Rep. Will Penterman

Maddy summaryAB 669 revises higher education program definitions and requirements in Wisconsin, focusing on how "disadvantaged" students are identified and supported. It prohibits the use of race, ethnicity, gender, or group identity in defining "disadvantaged" students, requiring that eligibility be based solely on economic, familial, geographic, or personal hardship. The bill updates existing programs like graduate aid grants (e.g., "Ben R. Lawton grants") and retention plans to operate without race-based considerations, while maintaining reporting requirements for financial aid distribution by student demographics. It affects public universities, technical colleges, and students applying for state-funded aid programs.

Maddy summaryAB 572 clarifies the legal definition of "bingo" in Wisconsin law to distinguish it from certain free games. The bill specifies that bingo requires participants to pay to play, uses standard 5x5 cards with numbers 1-75 (including a "FREE" center space), and determines winners based on random number draws matching predefined patterns. Crucially, it explicitly excludes games using free cards and donated prizes where participants pay no consideration, regardless of whether the host pays for prizes or supplies. This change directly affects gambling regulators, local governments, and organizations running bingo events, ensuring only paid participation games fall under gambling licensing rules. The bill does not alter existing bingo rules but provides clear legal boundaries for enforcement.

Maddy summaryAB 598 allows patient representatives to consent to health care facility admissions for incapacitated individuals without requiring a court-appointed guardian or protective placement petition. The bill creates a defined "patient representative" role, requiring two medical professionals (e.g., two physicians or one physician plus an advanced practice clinician) to certify incapacity based on medical need - not age, disability, or eccentricity. Patient representatives gain authority to make health care decisions, enroll individuals in Medical Assistance, and authorize health care expenses similar to a guardian, but only for non-developmental disability and non-mental illness cases. This change streamlines admissions for incapacitated patients while mandating 72-hour notifications to county agencies about the certification.

Maddy summaryAB 89 addresses theft crimes and their associated penalties. The bill text includes an amendment that removes the phrase "in a 6-month period" from two specific lines within the bill. This change modifies the criteria for certain theft crimes by eliminating a previously defined 6-month time constraint. This adjustment impacts individuals accused of theft and the legal process for prosecuting these offenses.

Maddy summaryAB 666 creates penalties for individuals who fraudulently claim ownership of another person's unclaimed property without consent. It imposes civil penalties equal to the full value of the property (plus $1,000-$2,500 for non-compliant claims) and criminal penalties of a Class I felony for intentional fraud. The bill requires the state administrator to publicly post names and penalty amounts of offenders online for 12 months. This directly affects claimants who file false claims, not property owners or administrators.

Maddy summaryAB 61 increases penalties for harming police or fire department animals used in official duties. It creates three penalty tiers: a Class A misdemeanor for negligent harm, a Class I H felony for intentional injury, and a Class H G felony for intentional killing. The law applies specifically to animals working for law enforcement or fire departments during their duties. Penalties depend on the perpetrator's intent (intentional vs. negligent) and the outcome (injury vs. death). This bill, enacted as 2025 Wisconsin Act 28, directly affects individuals who intentionally or negligently injure or kill such animals.

Maddy summaryAB 78 modifies Wisconsin law regarding vehicle impoundment for reckless driving offenses. It gives law enforcement officers discretion to impound vehicles used in certain reckless driving cases, rather than requiring mandatory impoundment. The bill directly affects drivers convicted of qualifying reckless driving offenses and law enforcement officers who decide whether to impound a vehicle. This change, now part of 2025 Wisconsin Act 46, alters the standard procedure for handling such vehicles.

Maddy summaryAB 452 requires local governments (municipalities, towns, or counties) to offer land developers an informal meeting before they submit subdivision development plans (preliminary or final plats). This "conceptual review" lets developers discuss their plans with local officials to get feedback on whether the proposal meets local requirements. The review and any feedback provided are not binding on either the developer or the local government. The bill modifies existing rules about subdivision approvals to add this pre-submission step, while keeping the standard process for reviewing formal plat submissions unchanged.

Maddy summaryAB 592 creates a two-year pilot program (2025-26 to 2026-27) to provide professional development for K-12 science teachers in Wisconsin. The Department of Public Instruction will partner with state-based nonprofits to offer training, and may provide free science equipment to participating teachers for classroom use. By October 2027, the department must report to the legislature on participation numbers, equipment distribution, and participating organizations. This bill directly affects science teachers in public schools by enhancing their training opportunities and resources.

Maddy summaryAB 677 creates a new criminal offense for "grooming a child for sexual activity," defined as manipulating a child to facilitate sexual abuse. This law directly affects individuals convicted of such grooming behavior, adding it as a punishable offense under Wisconsin statutes like 948.02 (sexual exploitation of a child) and 948.072 (grooming). Key provisions amend multiple laws to include grooming as a disqualifying factor for home placements, licensing for childcare, and reporting requirements, while defining it as a "serious crime" for entities serving minors. The bill does not change existing penalties for actual sexual abuse but establishes grooming itself as a distinct criminal violation with specific legal consequences.