Rep. Russell Goodwin

Maddy summaryAB 922 requires all Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) office locations that issue operators' licenses to meet 2010 ADA accessibility standards by January 1, 2030. This directly affects DOT offices serving the public, particularly people with disabilities seeking license services. The bill mandates modifications to ensure full accessibility, prohibits using exceptions or local ordinances to avoid compliance, and sets reporting deadlines: by 2027, DOT must identify priority locations needing upgrades and cost estimates, and by 2028, submit progress reports on completed modifications.

Maddy summaryAB 917 creates a $150 million First-Time Home Buyer Purchasing Assistance Fund to provide interest-free loans for eligible buyers. It directly affects first-time homebuyers who have never owned a home (or lost one to foreclosure), earn at or below 100% of local median income, complete homebuyer education, and occupy the home as their primary residence. Loans cover up to $35,000 or 10% of the home’s purchase price (whichever is lower) for down payments, closing costs, and other expenses, with 12.5% forgiveness after 2.5 years and full forgiveness after 10 years. Repayment is triggered if the home is sold, stops being the primary residence, or if the borrower violates loan terms. The program is administered by Wisconsin’s Housing and Economic Development Authority.

Maddy summaryAB 952 requires anyone living in a household with a person prohibited from possessing firearms (such as someone with certain felony convictions or domestic violence orders) to securely store their own firearms - either in a locked container, a locked location a reasonable person would consider secure, or with a trigger lock engaged. This law directly affects residents in households where one member has a legal restriction on firearm possession. Violating this storage requirement results in penalties: a first offense is a Class A misdemeanor, and repeat violations are classified as Class I felonies. The bill aims to prevent accidental or unauthorized access to firearms in homes where one resident cannot legally own them.

Maddy summaryAB 824 requires businesses and facilities that serve the public to display a human trafficking resource center hotline poster. It specifically applies to hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, campgrounds, tattoo shops, job recruitment centers, and community residential facilities. The bill directs the Department of Justice to make the poster available online and encourages its display in these locations. Schools must display the poster in areas accessible only to adult staff. The law modifies existing statutes to define these venues and update display requirements.

Maddy summaryAB 820 clarifies and expands the scope of practice for audiologists in Wisconsin. It specifically allows audiologists to prescribe hearing aids (including over-the-counter options), manage osseo-integrated devices, and handle cochlear implants for correction or relief of hearing conditions. The bill also explicitly prohibits audiologists from performing surgical procedures, including cochlear implant surgery or osseo-integrated device surgery. Additionally, it updates the Hearing and Speech Examining Board composition to require one public member who is a hearing aid, osseo-integrated device, or cochlear implant user.

Maddy summaryAB 921 establishes a $35 monthly cap on out-of-pocket costs for insulin under disability insurance policies and self-insured health plans. It directly affects people with diabetes who rely on these specific insurance types for insulin coverage. The bill prohibits insurers from charging more than $35 for a one-month supply of insulin, covering all cost-sharing elements like deductibles and copays. This policy change applies to existing coverage requirements without altering other insurance benefits or mandates. The bill is pending in the 2026 Wisconsin Legislature.

Maddy summaryAB 974 establishes a permanent "public affairs network fund" to provide annual grants to WisconsinEye, the public affairs network broadcasting state government proceedings. The bill creates a new trust fund using state appropriations, donations, and interest earnings, which will fund WisconsinEye’s operating costs for live broadcasts, civic events, and free online archives of unedited government proceedings. WisconsinEye must meet specific requirements, including appointing legislative designees to its board, focusing coverage on official government business, and providing continuous free public access to broadcasts and archives. If WisconsinEye ceases operations, it must repay all grant funds to the state and transfer its archives to the state historical society.

Maddy summaryAB 990 would require Wisconsin high school students to earn at least 0.5 credits in personal financial literacy to graduate. The bill specifies that this course must cover topics like money management, saving/investing, credit/debt, and risk management. Schools could award credit for approved programs offered by financial institutions through school-based branches, as determined by the school board. This requirement would apply to students in high school grades once the law is enacted.

Maddy summaryAB 986 modifies property tax valuation rules for local governments (like cities and towns) that build qualifying infill housing projects. It defines "qualifying infill housing" as projects adding 2-6 new homes on older residential parcels (with 90% of the area developed for 10+ years), using existing infrastructure, and increasing total units. The bill changes how new construction value affects annual tax levy limits by including 90% of new property value in tax incremental districts (TIDs) and excluding removed improvements from these calculations. This adjustment aims to ease tax levy constraints for municipalities developing such housing without altering tax rates themselves.

Maddy summaryAB 976 clarifies how tax credits for low-income housing projects are claimed by business entities. It modifies rules so partnerships, limited liability companies, and tax-option corporations cannot claim the credit directly; instead, their members or shareholders (including insurers who are part of such entities) may claim it based on the entity's eligible costs. The bill requires entities to calculate and distribute credit amounts to members/shareholders, with specific allocation rules for ownership interests or written agreements. It directly affects housing developers, investors, and insurers involved in low-income housing projects financed through tax-exempt bonds in the state. The changes standardize credit allocation across multiple tax code sections without altering eligibility or credit amounts.