Rep. Dan Knodl

Maddy summaryAB 439 modifies eligibility rules for a state grant program that funds improvements to agricultural roads. The bill adds a new requirement: a highway must have an engineering analysis by a licensed professional showing it cannot handle heavy agricultural traffic to qualify for the grant. This directly affects farmers and agricultural businesses that rely on these roads, as it expands the criteria beyond existing structural deficiencies or weight restrictions. The change aims to ensure roads serving farming operations receive targeted funding based on actual traffic capacity needs.

Maddy summaryAB 399 requires certain telecommunications providers serving residential customers to offer a basic voice service plan. This directly affects telecom companies that provide phone service in the state, mandating them to maintain an affordable, essential phone service option. The key provision is that providers must offer this service at a fixed, low cost to ensure accessibility for all residents, particularly in underserved communities. The bill aims to guarantee reliable communication for emergencies and daily needs without requiring new infrastructure.

Maddy summaryAB 617 updates election procedures in key areas. It requires election officials to test voting machines 15 days before elections (up from 10 days) and publicly verify they reject invalid votes like excess ballots. The bill also creates new rules for handling voter ineligibility: if a court determines someone cannot vote, the election commission must update voter records within 3 business days and notify the voter and local clerk. These changes affect voters (particularly those with court-ordered voting restrictions), municipal clerks, and election officials managing ballot processing and machine testing. The bill passed the Assembly in November 2025 but awaits governor action.

Maddy summaryAB 613 requires school principals to notify parents in writing within 5 p.m. the same day when a student is removed from a classroom in a way that reduces instructional time for other students (e.g., during drills). Notices must be electronic (or by mail if declined) and cannot include personal information. School principals must report annual removal counts to school boards by October 1, 2027, and school boards must submit this data to the state superintendent by December 1, starting in 2028. The law applies to all public schools and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryAB 312 sets standardized operating hours for in-person absentee ballot voting at local election offices (municipal clerks) and approved alternate sites. It directly affects voters who cast absentee ballots in person and local election officials managing these locations. The bill establishes specific, consistent hours for these locations to ensure accessible voting access, replacing variable or inconsistent schedules previously set by individual jurisdictions. This is a procedural change to improve clarity and convenience for voters using in-person absentee voting.

Maddy summaryThis bill, AB 390, aims to provide access to original impounded birth records. However, the provided context does not include the bill's specific provisions, mechanisms, or who it directly affects. Without the full text or committee summary, concrete policy details cannot be described. The bill is still in early committee stages (referred to Children and Families Committee, with a fiscal estimate received), but no substantive changes are outlined in the given information.

Maddy summaryAB 188 requires courts to reduce the 26% penalty surcharge proportionally when a fine or forfeiture is reduced or suspended. It applies to most state and local fines (excluding specific traffic violations, financial responsibility cases, and safety belt offenses). This ensures individuals with reduced fines pay a lower surcharge based on the adjusted amount. The bill directly affects people who have their fines lowered by courts, making the surcharge calculation automatic and fairer.

Maddy summaryAB 394 requires all California public school driver education programs to include specific instruction on school bus safety. This directly affects students enrolled in driver education courses, ensuring they learn about bus stopping procedures and blind spots. The bill mandates that curricula cover how to safely approach stopped school buses and recognize hazards around them. These changes aim to improve student awareness and safety when near school buses.

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 488 adds soybean-derived fire suppression products to the list of eligible costs for state fire safety grants. The bill specifically allows grant recipients to purchase these products using funds from existing fire suppression grant programs. This change directly affects state agencies, local fire departments, or organizations applying for these grants, making soybean-based fire suppression materials a qualifying expense.