Rep. Rob Kreibich

Maddy summaryAB 991 allows minors aged 16 or older to operate pizza-dough rollers in restaurants, provided specific safety features are met. The bill directly affects minor workers in food service establishments using these machines and requires employers to ensure the equipment includes enclosed gears, microswitches that stop the machine if parts are removed, and safeguards preventing fingers or clothing from getting caught. Minors may not perform setup, adjustment, repair, oiling, or cleaning of the rollers. The law aligns with federal safety standards (29 CFR 570.62) and focuses solely on this specific equipment, not broader minor employment rules.

Maddy summaryAB 965 prohibits operators of AI chatbots designed to simulate ongoing, humanlike relationships with children (under 18 in the state) from making them available without specific safety measures. The bill requires these "companion chatbots" to avoid encouraging self-harm, illegal activity, sexual content, or prioritizing a child’s feelings over safety, while excluding standard customer service tools. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $25,000 per day or private lawsuits by affected children or parents for damages. The law takes effect after January 1, 2027, with a transition period for operators unaware a user is a child.

Maddy summaryAB 817 increases the state reimbursement for certified veteran organizations providing military funeral honors from $50 to $100 per funeral. It directly affects local veteran groups certified by the department to perform these honors. The bill amends statute 45.60(2) to allow this higher reimbursement amount from a specific state fund, covering costs incurred by these organizations. The change applies to all military funerals in the state where honors are provided.

Maddy summaryAB 993 establishes a process for automatically removing expired state rules from Wisconsin's official rulebook. It requires agencies to conduct economic impact analyses for new rules that could cost businesses, local governments, or individuals over $10 million in implementation and compliance costs over two years, potentially halting rulemaking. The bill includes special provisions for "readopting" existing rules (renewing without changes), requiring agencies to analyze costs and benefits of the original rules instead of new rule costs. This affects state agencies creating rules and businesses, local governments, and individuals impacted by regulatory changes.

Maddy summaryAB 701 adopts the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act to shield individuals and organizations from lawsuits targeting their speech on matters of public concern. It creates a "special motion" allowing defendants to quickly dismiss such cases within 60 days of being sued, with the court requiring the plaintiff to prove their claim has merit. The law specifically protects speech in government proceedings, political expression, or press freedoms, but excludes lawsuits by/against government entities or commercial speech related to sales. This applies to civil suits where the core issue involves public discourse, not private business disputes.

Maddy summaryAB 717 is a procedural bill that renumbers an existing statute section (changing 961.16 (3) (cm) to 961.14 (2) (nd) 9g) within the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. It does not create new penalties or list carfentanil as a controlled substance; it only adjusts the statutory reference for administrative clarity. This bill directly affects the legal code structure but does not change any existing penalties or substance classifications. The summary is limited to the procedural renumbering, as no substantive policy changes are described in the bill text.

Maddy summaryAB 714 requires health insurers, administrators, and pharmacy benefit managers to provide large employers (those with 50+ employees) full access to their health claims data. The bill states that employers (as "plan sponsors") own this data, including detailed records of high-cost claims (exceeding $25,000 for medical, $10,000 for pharmacy), billing statements, payment histories, and rebate information. Insurers and pharmacy managers must deliver this data within 7 business days of a written request, in electronic format, and cannot sell the data without employer and individual permission. The law aims to give employers greater transparency into their health plan costs and administration.

Maddy summaryAB 742 regulates lease-purchase agreements for personal property (like furniture or appliances used at home), directly affecting consumers who rent items with an option to buy. It requires written agreements with clear disclosures, including total payments needed to own the goods, the cash-sale price, payment frequency, and terms for early purchase. The law mandates that lessors provide these details in plain language (at least 8-point type) and in the same language as any advertising. Violations allow consumers to sue for damages, but the law exempts business leases, vehicles, mobile homes, and real estate-related rentals.

Maddy summaryAB 718 regulates the prescription, use, and disposal of abortion-inducing drugs. It requires physicians to schedule a patient follow-up within 7 days after prescribing such drugs and provide a catch kit and medical waste bag for proper disposal. The bill also holds drug manufacturers responsible for safely disposing of abortion-related waste and mitigating endocrine disruptors (chemicals interfering with hormones), imposing fines up to $20,000 per violation. Additionally, it mandates wastewater treatment plants to test for endocrine disruptors. The law takes effect on May 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryAB 712 clarifies the sales tax exemption for personal farm property or household goods sold at auctions online. It defines an "auction event" for internet sales as the consecutive days winning bids are selected (not just when property is available), while maintaining a limit of five or fewer such auctions per year by the same auctioneer at one location. This primarily affects small-scale auctioneers selling personal items online, ensuring they meet the exemption criteria. The bill updates definitions to explicitly include internet bidding periods without changing the exemption's core eligibility rules.