Rep. Karen DeSanto

Maddy summaryAB 267 requires Wisconsin state parks to waive all daily admission fees (including any issuing fees) on April 22 each year, commemorating Earth Day and its founder, Gaylord Nelson. This policy directly affects all visitors to Wisconsin state parks on April 22, making entry free on that specific date. The bill creates a new statutory provision (27.01(9)(b)) that mandates this automatic fee waiver annually. It does not change existing fee structures outside of Earth Day or create new funding obligations.

Maddy summaryAB 314 updates state statutes to replace gendered terms like "husband and wife" with gender-neutral language across numerous legal provisions. The bill specifically amends fishing license statutes (such as 29.219(4), 29.228(5), and 29.228(6)) to use inclusive terms like "spouses" instead of gendered language. It also makes similar changes to marriage and parentage rights throughout the statutes. The bill does not create new rights but ensures consistent gender-neutral terminology in existing legal language. This affects how state agencies and legal documents refer to family relationships in multiple areas of law.

Maddy summaryAB 402 requires all health insurance plans in Wisconsin to cover maternity and newborn care services. It grants the Commissioner of Insurance authority to create specific rules for implementing this coverage requirement. The bill directly affects health insurance providers and ensures these services are included in standard coverage for policyholders.

Maddy summaryAB 213 prohibits hedge funds managing $50 million or more in assets from acquiring or owning single-family homes in the state. It defines "hedge fund" as investment entities meeting specific criteria (not tax-exempt organizations, managing pooled investor funds). Violations require forfeiting the home to the state, enforced by the attorney general, but only apply to ownership acquired after a future effective date - existing holdings are unaffected. The bill directly affects large hedge funds meeting its financial and structural definition, not all real estate investors.

Maddy summaryAB 272 amends eligibility rules for Wisconsin's Family Care program to automatically include individuals who are deaf-blind, as defined under federal law (29 U.S.C. § 1905). This change directly affects deaf-blind residents seeking Family Care services, removing the need for separate care-level assessments for this group. The bill establishes that deaf-blind status alone satisfies the "functional eligibility" requirement under existing statute. It does not alter other eligibility criteria or funding mechanisms for the program. The bill was introduced in May 2025 and referred to the Health, Aging and Long-Term Care committee.

Maddy summaryAJR 63 is a ceremonial joint resolution that officially designates January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, as the "Wisconsin State Park System 125th Anniversary." It does not create new laws or policies; instead, it symbolically recognizes the 125th anniversary of Wisconsin's state park system, which began in 1900 with Interstate Park. The resolution highlights the system's role in conservation, recreation (over 20 million annual visits), and economic impact ($11.2 billion GDP, 97,000 jobs), but it has no direct effect on residents, funding, or park operations. As a procedural resolution, it serves only to honor the park system's history and contributions.

Maddy summaryAJR 38 is a ceremonial resolution that proclaims 2025 as the "Year of the Snake" in Wisconsin. It recognizes the cultural significance of the Lunar New Year and the snake symbol in Asian traditions, specifically honoring Asian American communities across the state. The resolution does not create new laws or policies; it is a symbolic gesture to celebrate cultural diversity and community connections. It directly acknowledges Wisconsin's Asian American populations, including long-time residents and recent immigrants, without imposing any requirements or changes.

Maddy summaryAB 324 amends Wisconsin law to require a 48-hour waiting period after a background check approval before a handgun can be purchased. It specifically states that a firearm dealer must wait 48 hours from the time they receive confirmation of a clean background check from the Department of Justice. For cases where the background check is unclear, the bill mandates that the Department must resolve the issue and notify the dealer within 5 working days. This bill directly affects handgun buyers and firearms dealers by changing the timing rules for firearm sales.

Maddy summaryAJR 90 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing August 2025 as Immunization Awareness Month in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the importance of vaccines through the state legislature's public recognition. The resolution cites Wisconsin's school immunization requirements and global vaccine impact statistics as context for this symbolic observance. It directly affects the Wisconsin Legislature by authorizing its members to publicly honor this awareness month. This is a procedural resolution with no binding policy changes or direct impact on residents.

Maddy summaryAB 340 increases state reimbursement for school medical services in Wisconsin from 60% to 100% of the federal share for eligible school districts, cooperative agencies, and specialized programs like the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. It also raises reimbursement for administrative costs from 90% to 100% of the federal share, using time studies to calculate these costs. The bill explicitly includes common carrier transportation costs as part of reimbursable school medical services, unless federal policy changes prohibit it. School districts and agencies must still comply with federal health department requirements to receive these reimbursements.