation also requires the development of plans to enable bonding, breastfeeding, and nurturing between mothers and their children while in custody.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to join an interstate compact that would allow states to elect the U.S. president and vice president based on the national popular vote rather than the Electoral College. It would take effect only when enough states have joined the agreement to collectively hold a majority of Electoral College votes. The bill amends state election laws to implement the compact's provisions, which require member states to count all popular votes nationwide and award all Electoral College votes to the candidate who wins the most popular votes across all participating states. The agreement includes provisions for state withdrawal, dispute resolution in case of ties, and termination if the Electoral College is abolished.

Maddy summaryThis bill would update state statutes to clarify how retiring power plants fueled by nonrenewable energy sources are classified for environmental cost calculations. It defines the retirement of such facilities as a specific category of environmental control activity and expands the definition of environmental control costs to include the unrecovered value of retired property and related demolition expenses. The changes apply to energy utilities managing the decommissioning of existing power plants and aim to ensure these costs are properly accounted for in regulatory assessments.

Maddy summarySB 1180 amends Wisconsin election laws to clarify rules for nomination papers and petitions, directly affecting candidates and individuals who sign or circulate these documents. The bill establishes that a person can only sign nomination papers for one candidate per office in the same election, making earlier signatures valid and later ones invalid. It requires signers to print their full name, complete address, and signing date on each paper, while also mandating that circulators certify they personally obtained each signature and verified the signers' eligibility. The legislation updates standard wording on nomination forms to include statements confirming the signer has not supported another candidate for the same office and that the circulator knows the signers are actual residents of the district.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of the Public Intervenor within the state insurance commissioner's office to help individuals navigate insurance claim denials for medical procedures, medications, and other health services. The office would be funded through assessments on insurance companies based on their disability insurance premium volumes and has authority to conduct audits of insurer claims processing practices. The legislation establishes specific requirements for how insurers must handle claim denials, including providing detailed explanations with policy citations, setting time limits for processing claims, and requiring transparency when using artificial intelligence in decision-making. Additionally, the bill prohibits several unfair practices such as using vague policy terms, stalling reviews, or denying claims without reviewing all relevant medical records.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric utilities in the state to send notices to their customers whenever they file for rate changes or when the Public Service Commission issues a final decision on those changes. The notices must explain that rates are being requested, estimate how much bills will change for average residential and commercial customers, and inform customers where to find the full application documents and request detailed explanations. Utilities must deliver these notices both on their websites and through the same method they use to send customer bills, such as mail or email. The law applies to rate cases filed after the bill takes effect, ensuring customers receive clear information about proposed or approved rate adjustments.