Rep. Dan Knodl

Maddy summaryAB 712 clarifies the sales tax exemption for personal farm property or household goods sold at auctions online. It defines an "auction event" for internet sales as the consecutive days winning bids are selected (not just when property is available), while maintaining a limit of five or fewer such auctions per year by the same auctioneer at one location. This primarily affects small-scale auctioneers selling personal items online, ensuring they meet the exemption criteria. The bill updates definitions to explicitly include internet bidding periods without changing the exemption's core eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryAB 752 makes it a Class H felony to use an absentee ballot drop box, U.S. mail, or commercial carrier while committing election fraud under existing law (s. 12.13). The bill directly affects individuals who attempt to fraudulently submit absentee ballots through these specific methods. Its key provision increases penalties for this type of fraud by classifying it as a felony rather than a lesser offense. The law focuses solely on the method of submission during fraudulent activity, not on the act of voting itself.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution formally recognizes December 25 as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ for the Wisconsin Legislature. It expresses the legislature's acknowledgment of Christmas as a sacred day for Christians, referencing biblical events in its preamble. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws, alter policies, or affect any specific group or policy. The resolution serves only to affirm the legislature's symbolic recognition of the holiday's religious significance.

Maddy summaryAB 767 requires Wisconsin's retirement systems (including the Wisconsin Retirement System and Milwaukee's city/county systems) to vote on shareholder proposals based solely on the financial returns for participants, not social or environmental goals. It prohibits voting to advance environmental, social, or governance objectives unless an economic analysis proves it benefits participants financially. The bill also restricts how retirement boards use proxy advisory firms, mandating that their recommendations must align with the sole economic interest of participants and banning recommendations based on prior shareholder support or non-financial criteria. These rules apply to all voting on shareholder proposals, including executive compensation votes.

Maddy summaryAB 746 exempts church volunteers serving on a church safety or security team from needing a private security license while working within the church's place of worship during their volunteer duties. The bill creates a specific legal definition of "church" (requiring distinct legal existence, a congregation, and regular religious services) and limits the exemption strictly to the church's worship space. It explicitly states this exemption does not apply to schools or other properties operated by the church. The bill aims to reduce regulatory barriers for faith-based organizations using volunteer security at their primary worship locations.

Maddy summaryAB 720 requires health insurance plans - including defined network plans, preferred provider plans, and government self-insured plans - to cover emergency ambulance services provided by non-participating ambulance providers. It mandates payment at the lowest of three rates: a mutually agreed rate, a local governmental rate, or 350% of the Medicare rate for the same area. Plans must pay ambulance providers directly within 30 days for clean claims, cannot impose additional costs on enrollees beyond standard cost-sharing, and must provide clear explanations for denied claims. The bill excludes air ambulance services and applies to all health insurance plans covering emergency medical services.

Maddy summaryAB 763 caps the annual percentage rate (APR) for most consumer loans at 36%, affecting licensed lenders regulated by the Department of Financial Institutions. It requires these lenders to report detailed data on high-rate loans, including the number of loans above 18% APR, repossession rates, and default outcomes. The bill also clarifies who qualifies as a lender to prevent evasion, such as disguising loans as property sales or leasebacks. These changes aim to increase transparency and limit excessive interest charges for borrowers.

Maddy summaryAB 764 reforms payday loan regulations in the state. It defines "payday loan" as short-term, unsecured loans with terms under six months and requires lenders to verify borrowers' repayment ability before issuing loans. The bill caps total debt from all lenders at $1,500 or 35% of a borrower's monthly income, bans loans with maturity dates under 90 days, and mandates that all loans use precomputed interest (interest calculated upfront). These changes directly affect payday lenders and borrowers by imposing new underwriting standards, debt limits, and loan term requirements.

Maddy summaryAB 779 increases the dollar limits for cases heard in Wisconsin's small claims courts. It raises the maximum amount for consumer credit transactions (from $25,000 to $50,000), property recovery cases (from $10,000 to $25,000), personal injury/tort claims (from $5,000 to $25,000), and other civil cases (from $10,000 to $25,000). The bill also establishes automatic adjustments to these limits every five years based on inflation, using the U.S. consumer price index. This change directly affects individuals and small businesses filing claims in small claims court, allowing them to seek higher compensation without moving to a more complex court system.

Maddy summaryAB 709 amends Wisconsin state law to clarify rules for school transportation services, primarily affecting schools, school bus contractors, and emergency transportation providers. It allows school boards to request temporary emergency transportation for 15+ students when regular service isn't available, requiring written approval from the state transportation secretary. The bill also updates insurance requirements: vehicles carrying 9-14 students (not owned/leased by schools) must carry $10,000 property damage and $25,000 per person bodily injury coverage. These changes standardize emergency procedures and ensure minimum insurance coverage for non-school-operated transportation.