Rep. Mark Born

Maddy summaryAB 1027 requires the state's Department of Health Services to compile and share specific data about the food stamp program (SNAP) with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) within six months of the bill's effective date. The data must cover individuals who received, are receiving, or applied for benefits under SNAP since January 1, 2020, as specified in a July 2025 USDA letter implementing a federal executive order. This law directly affects the state agency responsible for administering SNAP, mandating a formal data-sharing process with federal authorities. The bill does not change eligibility or benefits but establishes a new administrative requirement for state-federal data coordination.

Maddy summaryAB 881 requires town boards to approve water diversion or elevation projects in towns before they can proceed. Specifically, it mandates that towns must pass a resolution approving projects that use pumps to divert water to unnatural locations or raise water levels above natural elevations (excluding emergencies). This applies to all projects located within town boundaries, giving local governments direct control over such water management activities. The bill does not change existing state authority over navigable waters but adds a new local approval step for town-based projects.

Maddy summaryAB 882 allows towns to set maximum water levels for artificial water bodies (like ponds or reservoirs behind dams) if high water saturates road beds. It specifically enables town boards to require lower water elevations when a dam's operation threatens road safety. The bill also clarifies that landowners damaged by flooding from negligent obstruction of waterways can demand removal of the obstruction by giving written notice to the responsible party. These changes directly affect towns managing water infrastructure and landowners impacted by water-related damage.

Maddy summaryAB 793 creates a new Office of Internal Audit within Wisconsin's Department of Employee Trust Funds. This office, led by an internal auditor appointed directly by the Employee Trust Funds Board (outside regular civil service), will independently monitor the department's handling of public employee trust fund assets. The auditor will review all department activities related to the funds, ensure compliance with laws and contracts, and provide risk assessments to safeguard benefits for plan participants. The bill directly affects the Department of Employee Trust Funds and its Board by establishing this dedicated oversight role.

Maddy summaryAB 1 standardizes how Wisconsin schools and districts are evaluated by requiring consistent assessment metrics. It mandates that the state department use the same cut scores and performance categories for English/language arts and math tests in grades 3-8 that align with national National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) standards. For high school grades 9-11, it requires using the same metrics applied in the 2021-22 school year. This directly affects all public schools and districts in Wisconsin by changing how their accountability reports are calculated. The bill aims to create uniformity in school performance evaluations across the state.

Maddy summaryAB 856 repeals and amends specific sections of state law related to operating while intoxicated (OWI) that were deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. The bill primarily affects drivers of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles, and motorboats who face penalties for OWI or refusal to submit to chemical tests. Key changes include adjusting penalty tiers for repeat offenses (e.g., fines of $300-$1,100 for one prior conviction, up to $2,000 for four or more), clarifying when refusal constitutes a violation, and adding provisions for "additional chemical tests" for ATV/boat operators involved in accidents. The bill also revises procedures for law enforcement officers requesting tests and providing required information. These changes aim to align the statutes with constitutional standards while maintaining enforcement mechanisms for impaired operation.

Maddy summaryAB 840 regulates data centers in the state by requiring specific operational and environmental standards. It mandates that data centers use closed-loop cooling systems (recycling water instead of using fresh water) and report annual water usage to the department. The bill also requires renewable energy facilities serving data centers to be located on-site and prohibits utility customers from paying for data center infrastructure costs. Additionally, operators must provide financial bonds for construction and restore land if projects are abandoned. These provisions directly affect all data center operators and developers in the state.

Maddy summaryAJR 1 is a constitutional amendment requiring voters to present valid photo identification to cast a ballot in any election. It directly affects all voters in state elections, specifying that acceptable ID must be issued by the state, federal government, a federally recognized tribal entity, or a college/university in the state. The bill mandates the legislature to define acceptable ID types and establish exceptions, while allowing voters without ID on election day to cast a provisional ballot and submit ID later. This proposal, on second consideration after a 2023 rejection, would be submitted to voters in April 2025 if approved.

Maddy summaryAB 21 amends a statute to prohibit technical college districts from leasing their facilities to others for non-school purposes, with one exception: leases for child care centers remain permitted. This bill directly affects public technical college districts by restricting their ability to generate revenue through facility rentals, limiting such leases to only those supporting child care operations. The key provision clarifies that districts cannot enter new leases after the bill's effective date, except for child care centers, which would continue to be allowed under the existing exception. The bill focuses on defining permissible lease arrangements without creating new programs or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryAB 228 creates specific provisions for tax incremental financing (TIF) districts that contain qualified data centers, affecting local legislative bodies and data center developers. It exempts these "data center districts" from a 12 percent limit findings requirement when being created or having their project plans amended, provided all project costs are related to the data center. However, a project plan for such an excepted data center district cannot later be amended to include costs unrelated to the data center. Additionally, the value increment from these excepted data center districts cannot be included when calculating the 12 percent limit for other TIF districts.