Sen. Kelda Roys

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits employers from including clauses in employment contracts that require former employees to refrain from speaking negatively about their former employers after leaving the job. The law declares such nondisparagement provisions illegal, void, and unenforceable as unreasonable restraints on trade. Employers must also post a notice in conspicuous locations and on their websites informing current and former employees that these clauses are not legally binding. The restrictions apply to contracts entered into, extended, modified, or renewed on the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prohibit the state from seeking reimbursement from alleged fathers for pregnancy and birth expenses already paid by the Medical Assistance program for unmarried mothers who were recipients of that program at the time of birth. The legislation amends existing statutes to prevent courts from ordering alleged fathers to repay these specific costs, while still allowing the state to pursue other medical support obligations from parents. By creating a new statute section and modifying several existing sections, the bill ensures that state-funded birth expenses for eligible unmarried mothers cannot be recovered through paternity judgments or court orders. The changes apply to paternity orders issued on or after the bill's effective date, leaving other medical support requirements intact for cases not covered by this specific provision.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program to help owners of mobile or manufactured home communities meet licensing standards and assists individual homeowners with repairs and improvements. It creates a new statute that defines key terms and authorizes a state authority to distribute funds for community compliance and home upgrades. The legislation also introduces a penalty system that imposes a $5,000 annual forfeiture on community owners who fail to meet reporting or other requirements, with unpaid penalties creating a lien on the property. All collected forfeitures are directed to fund the grant program, linking enforcement revenue directly to assistance for affected homeowners.

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 creates a basic health plan option for individuals with household incomes up to 200% of the poverty line and establishes a purchase option program allowing eligible individuals with higher incomes to buy coverage through the state program instead of private insurance. The program would offer benefits equal to existing state coverage, use premium rates similar to managed care plans, and allow enrollment during standard open enrollment periods while seeking federal waivers to ensure financial stability. Additionally, the bill directs the state to develop a state-based insurance exchange that would allow access to these purchase options and grants officials authority to create necessary rules for implementation.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot grant program to help smaller dairy farms improve their operations and resilience. It provides up to $1.5 million in annual funding for grants aimed at dairy producers with fewer than 1,000 milking cows. The program allows the Department of Agriculture to create rules for administering grants that support projects enhancing operational efficiency and farm resilience. The legislation also authorizes the department to make rules necessary to manage the program and includes the funding appropriation in the 2026 budget schedule.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal definition of a political action committee for campaign finance purposes in the state statutes. It specifies that a group qualifies as a PAC if it spends more than $1,000 in a 12-month period on express advocacy, referendum support or opposition, or contributions to candidates, legislative committees, or political parties. The definition explicitly excludes fundraising and administrative expenses from the spending calculation. This change affects how organizations are classified and regulated under campaign finance laws without altering existing spending limits or reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special enrollment period for pregnant individuals in Wisconsin health insurance plans, allowing them to sign up for coverage at any time during their pregnancy rather than waiting for an open enrollment window. It directly affects health benefit plans, self-insured plans, and nonprofit cooperative health plans that operate under state insurance regulations. The key provision requires plans to cover pregnant individuals and their dependents starting from the first day of the month in which medical verification of pregnancy is received, with plans also required to notify enrollees about this option when first offered coverage. The bill applies to policies and plans beginning on January 1 of the year following its effective date, with special provisions for collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow local governments in Wisconsin to create rules governing how landlords and tenants handle lease renewals and property showings. It enables cities, villages, towns, and counties to require landlords to make good faith offers to renew leases unless there is a valid reason not to, and to set standards for determining what counts as valid reasons. The legislation also permits local ordinances to regulate when landlords can show properties to new tenants and to establish penalties for violations, including requiring relocation assistance for affected tenants. Additionally, the bill ensures that these local rules cannot be overridden by individual lease agreements.