Rep. Dan Knodl

Maddy summaryAB 102 requires University of Wisconsin and technical college athletic programs to designate intercollegiate and club sports teams exclusively for "males" or "females" based on birth sex as recorded on a student's birth certificate. It prohibits students assigned male at birth from participating on teams designated for females or using female-designated locker rooms. The bill creates legal remedies for female students denied participation or harmed by violations, and for institutions facing penalties for compliance. It applies to all such teams starting in the first semester after the law takes effect, overriding existing anti-discrimination protections for these specific athletic contexts.

Maddy summaryAB 104 prohibits health care providers from performing or referring minors under 18 for medical interventions intended to change their physical characteristics to match a gender different from their biological sex. It specifically bans surgeries (like hysterectomy or orchiectomy), mastectomies, puberty-blocking drugs, and high-dose cross-sex hormone treatments. Exceptions apply for genetic disorders of sex development, treating complications from prior procedures, or immediate life-threatening conditions. Violations could result in license revocation for health care providers by the licensing board.

Maddy summaryAB 24 requires Wisconsin county sheriffs to verify the immigration status of individuals jailed for felony offenses by requesting specific documentation (such as passports, birth records, or immigration documents) to confirm lawful presence in the U.S. If verification fails, sheriffs must notify federal Homeland Security and comply with federal detainer requests. Sheriffs must annually report compliance and maintain records of individuals found unlawfully present, with data shared with the state justice department. Counties failing to comply face a 15% reduction in state funding for the following year. The bill directly affects felony inmates, sheriffs, and state-local funding relationships.

Maddy summaryAB 241 amends Wisconsin statute 106.015(1) to prohibit requiring more than one journeyworker for every two apprentices in apprenticeship programs or contracts. This directly affects apprenticeship programs, particularly those governed by collective bargaining agreements, by limiting the minimum journeyworker-to-apprentice ratio. The bill prevents state agencies from enforcing or authorizing stricter ratios (e.g., requiring two journeyworkers per apprentice) through rules, program approvals, or contracts. It takes effect for collective bargaining agreements when they expire or are modified, renewed, or extended. The legislation aims to standardize ratio requirements across apprenticeship programs statewide.

Maddy summaryAB 1 standardizes how Wisconsin schools and districts are evaluated by requiring consistent assessment metrics. It mandates that the state department use the same cut scores and performance categories for English/language arts and math tests in grades 3-8 that align with national National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) standards. For high school grades 9-11, it requires using the same metrics applied in the 2021-22 school year. This directly affects all public schools and districts in Wisconsin by changing how their accountability reports are calculated. The bill aims to create uniformity in school performance evaluations across the state.

Maddy summaryAB 87 modifies Wisconsin law to require courts to order immediate restitution payments for human trafficking convictions (specifically under sections 940.302(2) or 948.051) and to enforce these payments through property execution if unpaid. It also changes voting rights restoration rules: a person convicted of a felony regains voting rights only after completing their sentence, paying all fines/costs/restitution, and finishing any court-ordered community service. The bill mandates that the elections commission must inform individuals in writing when their voting rights are restored. This directly affects people convicted of human trafficking (impacting restitution timing) and all felony offenders (impacting voting rights restoration conditions). The law was vetoed by the governor on August 11, 2025.

Maddy summaryAB 73 creates a new statute (Chapter 798) to formally recognize two types of specialized court programs in Wisconsin: treatment courts and commercial courts. Treatment courts (e.g., drug, mental health, veterans courts) address underlying issues like addiction to reduce recidivism through treatment and supervision, while commercial courts handle business disputes more efficiently. The bill establishes these dockets within the existing court system, requiring judges to receive specialized training and operate using graduated sanctions and rewards. It directly affects courts handling these case types, aiming to improve outcomes for participants and streamline dispute resolution.

Maddy summaryAB 269 creates "portable benefit accounts" for delivery drivers and transportation network drivers (e.g., app-based food or package delivery workers) who are classified as independent contractors. The bill defines key terms like "application-based driver" and specifies that these workers are not considered employees if companies avoid controlling their schedules or restricting work for other platforms. It also establishes a 10% penalty for workers who misuse funds from these benefit accounts and modifies insurance rules for accident/sickness coverage. The bill grants the Department of Financial Institutions authority to regulate these accounts and related insurance provisions. (Note: This bill was vetoed by the Governor on August 8, 2025.)

Maddy summaryAB 85 requires Wisconsin's Department of Corrections to recommend revoking parole, probation, or extended supervision whenever a person under supervision is charged with a new crime. This applies directly to individuals on community supervision who face new criminal charges. The bill mandates that the department submit this recommendation to the appropriate administrative body, triggering a hearing process unless the person waives it. The law changes existing statutes to make this recommendation automatic upon a new charge, without requiring proof of violation first.

Maddy summaryAB 167 requires the governor or state agency to notify the Joint Committee on Finance before implementing any increase to unemployment benefits above current state law (e.g., higher weekly rates or additional benefit weeks). The committee must approve such "benefit augmentations" before they take effect, and it retains the right to terminate them at any time. This applies to federally funded benefits but excludes federal extended benefits under Section 108.141. The bill also makes minor technical updates to unemployment claim requirements, such as requiring out-of-state claimants to register with local job centers. These changes aim to centralize oversight of unemployment benefit adjustments at the state level.