Rep. Randy Udell

Maddy summaryAB 1056 is a comprehensive rewrite of Wisconsin's criminal justice laws that creates new funding streams for community policing ($10 million), officer recruitment/retention ($5 million), and violence prevention ($5 million). The bill reorganizes legal provisions related to firearm transfers, domestic violence, sexual assault, hate crimes reporting, and victim services, while establishing specific funding amounts for the address confidentiality program ($180,200). It modifies reimbursement processes for counties providing victim-witness services and creates new alternatives to prosecution for individuals with substance use disorders. The legislation directly affects law enforcement agencies, victims' services providers, and individuals seeking substance use treatment instead of traditional criminal prosecution.

Maddy summaryAB 1074 creates an Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman within the Department of Financial Institutions to assist borrowers with student loan issues. The office will handle complaints, analyze borrower data, and provide guidance on loan terms, working directly with student loan servicers and educational institutions. It establishes specific duties including resolving disputes, monitoring laws affecting borrowers, and requiring servicers to cooperate with the ombudsman. This bill directly affects student loan borrowers in the state and the student loan servicers who must now engage with this new oversight office.

Maddy summaryAB 1043 requires adult family homes and residential care apartment complexes to implement fall prevention and recovery training for staff and residents. It mandates that facilities maintain at least one certified CPR provider, one certified first aid provider, and one staff member trained in fall recovery and safe lifting techniques on-site at all times. Facilities must provide fall prevention training to new residents within 30 days of move-in (unless a healthcare provider certifies they cannot participate) and require staff to complete related training. The bill also establishes a duty for facilities to administer CPR or first aid during emergencies before emergency services arrive, unless a do-not-resuscitate order exists, and prohibits policies that prevent staff from providing immediate aid.

Maddy summaryAB 1066 would require Wisconsin's broadband expansion grant program to prioritize projects that install fiber optic broadband lines directly to farms. It defines "farm" using existing Wisconsin agricultural definitions (from tax code) to clarify which properties qualify. The bill creates a specific grant priority for fiber projects connecting to these agricultural lands, ensuring farms receive targeted broadband infrastructure support. This policy change would directly affect farmers and agricultural businesses seeking broadband access through state grant programs. The bill is currently pending in the Energy and Utilities Committee after introduction on February 26, 2026.

Maddy summaryAB 1065 establishes requirements for state broadband expansion grants to connect unserved areas. It defines "broadband infrastructure" as requiring minimum speeds of 100 Mbps download/20 Mbps upload (or federal standards), and mandates grantees to report construction progress and final service speeds. If grantees fail to build the specified infrastructure or meet speed standards, they must reimburse the state. The bill also requires biennial audits of the grant program starting in 2027 to assess performance.

Maddy summaryAB 1067 requires broadband providers to advertise and sell services based on consistent, verifiable speeds - minimum 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload - matching federal standards. It mandates standardized broadband labels using FCC templates for all consumers before sale, preventing misleading speed claims. Providers violating these rules face consumer refunds if they fail to correct misrepresentations within a month of written notice. The bill directly affects broadband companies and protects consumers by ensuring accurate speed disclosures.

Maddy summaryAB 1069 establishes a legislative study committee to examine requirements for a "Dig Once Law," which would mandate installing empty underground pipes (conduit) during infrastructure projects to prepare for future fiber-optic internet expansion. The committee will study key details like communication protocols between municipalities and contractors, ownership of unused conduit, maintenance cost responsibilities, conduit sizing for multiple providers, and optimal installation timing (e.g., during road construction). This bill does not enact new law but prepares recommendations for potential future legislation. It directly affects municipalities, construction firms, and future internet service providers by identifying implementation challenges. The committee must submit findings by January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryAB 836 increases funding to hire two additional full-time equivalent staff positions within the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection specifically for regional farmer support services. The bill allocates $150,400 for fiscal year 2025-26 to authorize these positions and $200,500 for fiscal year 2026-27 to fund them. These positions will directly assist farmers through regional support services provided by the department. The bill makes no changes to existing programs but expands staffing capacity for targeted agricultural assistance.

Maddy summaryAB 823 creates a program to provide electronic benefit transfer (EBT) and credit/debit card processing equipment and services to farmers' markets and farmers who sell directly to consumers. It allocates $367,500 biennially for this payment processing program and increases funding by $1 million annually for the healthy food incentive program. The bill requires participating vendors to process local purchasing incentives (even if funded by third parties) and adds 0.625 FTE positions to administer the program. This directly affects farmers' markets and farmers selling directly to consumers who participate in EBT or incentive programs.

Maddy summaryAB 835 establishes $10 million annually in grants for students enrolled in approved teacher education programs, requiring recipients to work as teachers in Wisconsin public or tribal schools for at least four years after graduation. It adjusts the reimbursement rate for special education costs to 90% of eligible expenses for school districts. The bill also modifies school district revenue limits by adding specific dollar amounts ($325 for 2023-24, $146 for 2023-24-2025-26) to calculate annual funding caps. These changes directly affect education students, school districts, and special education programs through concrete funding adjustments.