Rep. Dan Knodl

Maddy summaryAB 108 requires the Public Service Commission to conduct a study identifying potential sites for nuclear power and fusion energy facilities, including advanced reactors, by a specific deadline. It also mandates that the Commission must make a final decision on applications for large nuclear facilities within 150 days of the application being deemed complete, or automatically approve the project. This directly affects applicants seeking permits for advanced nuclear power plants and the Commission's approval process. The bill aims to streamline approvals for new nuclear energy projects while establishing a formal study to identify suitable locations.

Maddy summaryAB 83 prohibits state and local governments from restricting the sale or use of motor vehicles based on their energy source (e.g., gasoline, electric, or hydrogen). It also extends this rule to other energy-powered devices, such as power tools or generators, if their significant functions rely on that energy source. The law explicitly allows government agencies to prioritize electric vehicles for their own fleets when purchasing. This ensures public policies do not discriminate against specific vehicle or device types based on energy use.

Maddy summaryAB 187 creates a program providing a one-time $250 completion service award to volunteer firefighters after they complete 60 hours of training. Municipalities must match this award with their own payments, and the state will provide a 2:1 match for municipal contributions toward length-of-service awards (up to $390 annually), which are tax-deferred benefits based on service years. The bill requires a 10-year vesting period for length-of-service benefits and sets rules for closing inactive accounts after 12 months of inactivity. It directly affects volunteer firefighters, emergency medical responders, and emergency medical services practitioners in municipalities operating volunteer departments or contracting with volunteer fire companies.

Maddy summaryAB 63 authorizes the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority (WHEFA) to provide working capital loans to participating health, educational, and nonprofit institutions for operating expenses. It expands WHEFA's ability to make loans for facility projects, requiring security like mortgages and limiting loan amounts to project costs or approved working capital. The bill permits out-of-state projects only if they include a substantial Wisconsin component, as determined by WHEFA. It also sets salary caps for WHEFA's executive staff based on state pay scales for specific leadership roles.

Maddy summaryAB 323 ratifies the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, an agreement between states to recognize each other's licenses. It allows cosmetologists, aestheticians, and manicurists licensed in another participating state to practice in this state without obtaining a new license, provided they hold a valid "multistate license" from a compact member. The bill amends licensing laws to explicitly permit using such out-of-state licenses (e.g., in sections 454.04(1)(a)2, 454.04(2)(a)) and defines key terms like "multistate license" and "compact." This directly affects licensed professionals seeking to work across state lines within the compact.

Maddy summaryAB 348 lowers the minimum age for assistant child care teachers in Wisconsin from 17 or 18 to 16 years old, directly affecting licensed child care centers hiring these staff. To qualify, individuals must complete early childhood education training (e.g., two college credits, a department-approved course, or an approved program) within six months. The bill maintains current rules that assistant teachers may only provide sole supervision during specific times (like opening/closing hours or naptime) if a qualified child care teacher is present on-site. It does not change requirements for child care teachers themselves.

Maddy summaryAB 350, introduced on July 8, 2025, by multiple state representatives and senators, aims to establish new regulations for family and group child care centers. It directly affects child care providers operating under these models by setting standards for safety, staffing, and facility requirements. The bill is currently referred to the Committee on Children and Families for further review. As introduced, it focuses on creating specific regulatory frameworks for these centers without detailing exact provisions in the provided context.

Maddy summaryAB 349 would allow certified child care operators to provide care for up to six children, changing the current capacity limit for licensed providers. This directly affects licensed child care facilities operating under state certification. The bill amends regulatory standards to establish six as the new maximum number of children per certified operator. It applies specifically to certified settings and does not alter requirements for unlicensed care.

Maddy summaryAB 190 modifies state public records law to allow requesters who win partial victories to recover attorney fees. Specifically, it enables fee recovery when a government agency voluntarily releases a contested record *after* a lawsuit is filed, and a court determines the lawsuit was a substantial factor in that release. This directly affects public record requesters who successfully pressure agencies to disclose documents through litigation without a full court judgment. The bill creates a clear mechanism for fee awards in these specific scenarios, avoiding the need for a formal court order on the record's disclosure.

Maddy summaryAB 81 modifies how school districts calculate state aid by excluding certain referendum-funded expenditures from "shared costs." Specifically, it removes from the calculation any debt service costs from referenda approved after the bill's effective date that authorized borrowing of at least $50 million (unless the district's equalized valuation exceeded a specific threshold). This means school districts using referendum funds for large capital projects will not see those costs reduce their state equalization aid. The bill directly affects districts that have approved significant referendum bonds for school improvements or construction.