Rep. Dean Kaufert

Maddy summaryAB 547 establishes a new Office of Medical Cannabis Regulation within Wisconsin's Department of Health Services to oversee medical cannabis programs. It defines "medical cannabis product" consistently across state laws and adds protections preventing courts from denying child custody based solely on lawful medical cannabis use or registry enrollment. The bill also updates local ordinances to clarify restrictions on marijuana possession, ensuring penalties don't apply to medical cannabis users under specific circumstances. These changes aim to create a clearer regulatory framework while addressing legal inconsistencies in existing statutes.

Maddy summaryAB 555 creates a new Class H felony charge for intentionally disarming correctional officers while they are on duty. It specifically targets individuals who take dangerous weapons, devices (as defined in §941.26), or official duty items like radios, keys, or other tools from correctional officers without consent. The law applies when these items are being carried by the officer or within their immediate presence. This bill directly affects correctional officers working in state facilities and establishes criminal penalties for interference with their safety equipment during official duties.

Maddy summaryAB 276 sets time limits for state agencies' "statements of scope" when creating administrative rules. It requires permanent rule statements to expire after 30 months and emergency rule statements after 6 months, preventing agencies from using expired statements to propose new rules. The bill also mandates separate statements for concurrent emergency and permanent rules and limits agencies to one rule per statement. These changes directly affect state agencies developing regulations and ensure legislative review occurs within defined timeframes. The bill does not alter rule content but streamlines the process for agency rulemaking and legislative oversight.

Maddy summaryAB 277 requires state agencies to provide detailed cost analyses for new rules that may affect businesses, local governments, or individuals. Agencies must quantify all expected implementation and compliance costs (and potential savings) over a two-year period, broken down by affected groups, and report this as a single net dollar figure. If projected costs exceed $10 million, the rulemaking process must pause until costs are reduced or offset. The bill also establishes rules for funding independent cost analyses when agency estimates vary significantly and mandates revised analyses after rule modifications. This bill aims to increase transparency around financial impacts of new regulations before they are finalized.

Maddy summaryAB 682 increases fees for nonresident hunting, trapping, and fishing permits and vehicle admissions in Wisconsin. The bill raises specific fee amounts across multiple categories, such as increasing the annual deer license fee from $197.25 to $237.25 and the annual small game license fee from $87.25 to $107.25. These fee increases will take effect on March 1, 2026, and primarily affect nonresidents who wish to engage in hunting, fishing, or trapping activities within Wisconsin. The bill does not introduce new programs but adjusts existing fee structures for nonresident users.

Maddy summaryAB 689 requires gas stations in the state to display a sticker on fuel pumps showing both the federal and state motor vehicle fuel tax rates in cents per gallon. The Department of Revenue must create and distribute these 3.5-inch stickers whenever tax rates change, and pump inspectors/sealers must place them prominently on pumps during inspections. Retail fuel sellers are not liable for affixing or maintaining the stickers. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryAB 658 raises the maximum annual compensation limits for volunteer emergency responders (firefighters, EMTs, and emergency medical responders) who also hold elected local government offices in cities, villages, or towns. It increases the cap to $35,000 for communities with under 5,000 residents and $25,000 for larger communities (over 5,000 residents), up from previous limits of $25,000 and $15,000, respectively. The bill clarifies that holding an elected office is compatible with receiving wages from certain local government positions, such as those under sections 60.37(4) or 61.327. This change directly affects volunteer emergency workers seeking to serve in local elected roles without exceeding compensation thresholds.

Maddy summaryAB 572 clarifies the legal definition of "bingo" in Wisconsin law to distinguish it from certain free games. The bill specifies that bingo requires participants to pay to play, uses standard 5x5 cards with numbers 1-75 (including a "FREE" center space), and determines winners based on random number draws matching predefined patterns. Crucially, it explicitly excludes games using free cards and donated prizes where participants pay no consideration, regardless of whether the host pays for prizes or supplies. This change directly affects gambling regulators, local governments, and organizations running bingo events, ensuring only paid participation games fall under gambling licensing rules. The bill does not alter existing bingo rules but provides clear legal boundaries for enforcement.

Maddy summaryAB 443 increases the maximum fee municipal courts can collect for most cases from $38 to $48 per matter, such as traffic violations or other non-traffic offenses. The bill affects municipal courts directly, as they collect these fees for cases not excluded (like certain traffic violations under specific statutes). For each fee collected, $5 goes to the state general fund, while the remainder stays with the municipality. This change applies to all court actions in municipal courts except for financial responsibility violations or certain ordinance violations. The bill does not alter the minimum fee ($15) or the fee structure for excluded cases.

Maddy summaryAB 89 addresses theft crimes and their associated penalties. The bill text includes an amendment that removes the phrase "in a 6-month period" from two specific lines within the bill. This change modifies the criteria for certain theft crimes by eliminating a previously defined 6-month time constraint. This adjustment impacts individuals accused of theft and the legal process for prosecuting these offenses.