Rep. Paul Tittl

Maddy summaryAJR 10 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would amend Article I, Section 18 to prohibit state or local governments from closing places of worship or banning gatherings there during a state of emergency (including public health emergencies). If approved by voters, this change would directly affect religious congregations and local officials responsible for emergency orders. The amendment would require that places of worship be treated equally with other businesses during emergencies, preventing restrictions specifically targeting them. This is a voter-approved constitutional change, not a law, and is currently awaiting submission to the November 2026 ballot.

Maddy summaryAB 80 would allow social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors licensed in this state to practice in other states that join the Social Work Licensure Compact without needing separate state licenses. The bill amends existing statutes to align state definitions and requirements with the compact framework, ensuring professionals certified under Chapter 457 can work across participating states. It directly affects licensed social work professionals seeking to practice in multiple states and changes how their credentials are recognized in statutes related to child welfare, mental health, and professional practice. The compact aims to streamline licensure for these professionals while maintaining state-specific standards.

Maddy summaryAB 1034 creates a $14.6 million annual appropriation for maintaining University of Wisconsin-Madison intercollegiate athletic facilities, plus $200,000 each for the Klotsche Center (UW-Milwaukee) and Green Bay soccer complex. It also establishes new rules allowing student athletes to earn compensation for use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL) through third-party agreements, while requiring disclosure of such agreements to the university. The bill prohibits using general state funds to create or support NIL opportunities and clarifies that NIL compensation does not make student athletes employees. These provisions aim to formalize NIL rights and facility funding within the University of Wisconsin System.

Maddy summaryAB 956 exempts specific agricultural warehouses storing crop protection products (like fertilizers and pesticides) from mandatory automatic fire sprinkler systems. It applies to warehouses designed primarily for storing these chemicals, provided they meet conditions such as using secondary containment for liquid products or using dry bulk storage. Owners must notify local fire departments about stored chemicals and update this information if changes occur. The exemption does not apply to office areas within the warehouse, changes in warehouse use, or other fire safety requirements beyond sprinklers. This bill directly affects agricultural businesses storing these products in qualifying facilities.

Maddy summaryAB 750 amends state rules for admitting students to technical college programs. It establishes new admission priority rules for in-state residents versus non-residents (Section 38.22(5)(a)) and creates two new options for community college districts (Section 38.22(5)(b)). Districts may now reserve program spaces for students facing hardship or participating in school-to-work programs, or for protective services training like law enforcement, firefighting, or emergency medical services. These changes give colleges flexibility to address specific student needs and workforce preparation goals within existing admission frameworks.

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 415 restricts state and local government employees from using electronic devices owned by their agencies to access social media, apps, or AI tools owned by entities located in "foreign countries of concern" (as defined by federal regulations). The bill directly affects government employees and contractors who use official devices for non-law enforcement work, banning access to specific foreign-owned technology. Exceptions allow written waivers from the secretary of administration for limited job-related purposes. This policy change aims to limit government use of technology linked to designated foreign adversaries, with no impact on law enforcement activities. The bill does not create new funding or require agency budget changes.

Maddy summaryAB 211 creates a new exemption in Wisconsin law allowing "tobacco bars" to operate without adhering to the state's public smoking ban. To qualify, these establishments must have opened after June 4, 2009, allow only cigar and pipe smoking (not cigarettes), not be classified as food establishments, display clear signage about smoking, prohibit minors under 21 from entering, require employee acknowledgment of secondhand smoke exposure, and demonstrate adequate air filtration in licensing applications. The bill directly affects tobacco bars meeting these specific criteria, enabling them to operate with smoking permitted while imposing strict operational requirements. It does not change the general public smoking ban but establishes a defined exception for this narrow category of businesses.

Maddy summaryAB 366 requires individuals seeking housing with an emotional support animal to provide documentation from a licensed health professional confirming a disability and a disability-related need for the animal. It imposes a minimum $500 fine for falsely claiming a disability or providing false documentation to obtain housing, and similarly penalizes health professionals who issue such documentation without a 30-day patient-provider relationship. The bill clarifies that "service animals" must be trained to perform specific tasks (like guiding or alerting) and creates penalties for falsely claiming a service animal in public places, including fines up to $500 or community service. It also mandates that businesses receive educational materials about service animal laws to help them respond appropriately to service animal requests without violating the law.

Maddy summaryAB 614 clarifies teachers' authority to manage classrooms and addresses student behavior incidents. It defines key terms like "disruptive behavior" and "violent incident," requiring teachers to immediately notify school principals when removing a student for safety concerns or classroom disruptions. The bill mandates that students can only return to a classroom after removal if a behavior intervention plan is in place for serious incidents, and it prohibits school districts from retaliating against teachers who enforce classroom rules or report disruptive behavior. This directly affects teachers (by protecting their actions), students (through new placement rules), and school administrators (by requiring specific procedures for student removals). The bill passed the Assembly on November 19, 2025, with 54 votes in favor.