Rep. Amanda Nedweski

Maddy summaryAB 648 provides supplemental state aid to school districts formed by consolidation after July 1, 2026. It directly affects these newly consolidated districts by determining eligibility based on property tax rates: if their projected tax rate after consolidation exceeds the lowest rate of the original districts, they qualify for aid. The aid amount is calculated as the difference between the projected tax rate and the lowest original rate, multiplied by the district's property valuation. Payments are phased over four years (100% in the first year, then 80%, 60%, and 40% in subsequent years) if state funds are sufficient.

Maddy summaryAB 647 creates a 4-year grant program for school districts that enter into whole grade sharing agreements (where districts share entire grade levels, such as all 5th graders). Eligible school boards receive $500 per enrolled student in the shared grade level each school year, starting in 2026-27, with funds distributed annually. The program requires school districts to submit annual reports on grant usage, and the state department must report to the legislature on grant distribution and spending. This directly affects school districts participating in grade-sharing arrangements by providing ongoing funding for shared educational resources.

Maddy summaryAB 646 requires the Department of Public Instruction to commission a study on school district consolidation by January 1, 2027. The study must examine school boundaries, facility conditions, population demographics, staffing, finances, and geographic feasibility across all school districts. The resulting report must include specific consolidation recommendations with details on projected enrollment, affected communities, school locations, and property values. This study aims to inform future decisions about district boundaries but does not mandate any immediate consolidation.

Maddy summaryAB 671 mandates the Department of Administration to study redundant federal, state, and local requirements for constructing new housing (including single-family, duplex, and multifamily units). The study must identify overlapping or unnecessary rules and submit a report with legislative recommendations within one year of the bill's effective date. This bill does not create new laws but directs a formal review to potentially streamline housing construction regulations. It directly affects future legislative decisions on housing policy, not current construction practices.

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 645 creates grants to help school district consortia (groups of two or more school boards) assess the feasibility of merging districts or sharing grade levels. It allows reimbursement of up to $25,000 per group for costs like financial analyses and population studies related to consolidation or sharing agreements. To qualify, a group must provide proof that all member school boards have approved resolutions supporting the study. The bill does not fund actual consolidation but provides initial support for planning.

Maddy summaryAB 447 amends Wisconsin law to clarify when courts must address objections to video testimony in certain civil cases. It removes a specific exception that previously required courts to sustain objections about expert witness testimony via video in cases under Chapters 51 or 55 of the statutes. For all such proceedings - including expert testimony objections - the bill requires courts to apply their discretion under existing rules (s. 885.56) rather than automatically sustaining objections. This change directly affects defendants and respondents in civil matters listed under the statute who may object to remote testimony.

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 263 requires disability insurance policies and self-insured health plans to cover diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental screenings for individuals at increased breast cancer risk, as defined by National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines or breast density (per American College of Radiology standards). It mandates coverage without copays or deductibles for these specific screenings, including diagnostic exams for abnormalities and supplemental screenings for high-risk patients. The bill applies to all affected plans, ensuring coverage regardless of symptoms and prohibiting cost-sharing for these services. This directly impacts patients with dense breast tissue, family history, or other risk factors, as well as the insurers and employers offering these health plans.

Maddy summaryAB 275 modifies state law to require government agencies to pay legal fees and costs when a court rules that an administrative rule is invalid (e.g., because it violates the constitution or was improperly created). It specifically directs that these costs - awarded to successful challengers - be paid from designated state funds under statutes 20.865(1)(a), (g), or (q). The bill applies to challenges involving agency rules or guidance documents and ensures fees are limited to the scope of the rule validity challenge. This change affects state agencies (who must cover costs) and individuals or groups challenging agency rules (who can recover legal expenses).