Rep. Clint Anderson

Maddy summaryAB 893 creates a $250,000 annual grant program from the environmental fund to support planning for regional biodigesters. These facilities convert organic waste (like food scraps or farm byproducts) into energy, primarily benefiting agricultural and waste management projects. The bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture to administer the grants and develop rules for their use. It does not fund construction but focuses on initial planning phases for new biodigester facilities.

Maddy summaryAB 889 establishes the Wisconsin Climate Corps program to create climate-focused job opportunities for workers aged 16-30, with at least 50% from underserved communities. The program funds projects like restoring natural lands, weatherizing homes for energy efficiency, and building community gardens, administered by a board overseeing contracts with nonprofit managers. Key requirements include paying workers $15/hour, providing housing stipends ($100/week), and gold-level health insurance. Sponsors (local governments, tribes, or nonprofits) must submit annual reports, and completed projects require permanent plaques identifying them as Wisconsin Climate Corps initiatives. The bill appropriates state funds for grants to approved projects under this framework.

Maddy summaryAB 888 creates a new state-funded program providing $1.5 million annually in grants to public or private organizations for training workers in green jobs. Green jobs are defined as roles in renewable energy (like solar/wind) or environmental services that conserve resources or benefit the environment. Organizations receiving grants must provide matching funds, and the Department of Workforce Development will track outcomes like employment rates and wage changes for participants. The funding comes from the state's workforce development budget and requires annual reporting on program impact.

Maddy summaryAB 863 modifies Wisconsin's rules for "no-sale event venue permits," which allow venues to host events where alcohol is consumed without sales. The bill sets clear limits: venues can host up to 36 events per year (max one day monthly, each event ≤36 hours), and permits require applicants to surrender existing retail alcohol licenses. Key provisions permit guests to bring their own beer and wine for free, allow caterers with specific licenses to provide alcohol without charge, and restrict service to licensed personnel. These changes clarify how venues can operate under existing alcohol laws without issuing sales permits. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryAB 920 automatically registers eligible voters for state elections when they interact with the Department of Transportation (e.g., renewing a driver’s license or ID card). It requires the election commission to match DOT data (including name, address, date of birth, and verified citizenship proof) with existing voter records. If someone appears eligible but isn’t registered, they’re added to the voter list with a multilingual notice explaining how to opt out. Individuals can request exclusion from the list at any time, and the commission must verify eligibility before re-registering someone previously removed. The bill directly affects voters who use state-issued licenses or IDs but does not change voter eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryAB 950 removes a sales tax exemption that previously applied to beer festivals. The bill specifically states that sales of alcohol, admission tickets, or services at beer festivals - defined as events charging an admission fee with fermented malt beverages from at least 25 different brewers - no longer qualify for the tax exemption available to nonprofit events. This change affects festival sponsors (the organizers holding temporary licenses) who must now collect and remit sales tax on all festival-related sales. The law amends existing tax exemption rules (77.54(7m)(b)) to explicitly exclude beer festivals, while requiring sponsors to notify authorities 15 days before an event.

Maddy summaryAB 974 establishes a permanent "public affairs network fund" to provide annual grants to WisconsinEye, the public affairs network broadcasting state government proceedings. The bill creates a new trust fund using state appropriations, donations, and interest earnings, which will fund WisconsinEye’s operating costs for live broadcasts, civic events, and free online archives of unedited government proceedings. WisconsinEye must meet specific requirements, including appointing legislative designees to its board, focusing coverage on official government business, and providing continuous free public access to broadcasts and archives. If WisconsinEye ceases operations, it must repay all grant funds to the state and transfer its archives to the state historical society.

Maddy summaryAB 705 modifies alcohol licensing laws to explicitly include "painting art studios" as eligible for retail alcohol licenses. The bill defines a painting art studio as an establishment primarily offering painting instruction where customers can also purchase food and beverages to consume while painting. It adds these studios to lists of businesses permitted to serve alcohol under existing license categories, such as in hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues. This change directly affects art studios that teach painting and serve food or drinks on-site, allowing them to legally sell alcohol during their regular hours. The bill does not alter alcohol sales hours or create new licensing requirements for these businesses.

Maddy summaryAJR 120 is a resolution celebrating the U.S. Postal Service's 250th anniversary and opposing efforts to privatize, dismantle, or weaken it. It highlights the Postal Service's role in delivering essential services - such as prescriptions, ballots, and mail - to all communities, including rural, remote, and Indigenous areas that private companies often bypass. The resolution urges continued public funding and protection of the Postal Service as a vital national institution that serves all Americans regardless of geography or income. (This is a procedural resolution, not a law, so it does not create new policies or directly affect specific groups.)

Maddy summaryAB 784 creates a Multifamily Housing Innovation Council within the Department of Safety and Professional Services to develop safety guidelines for apartment buildings. The bill allows local governments to permit multifamily buildings up to six stories to use a single stairway for egress, provided they follow a safety guidebook developed by the council. The council must create this guidebook (ensuring compliance with National Fire Protection Association standards) and a model ordinance to help communities allow apartment construction on commercial-zoned land. This directly affects local governments, developers, and fire safety standards for new residential construction.