Rep. David Steffen

Maddy summaryAB 320 increases multiple court filing fees and requires these fees to be adjusted for inflation starting in 2030. It raises specific fees, such as the civil filing fee from $75 to $190 and the criminal case fee from $163 to $239, with future adjustments tied to the U.S. consumer price index. These changes directly affect individuals filing court cases (e.g., defendants in criminal matters, plaintiffs in civil or family cases) who pay these fees. The bill mandates that fee amounts be recalculated every five years based on inflation data, rounded up to the nearest dollar, and posted online by the state courts director. The adjustments apply to over 20 specific fee categories across criminal, civil, and family court proceedings.

Maddy summaryAB 530 restricts drone operations over school properties, directly affecting anyone flying drones near public, private, or tribal schools. The bill prohibits drones over school grounds without authorization, except for specific law enforcement or emergency purposes like search/rescue, locating escaped prisoners, or preventing imminent danger. Violations carry a maximum $5,000 penalty, and evidence from drone recordings related to violations must be handled by law enforcement or correctional authorities. The law clarifies definitions for "school" and "public protective services agency" to ensure consistent application.

Maddy summaryAB 670 exempts businesses providing certain contract research services from state sales and use tax. It defines "contract research services" as research conducted for a client that would qualify as "qualified research" if done by the client’s own employees. The bill specifically includes research funded between companies in the same corporate group and research covered under federal tax rules for "contract research expenses." This exemption directly benefits research service providers in the state, reducing their tax burden for qualifying work. The bill aligns state tax treatment with federal research credit definitions under the Internal Revenue Code.

Maddy summaryAB 778 changes eligibility rules for Wisconsin's Transform Milwaukee Jobs and Transitional Jobs programs. It requires applicants to have neither filed for unemployment insurance benefits nor be eligible for them. The bill repeals an existing eligibility provision (49.163(2)(am)4) and amends the current rule (49.163(2)(am)5) to clarify this requirement. This directly affects individuals seeking employment assistance through these specific Milwaukee-based workforce programs. The change simplifies eligibility by excluding those currently accessing unemployment benefits.

Maddy summaryAB 659 modifies Wisconsin's tuition benefit policies for veterans and their families. It reduces the required residency period from 5 to 3 consecutive years in the state before enrollment for veterans themselves and their dependents (spouses or children) to qualify for tuition exemptions or grants at University of Wisconsin System schools, technical colleges, or private nonprofit institutions. The bill applies to veterans who served honorably, died on duty or from service-connected disabilities, or have a 30% service-connected disability rating, and to dependents who meet the revised residency requirement. It does not change eligibility for veterans who were Wisconsin residents at the time of military entry. The policy change takes effect for the first semester or session beginning after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends residency requirements for people circulating nomination papers or recall petitions. It requires circulators to certify their residence (with street address if applicable) and confirms they are either a qualified elector of the state or a U.S. citizen aged 18+ who would not be disqualified from voting if they lived in the state. For recall petitions specifically, the certification must state the circulator is a qualified elector. These changes directly affect individuals collecting signatures for candidate nominations or recall efforts, ensuring circulators meet clear residency and eligibility standards before submitting petitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public and private elementary and secondary schools and licensed child care centers with fuel-burning appliances to install carbon monoxide detectors in rooms containing those appliances. The law specifies that detectors must be battery-powered or permanently wired with monitoring for older buildings, while newer buildings must have permanently wired, monitored detectors certified by an independent safety organization. Schools can apply for up to $3,000 grants to purchase and install these detectors, and the Department of Justice will provide annual reports on grant usage. The bill also updates maintenance requirements and allows authorized inspectors to check detector functionality in covered facilities.

Maddy summaryAB 1019 allows vehicle owners to purchase an annual state park admission receipt when registering or renewing their vehicle license. It adds a line on vehicle registration forms where owners can choose to pay an additional fee (with discounts for seniors or those with existing park passes). The collected fees are deposited quarterly into the conservation fund, specifically for state parks, recreation areas, and forest lands. This affects all vehicle owners in the state during registration, streamlining park access without requiring separate purchases.

Maddy summaryAB 1003 modifies Wisconsin law regarding investigations into "immoral conduct" by licensees (such as educators) under the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). It requires DPI to continue an investigation until a licensee permanently surrenders their license and waives appeal rights, and mandates DPI to publicly post the licensee’s name, surrender status, and investigation reason on its website. The bill also requires DPI to provide investigation records within 14 days for open records requests (bypassing standard exemptions) and prohibits agreements that suppress or hide information about confirmed immoral conduct findings. This directly affects licensed professionals under DPI investigation and changes how DPI handles confidentiality, record access, and public transparency during such cases.

Maddy summaryAJR 140 is a ceremonial joint resolution celebrating Wisconsin athletes competing in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games in Italy. It formally recognizes specific Wisconsin athletes across sports like cross-country skiing, biathlon, wheelchair curling, sled hockey, and speedskating, highlighting their connections to Wisconsin communities. The resolution has no policy impact or funding provisions - it simply asks the Wisconsin Legislature to "celebrate" these athletes and "root for their success" as a symbolic gesture. This is purely a commemorative measure with no concrete legislative effect.