State legislators at Brown Deer town hall stress maternal‑health measures, data‑center accountability and warn about ballot referendums

Several state legislators who attended the Brown Deer town hall described priorities both statewide and local. A state senator praised local leaders and highlighted work on data‑center accountability, saying the bill drew an all‑day public hearing but did not reach the senate floor.

"We did get an all day public hearing on it," one senator said, describing coalition work on oversight and regulatory guardrails for data centers and noting the absence of statewide rules to date.

State Senator Nora Drake flagged maternal‑health disparities as a top priority, citing state health‑department figures she gave at the meeting: she said non‑Hispanic Black birthing people experienced about 72.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in Wisconsin, a rate she said is more than double the state average. She also described proposals for automated traffic‑camera pilots to reduce reckless driving and expressed concern that three proposed statewide referendums could limit targeted anti‑discrimination efforts or alter executive powers.

A state representative at the meeting argued the perception that referendums automatically raise taxes is incorrect and urged residents to educate neighbors after social media misinformation circulated. Another representative described two legislative wins this session: an extension of postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months for new mothers and a mandate (referred to in remarks as "Gayle's Law") requiring insurers cover indicated follow‑up mammograms.

Representatives and senators encouraged residents to sign up for legislative newsletters and to use office hours to raise local issues with state agencies. During question time, legislators answered concerns about claims that referendums would force large, permanent tax increases by explaining how line‑item vetoes and district options interact and by urging organized local outreach to explain ballot language.