Rep. Will Penterman

Maddy summaryAB 906 bans foreign nationals from contributing to or influencing referendum committees that support or oppose ballot measures. It defines "foreign national" broadly to include non-citizens, foreign governments, and foreign-owned entities, and requires committees to obtain written confirmations from contributors that they are not foreign nationals and haven’t received over $100,000 from foreign sources in the past four years. Committees must also attest they haven’t accepted such funds and cannot allow foreign nationals to direct or control their activities related to referendums. The bill directly affects referendum committees, campaign finance committees, and anyone contributing to ballot measure campaigns.

Maddy summaryAB 900 modifies eligibility for farmland preservation tax credits by prohibiting credits for any qualifying farmland where a non-accessory photovoltaic solar energy system (like standalone solar panels) is located during the taxable year. This directly affects farmers or landowners who seek these tax credits but have installed such solar systems on their eligible farmland. The bill creates new definitions to clarify that credits cannot be claimed for acres with these non-accessory solar installations, while maintaining credit eligibility for land without them. The policy change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryAB 972 allows banks and credit unions to refuse or delay specific financial transactions and decline to accept a power of attorney for vulnerable adults when they reasonably suspect financial exploitation. Financial institutions must report suspected exploitation to adult-at-risk agencies and notify authorized account holders (excluding suspected perpetrators), while maintaining legal immunity for good-faith actions. This law directly affects vulnerable adults (elderly or disabled individuals at risk of exploitation), financial institutions, and the agencies that handle exploitation reports. It creates clear procedures for institutions to act preventively without facing liability, focusing on concrete safeguards rather than new penalties or funding.

Maddy summaryAB 990 would require Wisconsin high school students to earn at least 0.5 credits in personal financial literacy to graduate. The bill specifies that this course must cover topics like money management, saving/investing, credit/debt, and risk management. Schools could award credit for approved programs offered by financial institutions through school-based branches, as determined by the school board. This requirement would apply to students in high school grades once the law is enacted.

Maddy summaryAB 995 modifies state law governing when administrative rules and emergency rules take effect. It changes the default effective date for administrative rules to the first day of the 7th month after publication (previously 6 months) and extends the maximum duration for emergency rules from 150 to 180 days. These changes directly affect state agencies creating rules and the public subject to those regulations. The bill provides clearer timelines for when rules become enforceable and how long emergency rules may remain in effect without further legislative action.

Maddy summaryAB 991 allows minors aged 16 or older to operate pizza-dough rollers in restaurants, provided specific safety features are met. The bill directly affects minor workers in food service establishments using these machines and requires employers to ensure the equipment includes enclosed gears, microswitches that stop the machine if parts are removed, and safeguards preventing fingers or clothing from getting caught. Minors may not perform setup, adjustment, repair, oiling, or cleaning of the rollers. The law aligns with federal safety standards (29 CFR 570.62) and focuses solely on this specific equipment, not broader minor employment rules.

Maddy summaryAB 712 clarifies the sales tax exemption for personal farm property or household goods sold at auctions online. It defines an "auction event" for internet sales as the consecutive days winning bids are selected (not just when property is available), while maintaining a limit of five or fewer such auctions per year by the same auctioneer at one location. This primarily affects small-scale auctioneers selling personal items online, ensuring they meet the exemption criteria. The bill updates definitions to explicitly include internet bidding periods without changing the exemption's core eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryAB 766 amends Wisconsin's commercial driver training grant program rules. It requires training providers to meet federal standards (49 CFR part 380), be listed on the Training Provider Registry (TPR), and deliver training at TPR-registered facilities. The bill also mandates that trainees obtain their initial Wisconsin commercial driver license (CDL) after March 23, 2024 (or a later date for non-training-providers), and prevents multiple grants for the same trainee. These changes directly affect training providers applying for state grants and individuals receiving training under the program.

Maddy summaryAB 749 requires all public high schools to include instruction about organ and blood donation in at least one grade between 9 and 12. The law mandates that this instruction cover the purpose of donations, the statewide and nationwide need for them, and how students can participate. This applies to all high school curricula starting with the 2026-27 school year. The bill directly affects high school students and school districts by adding this specific health education requirement to their curriculum.

Maddy summaryAB 779 increases the dollar limits for cases heard in Wisconsin's small claims courts. It raises the maximum amount for consumer credit transactions (from $25,000 to $50,000), property recovery cases (from $10,000 to $25,000), personal injury/tort claims (from $5,000 to $25,000), and other civil cases (from $10,000 to $25,000). The bill also establishes automatic adjustments to these limits every five years based on inflation, using the U.S. consumer price index. This change directly affects individuals and small businesses filing claims in small claims court, allowing them to seek higher compensation without moving to a more complex court system.