Rep. Dean Kaufert

Maddy summaryAJR 133 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to suspend any state agency rule through a joint resolution approved by a majority of all elected members in both houses. If enacted, the legislature could immediately halt the enforcement of agency rules (for a set period or indefinitely) without requiring governor approval or following standard lawmaking procedures. The suspension would make the rule unenforceable during the suspension period, shifting authority from agencies to the legislature regarding rule implementation. This change would require voter approval after legislative passage, as it modifies the state constitution.

Maddy summaryAJR 126 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late Representative Rudolph L. "Rudy" Silbaugh (1930-2025), who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1991 to 1997. The resolution formally recognizes his 25 years of public service - including his work as a Stoughton alderman, his legislative committee roles, and his advocacy for seniors - and extends condolences to his family. It contains no policy changes or funding provisions, as it is solely a commemorative gesture by the Wisconsin Legislature. This procedural resolution directly affects no constituents or policies, serving only to memorialize Representative Silbaugh's legacy.

Maddy summaryAB 955 limits state agencies' ability to interpret laws by requiring explicit statutory permission before creating rules that interpret statutes they enforce. It adds a new section (227.11(1m)) stating agencies cannot interpret laws without specific legislative authorization. The bill also repeals existing language that allowed broader agency interpretation authority and reorganizes related sections. This directly affects all state agencies that develop rules for enforcing or administering laws, ensuring they cannot interpret statutes without clear prior legislative permission. The change focuses on clarifying rule-making boundaries, not altering policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryAB 750 amends state rules for admitting students to technical college programs. It establishes new admission priority rules for in-state residents versus non-residents (Section 38.22(5)(a)) and creates two new options for community college districts (Section 38.22(5)(b)). Districts may now reserve program spaces for students facing hardship or participating in school-to-work programs, or for protective services training like law enforcement, firefighting, or emergency medical services. These changes give colleges flexibility to address specific student needs and workforce preparation goals within existing admission frameworks.

Maddy summaryAssembly Bill 202 primarily removes residential rental agreements from the scope of the Wisconsin Consumer Act. It changes how certain problematic provisions in residential leases are handled, allowing tenants to elect to void the entire agreement or sever only the voidable clauses, rather than the agreement being automatically void. Such voidable clauses include those that authorize landlords to take action against tenants for contacting law enforcement or health services, or for being a victim of a crime. If a tenant voids the agreement, it converts to a periodic tenancy under similar terms, or if a provision is severed, the rest of the agreement remains in effect. Tenants who suffer financial loss due to these voidable provisions can sue for double damages, costs, and attorney fees, excluding rent payments.

Maddy summaryAB 1 standardizes how Wisconsin schools and districts are evaluated by requiring consistent assessment metrics. It mandates that the state department use the same cut scores and performance categories for English/language arts and math tests in grades 3-8 that align with national National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) standards. For high school grades 9-11, it requires using the same metrics applied in the 2021-22 school year. This directly affects all public schools and districts in Wisconsin by changing how their accountability reports are calculated. The bill aims to create uniformity in school performance evaluations across the state.

Maddy summaryAB 461 creates a new tax deduction for Wisconsin taxpayers who earn qualifying overtime pay. It allows individuals to subtract up to $12,500 (or $25,000 for joint filers) of overtime compensation from their taxable income, provided the overtime was reported to the IRS via standard forms (like Form 1099-NEC). The deduction phases out for higher earners: it decreases by $100 for every $1,000 their modified federal adjusted gross income exceeds $150,000 (or $300,000 for joint filers). This applies only to overtime pay reported to the IRS, excluding tips, and requires taxpayers to include their Social Security number on their return.

Maddy summaryAB 146 would require Wisconsin employers to provide written reasons for objecting to unemployment insurance claims and give them at least 12 business days to respond to information requests from the unemployment department. The department would also be permitted to seek additional details directly from employees about their eligibility, employment, or wages. This bill applies to claims filed for weeks beginning after its effective date, affecting employers, the unemployment department, and employees involved in claims. It modifies the existing process for handling claim disputes without changing benefit eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changing the fee for the inland waters trout stamp from $9.75 to $15.75. It directly affects anglers who purchase this stamp to fish for trout in inland waters. The change is made by amending the relevant section of the state statutes. The bill was introduced in 2026 but failed to pass during the legislative session.

Maddy summaryAB 918 amends Wisconsin statute 118.019(2m)(e) to require public schools to include specific topics in human growth and development curriculum. The bill mandates instruction on adoption, parental responsibility, and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage for adults and children. This directly affects K-12 schools developing or updating their human growth curriculum. The change adds these three subjects to the existing required content without altering other curriculum elements. The bill was introduced in January 2026 and referred to the Children and Families committee.