Rep. Randy Udell

Maddy summaryAB 953 requires retail firearm sellers to provide a clear written warning about child safety risks and a secure storage option during each sale. The warning, in block letters at least one-fourth inch tall, states that leaving a loaded firearm accessible to a child may result in fines or jail time if the child discharges it. Sellers must also provide either a lockable container designed for firearms or a trigger lock. Violating these requirements carries a penalty of up to $500 or 30 days in jail.

Maddy summaryAB 954 requires firearm owners to report lost or stolen weapons to local law enforcement within 24 hours, and to report recovery as soon as possible. Law enforcement agencies must forward these reports to a state database for tracking stolen firearms, which will be shared with other agencies. Owners who fail to report lost/stolen firearms face fines or jail time (Class A misdemeanor for first offense, Class I felony for repeat violations), and false reports are punishable under existing law. The bill also mandates sellers provide written notice of these reporting requirements to buyers at the time of sale.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase state funding for passenger rail operations by $10 million and allocate an additional $5.2 million for feasibility studies on rail expansion projects. The funds would be directed to the department of transportation for fiscal year 2026-27 to support existing rail services and evaluate potential new routes. The legislation affects state transportation budgets and rail service providers by authorizing these specific appropriations. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill would add a nonvoting teacher representative to school boards in Wisconsin's common and union high school districts. The teacher representative would be selected through a secret ballot vote by teaching staff members and would serve a three-year term, attending all board meetings including closed sessions but without voting rights. The legislation also updates procedures for school board reorganization and special meetings to include notification requirements for the teacher representative.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum salary requirements for full-time public school teachers in Wisconsin. It mandates that all full-time teachers receive an annual salary at least equal to the higher of the state senator or representative salary for that fiscal year. Teachers with at least 10 years of experience must be paid no less than the legislator salary plus $15,000, while those with 20 years or more must earn at least $100,000 annually. The law applies to teachers whose contracts expire or are renewed after the bill takes effect and cannot be negotiated away through collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt over-the-counter drugs from state sales and use taxes. It directly affects consumers purchasing non-prescription medications and retailers selling these products. The legislation defines over-the-counter drugs as those with specific labeling requirements, including a drug facts panel or a list of active ingredients. By removing the tax burden, the bill aims to lower costs for buyers of these common health products. The change would take effect on the first day of the third month after the bill is published.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program called "Grow Your Own" to help Wisconsin schools recruit and train new teachers. The program would provide up to $5 million annually starting in the 2026-27 school year to school districts and charter schools for costs related to teacher development initiatives. These initiatives could include high school clubs that encourage teaching careers, paying for current staff to earn licensure, supporting dual enrollment pathways, and offering incentives for paraprofessionals to become licensed teachers. The Department of Public Instruction would administer the grants and establish rules for how schools apply for and use the funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new grant program to help residents of unserved areas pay for the costs of extending broadband service lines to their properties, with each grant capped at $4,000. It appropriates $1.75 million for 2025-26 and $3.5 million for 2026-27 to fund these grants through the Public Service Commission. The program prioritizes applications for primary residences and requires applicants to participate in federal affordable connectivity programs, while prohibiting grants that subsidize telecommunications provider expenses or customer monthly bills. Additionally, the bill amends existing broadband expansion grant criteria to ensure projects focus on designated unserved areas and require applicants to explain how their proposed projects will increase broadband access.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wisconsin statutes to clarify how retiring power plants fueled by nonrenewable energy sources are classified for environmental control cost calculations. It explicitly includes the unrecovered value of retired property and associated demolition costs when utilities determine financial obligations for environmental compliance. The changes apply to energy utilities managing facilities that use nonrenewable combustible energy resources and aim to ensure these costs are properly accounted for in regulatory asset valuations. The legislation does not mandate retirement of any plants but adjusts how existing financial reporting rules treat decommissioning expenses.

Maddy summaryAB 1061 legalizes recreational cannabis possession and establishes a regulatory framework for cannabis production, sales, and medical use in Wisconsin. It directly affects individuals with past marijuana-related convictions (by creating a review unit to expunge these records), cannabis businesses (through new licensing and regulations), and state agencies (by creating a Division of Cannabis Regulation under the Department of Agriculture). Key provisions include allocating $30 million annually for regulatory operations, establishing medical cannabis registry fees, creating a $5 million fund for conviction reviews, and repealing outdated marijuana criminal penalties. The bill also introduces new taxes on cannabis sales to fund these programs and public health research.