Rep. Lindee Brill

Maddy summaryAB 503 updates the legal definition of "hemp" in state law to clarify regulatory boundaries. It establishes a 0.3% THC limit (or up to 1% under federal law) for hemp plants, explicitly excludes FDA-approved drugs, and creates new categories like "hemp-derived cannabinoid products" with restrictions on synthetic cannabinoids. The bill directly affects hemp farmers (who must meet THC testing standards), manufacturers of hemp products (who must comply with new labeling rules), and state agencies like the Department of Agriculture. Key mechanisms include requiring standardized THC testing methods and defining industrial hemp uses (e.g., stalk fiber, seed oil) separate from psychoactive products.

Maddy summaryAB 443 increases the maximum fee municipal courts can collect for most cases from $38 to $48 per matter, such as traffic violations or other non-traffic offenses. The bill affects municipal courts directly, as they collect these fees for cases not excluded (like certain traffic violations under specific statutes). For each fee collected, $5 goes to the state general fund, while the remainder stays with the municipality. This change applies to all court actions in municipal courts except for financial responsibility violations or certain ordinance violations. The bill does not alter the minimum fee ($15) or the fee structure for excluded cases.

Maddy summaryAB 61 increases penalties for harming police or fire department animals used in official duties. It creates three penalty tiers: a Class A misdemeanor for negligent harm, a Class I H felony for intentional injury, and a Class H G felony for intentional killing. The law applies specifically to animals working for law enforcement or fire departments during their duties. Penalties depend on the perpetrator's intent (intentional vs. negligent) and the outcome (injury vs. death). This bill, enacted as 2025 Wisconsin Act 28, directly affects individuals who intentionally or negligently injure or kill such animals.

Maddy summaryAB 237 extends the age limit for infants covered under Wisconsin's safe haven law from 72 hours to 30 days. This means parents can now safely relinquish an infant to a hospital or emergency responder without legal consequences if the child is 30 days old or younger, instead of only 72 hours. The bill modifies three statutes to update references to "72 hours" to "30 days" in the legal definitions for safe haven surrender, court findings of relinquishment, and related procedures. It directly affects parents seeking to surrender newborns and impacts hospitals, law enforcement, and child welfare systems that handle these surrenders. The change provides a longer window for parents to make this decision while maintaining the legal framework for safe relinquishment.

Maddy summaryAB 677 creates a new criminal offense for "grooming a child for sexual activity," defined as manipulating a child to facilitate sexual abuse. This law directly affects individuals convicted of such grooming behavior, adding it as a punishable offense under Wisconsin statutes like 948.02 (sexual exploitation of a child) and 948.072 (grooming). Key provisions amend multiple laws to include grooming as a disqualifying factor for home placements, licensing for childcare, and reporting requirements, while defining it as a "serious crime" for entities serving minors. The bill does not change existing penalties for actual sexual abuse but establishes grooming itself as a distinct criminal violation with specific legal consequences.

Maddy summaryAB 273 amends Wisconsin statute 15.405(5g) to update the membership of the Controlled Substances Board. It adds the secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection (or their designee), chairpersons of several medical boards (pharmacy, medical, physician assistant, dentistry, nursing), and two appointed experts (a psychiatrist and pharmacologist) serving 3-year terms. The bill does not change the board's duties but specifies who serves on it. This directly affects the composition of the board, which reviews controlled substances regulations. The change is procedural, focusing on board structure rather than policy.

Maddy summaryAB 153 requires parents in child support or maintenance cases to notify the child support agency within 10 business days of changes to their address, job, or significant income (like bonuses). It also creates new rules allowing parents to redact personal information (like social security numbers or home addresses) from documents shared with the agency, while clarifying that income changes alone don’t automatically adjust support payments. The bill specifically defines "shared-placement parents" and exempts them from some notification requirements if the other parent isn’t a shared-placement parent. This affects all Wisconsin parents receiving or paying child support/maintenance and the county child support agencies managing these cases.

Maddy summaryAB 388 creates a one-time grant program to fund Rogers Behavioral Health for constructing an integrated mental health facility in Wisconsin's Chippewa Valley region. The facility will provide inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient services for adolescents and adults. To receive the grant, Rogers must submit detailed certification plans for each service type (e.g., inpatient, residential) and report annually on facility operations and Medical Assistance patient access. The bill establishes specific requirements for facility certification under state health codes and mandates annual reporting to the Department of Health Services.

Maddy summaryAB 74 requires Wisconsin public, private, and charter schools to notify parents or guardians within 24 hours if they receive a report alleging specific misconduct: sexual misconduct by a staff member, a convicted sex offender working with children, or a sex offender photographing a minor without consent. Schools must deliver notice by phone or in person, with deadlines of 5 p.m. the same day (if reported before school ends) or noon the next day. The law excludes reports involving the student’s parent or guardian and applies to all schools covered under Wisconsin education statutes. This is a direct notification requirement, not an investigation mandate.

Maddy summaryAB 201 modifies Wisconsin law to require sex offender registration for individuals convicted of sexual extortion or certain related offenses. It directs courts to mandate registration under Wisconsin Statute 301.45 if the underlying conduct was "sexually motivated" (as defined in Statute 980.01(5)), including violations of statutes related to sexual extortion (e.g., 942.09, 942.095). The bill affects offenders convicted of sexual extortion or sexually motivated crimes under Chapters 940, 942, 943, 944, or 948. Courts may later release individuals from registration if they meet conditions set by the court. This is a policy change to expand registration requirements for specific sexual offenses, not a new criminal penalty.