Rep. Calvin Callahan

Maddy summaryAB 208 creates tax exemptions for income and franchise taxes related to broadband expansion funding. It directly affects internet service providers, telecom companies, and community organizations receiving grants or federal high-cost program funds for building broadband infrastructure in the state. The bill exempts from taxation: (1) state/local/tribal/federal grants for broadband expansion, and (2) federal high-cost program funding under 47 USC 254. These exemptions apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and prevent double-counting with other existing tax provisions.

Maddy summaryAB 610 creates a temporary sales and use tax exemption for firearms, bows/arrows for archery, crossbows, and ammunition sold exclusively on July 4 and during the third week of December. This exemption applies directly to retailers selling these items during those specific dates and to consumers purchasing them, removing the standard sales tax liability for these transactions. The bill adds a new provision (77.54(76)) to the tax code, explicitly listing the covered items and timeframes. It does not change year-round tax treatment but provides a limited, annual exemption for these products during the designated periods.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits serving margarine as a butter substitute in public restaurants unless specifically requested by the customer. It also bans using margarine instead of butter for students in schools unless ordered by the student or their parent/guardian, with limited health exceptions requiring a healthcare provider's direction. State institutions (like hospitals or prisons) can only substitute margarine for butter with superintendent approval for specific health reasons. The law aims to ensure butter substitutions are intentional and health-appropriate in these settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public school districts to allow military recruiters access to high school common areas and school events during the school day, as mandated by federal law (10 USC 503(c)). It specifically prohibits schools from denying this access based on whether they allow college recruiters or employers, but explicitly states that classrooms during instructional time are excluded. The law applies to all public high schools and takes effect for the 2025-26 school year. It directly affects school districts, which must adjust their policies to comply.

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 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.

Maddy summaryAB 158 modifies Wisconsin's worker's compensation rules for mental injuries (specifically PTSD) among certain public safety professionals. It adds emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners, medical examiners, and medicolegal investigation staff to the list of workers eligible for mental injury claims. The bill requires these claims to meet additional conditions to be compensable, specifically for mental injuries not accompanied by physical harm. This change affects how these essential public safety workers access benefits for work-related PTSD under Wisconsin's worker's compensation system.

Maddy summaryAB 555 creates a new Class H felony charge for intentionally disarming correctional officers while they are on duty. It specifically targets individuals who take dangerous weapons, devices (as defined in §941.26), or official duty items like radios, keys, or other tools from correctional officers without consent. The law applies when these items are being carried by the officer or within their immediate presence. This bill directly affects correctional officers working in state facilities and establishes criminal penalties for interference with their safety equipment during official duties.

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).

Maddy summaryAB 276 sets time limits for state agencies' "statements of scope" when creating administrative rules. It requires permanent rule statements to expire after 30 months and emergency rule statements after 6 months, preventing agencies from using expired statements to propose new rules. The bill also mandates separate statements for concurrent emergency and permanent rules and limits agencies to one rule per statement. These changes directly affect state agencies developing regulations and ensure legislative review occurs within defined timeframes. The bill does not alter rule content but streamlines the process for agency rulemaking and legislative oversight.