Rep. Rob Kreibich

Maddy summaryAB 613 requires school principals to notify parents in writing within 5 p.m. the same day when a student is removed from a classroom in a way that reduces instructional time for other students (e.g., during drills). Notices must be electronic (or by mail if declined) and cannot include personal information. School principals must report annual removal counts to school boards by October 1, 2027, and school boards must submit this data to the state superintendent by December 1, starting in 2028. The law applies to all public schools and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryAB 678 requires Wisconsin school boards to adopt a policy by July 2026 governing appropriate communication between school employees and volunteers (acting in their official capacity) and students. The policy must cover all communication methods and content, both during and outside school hours, and specify consequences for violations. It directly affects school district staff, volunteers, and students by establishing clear standards for professional interactions. The bill creates a new statutory requirement (120.12(30)) without dictating specific communication rules, leaving implementation to individual school boards.

Maddy summaryAB 312 sets standardized operating hours for in-person absentee ballot voting at local election offices (municipal clerks) and approved alternate sites. It directly affects voters who cast absentee ballots in person and local election officials managing these locations. The bill establishes specific, consistent hours for these locations to ensure accessible voting access, replacing variable or inconsistent schedules previously set by individual jurisdictions. This is a procedural change to improve clarity and convenience for voters using in-person absentee voting.

Maddy summaryAB 618 creates tax credits for nuclear energy facilities in Wisconsin, directly affecting electric utilities, cooperatives, municipal companies, and qualified wholesale providers. It provides a credit against income/franchise tax for wages paid to full-time nuclear facility workers (defined as 2,080 hours/year at 150% federal minimum wage) and capital expenditures for facility construction, maintenance, or operation (excluding land purchases). The credit can be transferred to other taxpayers subject to certain taxes, though partnerships and LLCs must pass the credit amount to owners rather than claiming it directly. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2027.

Maddy summaryAB 394 requires all California public school driver education programs to include specific instruction on school bus safety. This directly affects students enrolled in driver education courses, ensuring they learn about bus stopping procedures and blind spots. The bill mandates that curricula cover how to safely approach stopped school buses and recognize hazards around them. These changes aim to improve student awareness and safety when near school buses.

Maddy summaryAB 523 bans the sale, installation, or distribution of counterfeit airbags (fake parts with misleading marks) and nonfunctional airbags (previously deployed, damaged, or falsely labeled as working). It directly affects auto parts sellers, installers, and repair shops by prohibiting these practices, with limited exceptions for police vehicles, dealers without knowledge of issues, and insurance-related vehicle transfers. Violations carry fines up to $5,000 or up to one year in jail per offense, escalating to felony charges for repeat offenses or if harm or death results. The bill creates specific definitions for these airbag types and establishes penalties under existing statute 347.50.

Maddy summaryAB 488 adds soybean-derived fire suppression products to the list of eligible costs for state fire safety grants. The bill specifically allows grant recipients to purchase these products using funds from existing fire suppression grant programs. This change directly affects state agencies, local fire departments, or organizations applying for these grants, making soybean-based fire suppression materials a qualifying expense.

Maddy summaryAB 395 requires school buses to be equipped with audiovisual recording devices to capture events during transportation. This mandate directly affects school districts and bus operators, who must install and maintain the devices. The key provision specifies that the recording systems must capture both audio and visual footage inside and around the bus, with data retention and privacy safeguards outlined in the bill. The legislation focuses on enhancing transparency during student transportation without specifying additional safety outcomes.

Maddy summaryAB 357 proposes a grant program to provide funding for technical education equipment at community colleges and vocational programs. It would directly affect these educational institutions by enabling them to purchase new or updated equipment for training in fields like advanced manufacturing and IT. The bill establishes a competitive grant process administered by the state workforce agency, with funding allocated based on program needs and student enrollment. Currently in committee review after its introduction and public hearing, the bill has received a fiscal estimate but has not yet been enacted.

Maddy summaryAB 494 extends Wisconsin's research income tax credit carryover period from 15 to 50 taxable years. This change allows businesses that claim the credit but cannot fully use it in a single year to carry forward unused credits for up to five decades. The policy directly affects Wisconsin businesses eligible for the research tax credit, providing greater flexibility to offset future tax liabilities. The bill primarily modifies tax code sections (71.07 and 71.28) to implement this extended carryover period.