Rep. Dean Kaufert

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution formally recognizes December 25 as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ for the Wisconsin Legislature. It expresses the legislature's acknowledgment of Christmas as a sacred day for Christians, referencing biblical events in its preamble. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws, alter policies, or affect any specific group or policy. The resolution serves only to affirm the legislature's symbolic recognition of the holiday's religious significance.

Maddy summaryAB 720 requires health insurance plans - including defined network plans, preferred provider plans, and government self-insured plans - to cover emergency ambulance services provided by non-participating ambulance providers. It mandates payment at the lowest of three rates: a mutually agreed rate, a local governmental rate, or 350% of the Medicare rate for the same area. Plans must pay ambulance providers directly within 30 days for clean claims, cannot impose additional costs on enrollees beyond standard cost-sharing, and must provide clear explanations for denied claims. The bill excludes air ambulance services and applies to all health insurance plans covering emergency medical services.

Maddy summaryAB 702 creates a new income tax credit for individuals incurring unreimbursed medical expenses related to in vitro fertilization (IVF), directly affecting those who pay for IVF consultations, procedures, or prescribed drugs out-of-pocket. The credit allows a maximum $5,000 annual reduction against state income tax for eligible individuals with adjusted gross income under $100,000 (single) or $200,000 (joint filers). It excludes expenses covered by insurance, travel, lodging, or health savings accounts, and prohibits claiming the same expenses under other tax provisions. The credit must be claimed using forms provided by the state tax department when filing annual returns.

Maddy summaryAB 802 provides $600,000 in one-time funding to create an online dashboard tracking healthcare claims data, to be managed by the Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO). It also allocates $1.38 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year and $1.56 million for 2026-27 to cover increased operational costs for WHIO. The bill directly affects WHIO, which will use the funds to build the dashboard and onboard new healthcare payer data. This is a funding measure focused on improving data accessibility, not changing healthcare policies or regulations.

Maddy summaryAB 798 requires the Department of Transportation (DMV) to ask applicants for driver's licenses or ID cards whether they want to provide contact information for up to three primary caregivers during the application process. If provided, the DMV stores this information securely in the applicant's file. Law enforcement agencies can electronically request and access this caregiver information (along with emergency contacts from another law section) during emergencies, but the DMV cannot share it with anyone else. The bill aims to improve emergency contact access while maintaining privacy protections for applicants.

Maddy summaryAB 801 establishes a mandatory "all-payer claims database" requiring insurers, healthcare administrators, and managed care organizations (including those serving Medicaid recipients) to submit health claims data in machine-readable format. It mandates data submission within six months of the law's effective date, with standardized electronic reporting and annual submission schedules. The data organization must analyze and publicly report on healthcare costs, quality, and effectiveness in plain language, while restricting data sharing to purposes like public health research or policy decisions. The bill repeals prior requirements and creates new provisions to standardize data collection, reporting, and transparency for the Wisconsin Health Information Organization.

Maddy summaryAB 791 makes it illegal to intentionally send false text messages to 911 reporting a non-existent emergency. It directly affects individuals who send such deceptive messages, imposing fines ($100-$600) or up to 90 days in jail for a first offense. For repeat offenses within four years, the penalty escalates to a Class H felony charge. The bill targets misuse of emergency services by adding specific penalties for text-based false reports, which previously lacked clear legal consequences. This law aims to deter non-emergency text spam that wastes critical resources.

Maddy summaryAB 762 creates the WisKids Savings Account Program, automatically depositing $25 into college savings accounts for Wisconsin children born or adopted in the state who reside there before age 10. The program uses birth records to identify eligible children, with parents able to opt out within 30 days of receiving notice. The state limits total annual deposits to $2 million across all accounts. This new initiative operates separately from existing college savings programs under Wisconsin law.

Maddy summaryAB 761 redirects $2 million annually from the college savings program trust fund to the Department of Financial Institutions. It directs the department to deposit funds into college savings accounts for children born or adopted in the state, residing there, and designated as beneficiaries under existing law. These deposits cover qualified higher education expenses for the children. The bill also appropriates additional funds ($446,900 for 2025-26, $317,900 for 2026-27) to administer this program and fund an additional full-time position.

Maddy summaryAJR 1 is a constitutional amendment requiring voters to present valid photo identification to cast a ballot in any election. It directly affects all voters in state elections, specifying that acceptable ID must be issued by the state, federal government, a federally recognized tribal entity, or a college/university in the state. The bill mandates the legislature to define acceptable ID types and establish exceptions, while allowing voters without ID on election day to cast a provisional ballot and submit ID later. This proposal, on second consideration after a 2023 rejection, would be submitted to voters in April 2025 if approved.