Rep. Clint Anderson

Maddy summaryAB 498 provides $1 million in biennial funding to help licensed child care centers purchase and maintain automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The bill creates a grant program administered by the Department of Children and Families, allowing centers to apply for funding to cover AED costs. To qualify, centers must contribute at least 33% of the grant amount in matching funds. This policy directly affects licensed child care centers by making AEDs more accessible for emergency cardiac care.

Maddy summaryAB 620 requires teachers and administrators in Wisconsin's parental choice programs and Special Needs Scholarship Program to hold state teaching licenses starting July 1, 2027. Schools may employ educators with at least five years of prior experience (as of July 1, 2027) under a temporary, nonrenewable waiver until July 1, 2032. The law creates a process for these educators to apply for waivers while working toward full licensure, with the state department developing implementing rules. It applies specifically to private schools participating in these state-funded education choice programs.

Maddy summaryAB 436 requires animal testing facilities and breeders to offer dogs and cats for adoption to shelters or rescue groups before euthanizing them, if the animals don't pose health/safety risks. Facilities must provide a 3-week window for adoption offers and submit annual reports tracking adoption numbers, animals used in testing, and shelter partners. This directly affects animal testing facilities (including research labs) and breeders who sell animals to such facilities. Violations carry a $5,000 penalty per animal, with no state liability for compliance actions.

Maddy summaryAB 477 changes the age threshold for issuing a Missing Child Alert from under 10 years to under 12 years. It directly affects minors under 12 who are believed to be incapable of returning home without assistance due to a physical or mental condition, disability, or inability to navigate safely. The bill amends the statute to adjust the age requirement while maintaining the existing criteria for qualifying alerts. This is a technical adjustment to the alert system's eligibility rules, not a new program or policy. The change aims to expand the alert coverage to include older minors who may still require urgent assistance.

Maddy summaryAB 654 creates a public information campaign to reduce aggressive driving behaviors like excessive speeding, illegal racing, and fleeing police. The bill allocates $500,000 over two fiscal years ($250,000 annually) for the campaign, which must run for 1-2 years and prioritize areas with the highest incidents of such driving. It requires using billboards, radio, TV, and digital ads, while prioritizing local contractors and featuring stories from affected individuals like young drivers and families. The campaign targets high-risk drivers and must partner with community organizations to influence behavior, without making specific policy changes to traffic laws.

Maddy summaryAB 439 modifies eligibility rules for a state grant program that funds improvements to agricultural roads. The bill adds a new requirement: a highway must have an engineering analysis by a licensed professional showing it cannot handle heavy agricultural traffic to qualify for the grant. This directly affects farmers and agricultural businesses that rely on these roads, as it expands the criteria beyond existing structural deficiencies or weight restrictions. The change aims to ensure roads serving farming operations receive targeted funding based on actual traffic capacity needs.

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 summaryAJR 115 is a non-binding resolution recognizing October 26, 2025, and 2026, as Intersex Awareness Day in Wisconsin. It honors the 1996 first public demonstration by intersex people at a medical conference and acknowledges intersex individuals - those born with variations in physical sex characteristics - as part of Wisconsin's diverse community. The resolution highlights ongoing challenges like discrimination and unnecessary medical procedures on intersex children, while affirming the importance of bodily autonomy and dignity. This symbolic gesture does not create new laws but formally supports awareness and respect for intersex people.

Maddy summaryAB 632 imposes a moratorium on issuing permits for mining sulfide ore bodies (mineral deposits where metals mix with sulfide minerals) until two conditions are verified. Specifically, the department must confirm that similar mining operations in the U.S. or Canada have operated for at least 10 years without polluting groundwater or surface water from acid drainage or heavy metals, and that similar closed mines have remained pollution-free for 10 years. This applies to all permit applications, regardless of when they were submitted, and remains in effect until the verification requirements are met. The bill directly affects mining companies seeking permits for sulfide ore mining projects in the state.

Maddy summaryAB 626 allows drivers and ID card holders to obtain electronic copies of their licenses and identification cards from the state department. It permits displaying these electronic copies on phones or devices during traffic stops, while ensuring officers cannot view other phone content. The bill adds a $10 fee for electronic copies (separate from standard card fees) and clarifies that physical copies remain subject to different fee rules. This directly affects drivers who choose electronic formats and the state department managing license issuance.