Rep. Rob Kreibich

Maddy summaryAB 561 allows school buses to install and monitor cameras to record vehicles illegally passing them, and permits school bus operators or third-party vendors to submit photo or video evidence of these violations to local traffic authorities. Traffic officers can then issue citations based on this evidence, imposing fines of $30 to $500 on the vehicle owner. The bill specifies that these fines do not result in license suspension or demerit points. This law directly affects drivers who illegally pass school buses and the school bus operators or vendors reporting violations.

Maddy summaryAB 451 creates new rules for "residential tax incremental districts" (RTIDs) in cities, limiting these districts to 3% of a city's total taxable property value (down from a 12% cap for other districts). It requires RTIDs to fund only infrastructure for residential developments meeting strict size limits: single-family homes under 7,500 sq ft lots, two-family homes under 15,000 sq ft lots, and strict setbacks/sizes for homes (e.g., max 1,500 sq ft for single-story). Project costs are restricted to district-wide infrastructure (like stormwater systems), not individual lots, and must be paid from tax increments or developer financing. The bill directly affects cities creating RTIDs and developers building qualifying residential projects.

Maddy summaryAB 455 establishes a grant program to reimburse owners of multifamily housing for costs incurred when converting properties to condominiums. The program covers specific expenses like attorney fees, permitting costs, and other project-related fees. Grants are limited to $50,000 per property and a total of $10 million from the existing Main Street Housing Rehabilitation Fund. The bill requires detailed reporting on each grant awarded, including recipient information, project descriptions, and location. This directly affects multifamily housing owners seeking to convert their properties to condominiums.

Maddy summaryAB 128 requires specific first responders - including firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, correctional officers, and conservation wardens - to complete training on recognizing severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), safely storing and administering epinephrine delivery systems, and following up after use. The bill mandates that all qualifying first responders must have an epinephrine delivery system available during duty and be trained on all required subjects. The state department must compile and maintain a list of approved training organizations and may distribute epinephrine systems using existing funds. This legislation directly affects over 30,000 first responders across multiple agencies who respond to medical emergencies.

Maddy summaryAB 30 prohibits foreign adversaries (defined as foreign governments or entities deemed a threat to U.S. security by the federal Commerce Secretary) from acquiring, owning, or holding any agricultural or forestry land in the state. It also imposes a 640-acre ownership limit for non-resident aliens, foreign corporations, and certain entities with foreign ownership. Owners exceeding these limits must divest the excess land within four years or forfeit it to the state. The bill directly affects foreign governments/entities designated as adversaries and current landowners who violate the ownership limits. It creates new enforcement mechanisms but does not apply to land acquired before July 1, 1982.

Maddy summaryAB 411 would establish a "farmland link program" to connect agricultural producers with resources like land access, technical assistance, and market opportunities. The program would be administered by the Department of Agriculture, potentially using state funds identified in the fiscal estimate. This bill directly affects farmers and agricultural producers seeking support for land use and business development, with a public hearing held to gather input on its design. The proposal is still in committee review after its August 2025 introduction.

Maddy summaryAB 31 gives farmers and businesses who buy or lease new farm equipment clear rights when warranty issues can't be fixed. If a farm implement has a warranty problem that remains unresolved after four repair attempts or 30 total days out of service, the buyer or lessee can choose a replacement machine or a full refund. The bill requires manufacturers to cover related costs like alternative equipment rentals during repairs. This applies to new equipment purchased from authorized dealers or leased under written agreements, directly affecting agricultural equipment consumers.

Maddy summaryAB 363 creates a no-interest loan program for dairy farms operating 50-714 cows that meet strict criteria, including 98% in-state payroll, no recent environmental or safety violations, and legal workforce compliance. Funds can be used to adopt technology improving milk production efficiency, animal health, milk quality, or reducing environmental impacts from manure management. Priority is given to projects creating jobs, enhancing manure management practices, or lowering environmental effects per gallon of milk produced. The program aims to support sustainable dairy operations while ensuring local economic benefits through targeted financial assistance.

Maddy summaryAB 485 simplifies the application process for students continuing in Wisconsin's parental choice programs. It removes the requirement for parents to submit residency documentation for returning students unless their address has changed since the previous school year. The bill modifies administrative rules to streamline verification for schools, applying only to students who attended a participating private school in the prior year. This change takes effect for the 2026-27 school year.

Maddy summaryAB 585 designates the wild turkey (*meleagris gallopavo*) as Wisconsin's official state game bird and the ruffed grouse (*bonasa umbellus*) as the state upland game bird. The bill amends Wisconsin statutes to add these specific designations to the list of official state symbols included in the Wisconsin Blue Book. This is a ceremonial, non-regulatory change that formally recognizes these birds as state symbols without altering laws or affecting public policy. The bill does not impose new requirements, fund programs, or impact citizens or wildlife management. It follows standard procedure for designating state symbols through legislative action.