Rep. Rob Kreibich

Maddy summaryAB 231 creates a 25% tax credit for film production companies in Wisconsin covering eligible expenses (like wages, equipment, and location costs) and capital investments for accredited productions. It directly affects film production companies operating in Wisconsin that meet minimum spending thresholds ($50,000 or $100,000 depending on production length) and excludes news, sports, or corporate content. The bill establishes a State Film Office to administer the program, requiring accredited productions to include a state acknowledgment in the final film and mandating annual reports on credit allocations. It caps annual tax credits at $10 million statewide and $1 million per company, with strict eligibility rules and third-party audit requirements to ensure compliance.

Maddy summaryAJR 8 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the governor's partial veto power on budget bills. It would prevent the governor from rejecting small parts of a bill (like single words or sentences) and require that any vetoed section must be a complete, standalone law that can function independently. The bill specifically targets appropriation bills, restricting the governor to vetoing entire sections that are capable of separate enactment. This is a proposed constitutional change, not a law, and would need voter approval to take effect. The amendment aims to reduce the governor's ability to alter budget bills through partial vetoes.

Maddy summaryAB 286 redirects $172 million in interest earned from unused coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds to the general state fund. It applies to funds held under specific state appropriations (section 20.505(1)(mb)) that were not spent by the deadline. The bill transfers this interest directly to the general fund on its effective date, rather than allowing it to remain in the recovery fund. This is a procedural adjustment to reallocate existing interest earnings, not a new funding program.

Maddy summaryAB 71 changes how school districts in Wisconsin can seek voter approval to exceed their standard operating budget limits. It requires school boards to adopt a resolution specifying whether excess funds are for recurring (ongoing) or nonrecurring (one-time) purposes, and limits such resolutions to four years. Voters must approve these requests via referendum, with ballots clearly stating the amount for nonrecurring uses. Crucially, if approved for recurring purposes, the excess amount becomes part of the next year's budget base; for nonrecurring purposes, it does not affect future budget limits. This bill directly affects school districts seeking to fund additional programs beyond their regular budget without voter approval.

Maddy summaryAB 27 expands eligibility for state veterans' benefits to include individuals who served in Laos supporting U.S. forces during the Vietnam War and were naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of 2000. The bill updates state statutes to define these veterans as qualifying for property tax exemptions (under 36.27) and other benefit programs (under 38.24 and 45.01). It specifically adds them to eligibility criteria for benefits previously limited to other veteran categories. This change directly affects Hmong veterans residing in the state who meet the federal naturalization requirements. The bill passed committee unanimously and is now pending in the Rules committee.

Maddy summaryAB 172 creates a new consumer data protection law by defining key terms like "personal data," "biometric data," "sale of personal data," and "consumer" in section 100.80 of the statutes. This bill directly affects businesses that collect or process personal data of state residents, requiring them to follow standardized handling practices for such data. The law includes penalty provisions for violations, though specific penalty amounts and enforcement details are not provided in the available bill text.

Maddy summaryAB 303 creates a new state grant program to fund crisis intervention services for people contacting the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline from within the state. The bill requires the state department to award grants to organizations providing crisis care coordination to individuals who call or text 988. This directly affects crisis service providers that serve callers within the state's geographic boundaries. The key mechanism is a state-funded grant program administered by the department to support these organizations, ensuring consistent access to crisis care for 988 users. The bill does not change the 988 hotline's operation but provides state funding to support local crisis response services.

Maddy summaryAB 299 requires the University of Wisconsin (UW) System Board to contract with a mental health service provider for virtual counseling and support for students at UW institutions with 30,000 or fewer full-time undergraduate students (as counted April 1 annually). The services must work alongside existing campus mental health programs, operate beyond standard business hours, and include proven clinical support and licensed professionals experienced with college students. Vendors must have at least five years of higher education mental health experience and provide software enabling collaboration with campus staff. The board must annually report student usage statistics system-wide and by institution to the legislature.

Maddy summaryAB 260 establishes a two-year pilot program providing school-centered mental health services to at-risk students and families in two schools per year (one rural, one urban/suburban). The program requires schools to already offer some behavioral health resources and agree to surveys/data sharing. It funds full-time therapists and family coaches to deliver year-round, evidence-based services - including in-school therapy, family coaching on mental health support, and connections to community health resources - while measuring impacts on students' mental health symptoms, academic performance, and basic needs like housing or food. A report on outcomes must be submitted to the legislature after the pilot ends.

Maddy summaryAB 171 allows Wisconsin judicial officers (such as judges) to request privacy protections for their personal information, including home addresses and secondary residences, from public disclosure. The bill requires government agencies and land records websites to remove such information from public records within 10 business days after receiving a notarized written request from a judicial officer. It defines specific criteria for third parties (like title companies or entities with confidentiality agreements) to access protected records under limited circumstances. This law directly affects judicial officers' privacy by creating a formal process to shield their personal details from public view, while maintaining access for authorized entities under defined conditions.