Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Area Agency on Aging - Legislative / Advocacy Committee  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Wednesday, August 27, 2025  
9:00 AM  
This is a Hybrid Meeting: Attend in person at 2865 N  
Sherman Ave, Conference Room 109; Attend virtually  
via Zoom.  
The Wednesday August 27, 2025 AAA Legislative/Advocacy Committee meeting will be a hybrid meeting.  
Members of the public can either attend in person or virtually via Zoom.  
The public can attend in person at the ADRC building, 2865 N Sherman Ave Room 109, Madison.  
The public can access the meeting virtually with the Zoom application or by telephone.  
To join the meeting in Zoom, click the following link (after you fill out the form, the meeting link and  
access information will be emailed to you):  
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CfbZD0HaTmqoXgDeELg5HA  
This link will be active until the end of the meeting.  
To join the meeting by phone, dial-in using one of the following three toll-free phone numbers:  
1-833-548-0276  
1-833-548-0282  
1-888-788-0099  
When prompted, enter the following Webinar ID: 957 6548 2002  
PROCESS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT:  
IN PERSON: Any members of the public wishing to register to speak on/support/oppose an agenda item  
can register in person at the meeting using paper registration forms. IT IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO  
REGISTER VIA THE ZOOM LINK ABOVE EVEN IF YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING IN PERSON.  
In person registrations to provide public comment will be accepted throughout the meeting.  
VIRTUAL: Any members of the public wishing to register to speak on/support/oppose an agenda item  
MUST REGISTER USING THE LINK ABOVE (even if you plan to attend using your phone). Virtual  
registrations to provide public comment will be accepted until 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the  
meeting.  
In order to testify (provide public comment) virtually, you must be in attendance at the meeting via Zoom  
or phone, you will then either be unmuted or promoted to a panelist and provided time to speak to the  
body.  
If you want to submit a written comment for this meeting, or send handouts for board members, please  
send them to: Cindy Matulle, Matulle.Cindy@danecounty.gov.  
Staff and Guests: Lacy Fox, Shannon Gabriel, Cindy Matulle, Lynn Riley, Diane  
Turner, and Angela Velasquez.  
A. Call To Order  
Chair LEZOTTE called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Introduction of members  
for new member Amy Wurf.  
6 -  
Present  
TED BUNCK, JIM SCHMIDLKOFER, NATALIE RAEMISCH, ANNA LEZOTTE,  
JODIE CASTANEDA, and AMY WURF  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
AAA Leg/Adv Committee Minutes June 25, 2025  
2025  
MIN-162  
Attachments: 2025_0625_AAA Leg-Adv Committee Minutes  
A motion was made by RAEMISCH, seconded by SCHMIDLKOFER, that the  
minutes be approved. The motion carried by a voice vote.  
C. Action Items  
a. Advocacy Supporting Federal & State Programs  
Angela Velasquez, DAS Administrator, shared Health Watch  
on YouTube has very good videos on explaining changes with  
Medicare and other health concerns.  
FOX shared changes with Medicaid could affect younger  
ages. Will still need a disability to qualify for Medicaid. Those  
of working age may have work requirements applied to them.  
Waivers exist for older adults.  
Discussion by members about reduced funding as 2020  
census showed lower number of older adults in Wisconsin.  
LTC funding was discussed as people think it is just for the  
poor when it is not. Need to have a lot of education about  
Medicaid and qualifications. LTC is going to keep having  
costs go up with no assisted funding but there will be reduction  
of services without additional funding.  
D. Presentations  
None.  
E. Reports to Committee  
a. ADRC Governing Board  
ADRC Governing Board  
2025  
RPT-292  
Attachments: ADRC Minutes 7.21.25  
ADRC Agenda 8.11.25  
Nothing related to aging discussed.  
b. County/State/Federal Legislative Update  
1. SB 152  
Wisconsin SB 152 Act 21  
2025  
RPT-293  
Attachments: SB 152.Act 21  
FOX summarized ACT 21 for members. Shared VP Vance  
was going to be in Wisconsin to advocate for the Big  
Beautiful Bill. State budget was signed in mid-July. State  
budget included a $2 million increase to the Caregiver  
Program.  
VELASQUEZ shared that there is no longer an income  
requirement for AFCSP grant money. Those with  
Dementia/Alzheimer’s will have more opportunity for grant  
money now. Dane County has never had an issue using this  
grant money as Dane County has a waitlist. Other Counties  
don’t use much of the money they receive.  
c. State's Aging Advisory Council  
BUNCK reported is has reached his term limit on the council  
so he isn’t as involved as he has been. Would like someone  
from committee to join SAAC. VELASQUEZ stated that her  
and RILEY meet regularly with state staff and will bring this  
request to them to help with assigning someone.  
d. US Aging Legislative Update  
US Aging Legislative Updates  
2025  
RPT-294  
Attachments:  
USAging Advocacy Alert_ Urge Your Representatives to Increase and  
Protect Aging Funding!  
AAA Template Letter for FY 2026 Approps Requests August 25  
FY 2026 Senate Appropriations Chart July 31  
RILEY stated she would be sending out more on GWAAR  
and USAging newsletters and documents. RILEY joined the  
Leadership team on WAAN.  
e. Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network  
1. GWAAR Board Advocacy Update  
GWAAR Board Advocacy  
2025  
RPT-295  
Attachments: GWAAR Newsletter 08-12-2025  
RILEY summarized the newsletter.  
f. Chair & Staff Reports  
RILEY shared there will be no Advocacy Day in 2026. State  
is looking at doing the statewide event every other year.  
Recommending more in district meetings with elected  
delegates.  
5 -  
Present  
Absent  
JIM SCHMIDLKOFER, NATALIE RAEMISCH, ANNA LEZOTTE, JODIE  
CASTANEDA, and AMY WURF  
1 - TED BUNCK  
1. AAA is Recruiting Board Members  
Still in need of two members to join.  
2. Public Hearing on the Department Budget: September 11, 2025, 5:30 PM at the  
Alliant Energy Center.  
RILEY shared that management met with all focal points and  
service providers of a 4% reduction across the board for all  
as instructed by County Executive Agard. Other cuts were  
based on data and performance.  
VELASQUEZ stated that 40% of funding for AAA is levy.  
Money is used as a match to get State and Federal money.  
Discussion by committee members about advocacy members  
can do for supporting programming that is needed.  
GABRIEL shared how the nutrition budget was determined  
and changed for 2026.  
F. Report out Items to AAA Board  
Budget items.  
G. Future Meeting items and Dates  
Next meeting: Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 9 AM via Hybrid  
H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
None.  
I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
None.  
J. Adjournment  
A motion was made by SCHMIDLKOFER, seconded by CASTANEDA, that the  
meeting be adjourned at 10:05 am. The motion carried unanimously.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Cindy Matulle