Maddy summaryAB 855 prohibits creating and sharing synthetic digital representations (like AI-generated images, videos, or audio) that use someone's recognizable personal characteristic (face, voice, etc.) without their consent, appear authentic to a reasonable person, and are intended to coerce, harass, intimidate, or defraud for monetary gain. It classifies unauthorized use for coercion/harassment as a Class A misdemeanor and for financial gain as a Class I felony. Key exceptions include tech providers (protected under Section 230), newsworthy content, and clear disclaimers like "This content generated by AI" in the media itself. The law directly affects individuals whose likenesses are misused without consent and aims to prevent non-consensual deepfakes used for harm.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryAB 850 sets specific annual spending limits for Wisconsin's agricultural exports program, requiring the Center for International Agribusiness Marketing to allocate $2.5 million toward export promotion (sub. (2)(a)) and $1.25 million each toward two other export objectives (sub. (2)(b) and (c)), while capping total annual spending at $1 million. The bill increases funding by $1.07 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and $1.10 million for 2026-27 under the program's appropriation, and adds one full-time administrative position to manage the program. This legislation directly affects Wisconsin agricultural exporters benefiting from the program and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection responsible for administering it.
Maddy summaryAB 846 increases state funding for two Wisconsin promotion programs. It adds $200,000 annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to advertise the "Something Special from Wisconsin" brand and logo, and $300,000 annually for "Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin" grants. These funds, managed by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, directly support Wisconsin businesses participating in the state's marketing campaigns and local purchasing initiatives. The bill makes no new policy changes but allocates additional state appropriations to existing programs.
Maddy summaryAB 851 authorizes $25 million from the capital improvement fund to purchase agricultural conservation easements, which are agreements that limit development on farmland to preserve agricultural use. The bill creates new funding mechanisms (20.115 (7) (br) and (tb)) to reimburse costs for these easements and specifies payment procedures for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. It directly affects landowners selling conservation easements and state agencies administering the program. The appropriation supports farmland conservation by enabling the state to acquire easements under Section 93.73. The bill repeals an outdated statute (23.197 (15)) and amends related sections to implement these funding changes.
Maddy summaryAB 852 establishes new grants for local governments to implement farmland preservation plans, including activities like updating zoning, creating farmland agreements, and monitoring compliance. It also requires the state to automatically adjust the farmland preservation tax credit for inflation annually using agricultural price data, ensuring the credit keeps pace with rising costs. These changes directly affect Wisconsin farmers who claim the tax credit and local governments (counties, cities, tribes) that receive implementation grants. The bill creates specific funding mechanisms through the working lands fund and sets eligibility criteria for grant recipients based on plan alignment and project effectiveness.
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 941 allows Wisconsin college and university student identification cards to be used as valid voter identification. It specifically applies to students at state-accredited universities (including the University of Wisconsin System) and technical colleges in the state. The bill requires these IDs to include the issuance date, student signature, and an expiration date no later than two years after issuance. If an ID is expired, voters must prove current enrollment at the institution on the day they vote. The law takes effect for institutions by August 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryAB 942 requires municipalities to mail notice to all residents in an area if a polling place is discontinued after an election. Specifically, the municipal clerk must send this notice by mail at least 30 days before the next election. The bill directly affects voters in communities that change polling locations and ensures they receive timely notification. It modifies existing election procedures to add this mandatory notice requirement after a public hearing process for discontinuing polling places. This is a procedural change focused on improving voter communication, not altering voting rights or eligibility.
Maddy summaryAB 945 reduces the residency requirement for voting in Wisconsin from 28 consecutive days to 10 days before an election. It directly affects voters who move within the state, allowing those who meet the 10-day residency at a new address to vote there instead of their previous location. Key provisions include amending statutes to reflect the shorter residency period for general voting, presidential elections (where voters with less than 10 days' residency can still vote for president only), and military voter extensions. The bill also updates registration forms and affidavits for voters meeting the revised residency threshold.
Maddy summaryAB 944 creates a state grant program to fund municipalities' purchases of election supplies and equipment, such as electronic poll books and accessibility tools. It allocates $5 million biennially (split equally for 2025-26 and 2026-27), with funding amounts tiered by municipal population size: up to $2.5 million for cities over 250,000, $1 million for 100,000-250,000, $500,000 for 50,000-100,000, and $250,000 for smaller cities. Municipalities must apply 180 days before elections and agree to random inspections of grant-funded equipment, with a minimum $250 grant per recipient. The bill directly affects all cities and towns in the state based on their population, providing targeted funding for election infrastructure.