Rep. Brienne Brown

Maddy summaryAB 641 creates a dedicated $500,000 annual appropriation for the University of Wisconsin Missing-in-Action (MIA) Recovery and Identification Project within the 2025-27 fiscal biennium. The bill directly affects Wisconsin veterans missing in action by funding their recovery and identification efforts through the University of Wisconsin System. It requires the UW Board of Regents to allocate funds annually for this mission and mandates a detailed report on findings and spending to state legislative committees, the governor, and veterans agencies. The legislation establishes a continuing funding mechanism without altering existing veterans' benefits or services.

Maddy summaryAJR 108 proposes adding a constitutional amendment to guarantee equality of rights under state law, prohibiting discrimination by state or local government based on characteristics like sex, gender identity, race, disability, religion, or other immutable traits. It would create a new right for individuals to directly sue the state or local government in court if their rights under this amendment are violated. This amendment, if approved, would establish a constitutional standard for equality and provide a legal path for people to seek remedies when state actors deny them equal treatment.

Maddy summaryAB 356 requires firearms stored in a residence to be kept securely when a child is present, prohibiting unsafe storage. It directly affects residents who keep firearms in homes where children live or visit. The bill establishes penalties for failing to store firearms safely under these circumstances. Key provisions mandate secure storage (e.g., locked containers or safes) and define violations with associated fines or penalties. The bill is currently in committee referral after introduction.

Maddy summaryThis bill (AJR 113) proposes that Wisconsin officially recognize the second Monday in October as "Indigenous Peoples Day" each year. It does not create new laws or programs but formally acknowledges the historical and ongoing presence of Wisconsin's 11 federally recognized tribes and their contributions to the state. The resolution aims to promote appreciation, reconciliation, and partnership with Indigenous communities through this annual observance. As a symbolic gesture, it directly affects all Wisconsinites by encouraging reflection on Indigenous history and contributions.

Maddy summaryAB 636 requires private postsecondary schools (proprietary schools) in Wisconsin to include veteran enrollment data in their existing quarterly reports to the state department. These schools must report how many veterans are enrolled, alongside other details like total enrollment, graduates, and employment rates. The bill amends current reporting rules to specifically add veteran enrollment as a required data point, without creating new funding or penalties. This affects all private colleges operating in Wisconsin that are subject to state approval and reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryAB 386 creates a $30 million agricultural purchase program to fund grants for organizations buying food made or grown in the state. It directly affects nonprofit food banks, pantries, and local food distributors that provide food assistance, allowing them to use these grants to purchase state-grown products. The program is administered by the Department of Agriculture, which will also add two new staff positions (program specialist and grants specialist) funded by this appropriation. The bill establishes a continuing appropriation under statute 20.115 and outlines specific grant eligibility under new statute 93.62.

Maddy summaryAB 622 amends Wisconsin's unemployment insurance law to extend the period during which job seekers may refuse work without losing benefits from 6 to 10 weeks after becoming unemployed. It clarifies that workers who quit jobs they could have refused (e.g., due to unsafe conditions) may still qualify for benefits within this 10-week window, regardless of their stated reason for leaving. The bill also updates the definition for "suitable work" in the 7th-11th week of unemployment to require wages above the lowest wage quartile for similar jobs in the area. These changes directly affect unemployed workers applying for benefits and the Department of Workforce Development’s eligibility determinations.

Maddy summaryAB 553 requires Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources to install and maintain metal containers for hunters to dispose of deer carcasses at state-designated locations, with regular carcass removal. It increases annual funding by $500,000 for these disposal sites and $250,000 for hunter education about chronic wasting disease (CWD) and proper carcass disposal. The bill directly affects hunters who must use these disposal sites and the Department of Natural Resources, which implements the program. Funding applies to fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 as specified in the appropriations schedule.

Maddy summaryAB 653 creates a state-funded program to improve safety at high-risk intersections. It directs the Department of Transportation to provide local governments (cities and counties) with funding for safety upgrades at signalized and stop-sign intersections with excessive crash rates. The program prioritizes intersections in the 10% of counties with the worst crash records from 2019-2024 data, using $6 million in new annual funding. This directly affects local governments managing highways by enabling them to apply for grants or reimbursements for intersection safety improvements.

Maddy summaryAB 551 establishes a program allowing hunters to drop off deer carcass parts at designated sampling stations - such as self-service kiosks - for chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing. The Department of Natural Resources will administer these stations, which may contract with private entities to process samples. The bill appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 and another $500,000 for 2026-27 to fund this program. It directly affects hunters who use the stations and the Department of Natural Resources, which will manage the sampling operations.