Rep. Joel Kitchens

Maddy summaryAB 671 mandates the Department of Administration to study redundant federal, state, and local requirements for constructing new housing (including single-family, duplex, and multifamily units). The study must identify overlapping or unnecessary rules and submit a report with legislative recommendations within one year of the bill's effective date. This bill does not create new laws but directs a formal review to potentially streamline housing construction regulations. It directly affects future legislative decisions on housing policy, not current construction practices.

Maddy summaryAB 678 requires Wisconsin school boards to adopt a policy by July 2026 governing appropriate communication between school employees and volunteers (acting in their official capacity) and students. The policy must cover all communication methods and content, both during and outside school hours, and specify consequences for violations. It directly affects school district staff, volunteers, and students by establishing clear standards for professional interactions. The bill creates a new statutory requirement (120.12(30)) without dictating specific communication rules, leaving implementation to individual school boards.

Maddy summaryAB 645 creates grants to help school district consortia (groups of two or more school boards) assess the feasibility of merging districts or sharing grade levels. It allows reimbursement of up to $25,000 per group for costs like financial analyses and population studies related to consolidation or sharing agreements. To qualify, a group must provide proof that all member school boards have approved resolutions supporting the study. The bill does not fund actual consolidation but provides initial support for planning.

Maddy summaryAB 447 amends Wisconsin law to clarify when courts must address objections to video testimony in certain civil cases. It removes a specific exception that previously required courts to sustain objections about expert witness testimony via video in cases under Chapters 51 or 55 of the statutes. For all such proceedings - including expert testimony objections - the bill requires courts to apply their discretion under existing rules (s. 885.56) rather than automatically sustaining objections. This change directly affects defendants and respondents in civil matters listed under the statute who may object to remote testimony.

Maddy summaryAB 357 proposes a grant program to provide funding for technical education equipment at community colleges and vocational programs. It would directly affect these educational institutions by enabling them to purchase new or updated equipment for training in fields like advanced manufacturing and IT. The bill establishes a competitive grant process administered by the state workforce agency, with funding allocated based on program needs and student enrollment. Currently in committee review after its introduction and public hearing, the bill has received a fiscal estimate but has not yet been enacted.

Maddy summaryAB 494 extends Wisconsin's research income tax credit carryover period from 15 to 50 taxable years. This change allows businesses that claim the credit but cannot fully use it in a single year to carry forward unused credits for up to five decades. The policy directly affects Wisconsin businesses eligible for the research tax credit, providing greater flexibility to offset future tax liabilities. The bill primarily modifies tax code sections (71.07 and 71.28) to implement this extended carryover period.

Maddy summaryAB 573 clarifies which costs related to sexual assault forensic examinations are covered under compensation programs for victims. It specifically defines "examination costs" to include evidence-gathering procedures, STI testing/prevention, HIV prophylaxis (medication to prevent HIV exposure), and STI treatment medications provided during the exam. The bill explicitly excludes administrative fees, attorney costs, and other non-medical expenses from coverage. Additionally, it requires applicants to submit only medical records directly related to the covered services, such as examinations, treatments, or preventive medications, and prohibits submitting unrelated documentation. This bill adjusts eligibility criteria for compensation without creating new benefits or funding.

Maddy summaryAB 635 requires the state environmental department to notify county health departments, tribal health departments, and county land conservation departments within 7 business days whenever groundwater protection standards or PFAS standards are exceeded. The bill creates a formal notification system to alert affected local governments and adjacent counties that might face negative impacts, with notices available for public review under state law. This law directly affects local health and land management agencies in counties where water contamination breaches are confirmed, ensuring timely public awareness of groundwater safety issues.

Maddy summaryAB 306 sets a 60-day limit on emergency proclamations issued by local government leaders (such as mayors, county executives, or town board chairs) during crises when their governing body cannot meet promptly. It requires these proclamations to be ratified, modified, or extended only by the full governing body once they reconvene, with extensions permitted only by that body. The bill defines "chief executive officer" to include specific roles like mayors, county administrators, and village presidents. This directly affects local officials who declare emergencies, ensuring temporary emergency powers remain subject to elected oversight. The law does not create new policy but clarifies time limits for existing emergency authority.

Maddy summaryAB 185 modifies property tax exemption rules to expand eligibility for nonprofit theaters. It creates a new provision (70.11 (29m)(b)) requiring qualifying theaters to be operated by an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit (with a determination letter by October 1, 1990), use all property for theater arts, and have a total seating capacity of at least 240 persons. The bill repeals the previous exemption section (70.11 (29p)) and applies to property tax assessments starting January 1, 2025. This change directly affects nonprofit theaters meeting these specific criteria, potentially reducing their property tax burden.