Rep. Lori Palmeri

Maddy summaryAB 198 creates two key programs: (1) grants for technical colleges offering emergency medical services (EMS) training, provided they don't give admission priority based on residency; and (2) a reimbursement program for individuals or their employers who paid tuition/materials for initial EMS certification/licensure as an emergency medical responder or practitioner. Eligible applicants must complete required courses, pass exams, and obtain their license/certification through the Department of Health Services. The bill also establishes a "live 911" pilot program allowing grants for real-time video communication during emergency calls, requiring a performance report by October 2027. This directly affects EMS students, practitioners, their employers, and public safety answering points.

Maddy summaryAB 561 allows school buses to install and monitor cameras to record vehicles illegally passing them, and permits school bus operators or third-party vendors to submit photo or video evidence of these violations to local traffic authorities. Traffic officers can then issue citations based on this evidence, imposing fines of $30 to $500 on the vehicle owner. The bill specifies that these fines do not result in license suspension or demerit points. This law directly affects drivers who illegally pass school buses and the school bus operators or vendors reporting violations.

Maddy summaryAB 538 requires state elected officials (such as governors, state senators, and representatives) to serve as election officials during their first full term and every three years thereafter. These officials must work at least eight hours on election day at a polling location, attend required training, and provide no compensation for this service. Officials with medical limitations may be exempt if they submit a physician's sworn statement verifying their inability to serve. The bill ensures their appointment doesn't count toward municipal staffing limits for elections. This applies to all general elections where they are not candidates on the ballot.

Maddy summaryAJR 105 is a commemorative resolution proposing to recognize September 25, 2025, as "First Amendment Day" in Wisconsin. It honors the First Amendment's protections of free speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition rights, referencing its historical role in movements like civil rights and women's suffrage. As a symbolic resolution, it has no legal effect or policy changes - it does not create new laws or alter existing rights. The resolution was introduced by multiple legislators and referred to committee for further consideration.

Maddy summaryAB 512 prohibits employers from asking about a job applicant’s previous salary before making a job offer or using that information to set pay. It also allows employees to discuss or disclose their own pay with coworkers without retaliation. Employees who face discrimination for discussing pay can file complaints with the state labor department or sue in court, with damages limited by company size (ranging from $50,000 to $300,000). The law directly affects all employers and employees in the state, aiming to increase pay transparency and reduce wage discrimination.

Maddy summaryAJR 103 designates the last full week of September as Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Awareness Week in Wisconsin. This symbolic resolution aims to raise public awareness about FTD - a progressive brain disorder affecting behavior, personality, or language - highlighting its challenges, misdiagnosis rates, and economic impact on families, without creating new policies or funding. It aligns with existing global awareness efforts but does not alter laws or provide resources.

Maddy summaryAB 557 updates Wisconsin's regulations for real estate appraisers and appraisal management companies. It raises the transaction value threshold for "residential appraiser" certification from $250,000 to $500,000 and establishes state-to-state reciprocity agreements to recognize appraiser credentials. The bill also requires appraisers to display their title and license number on reports and prohibits appraisal management companies from removing independent appraisers from their panels without specific justification. These changes directly affect licensed appraisers, appraisal management companies, and the Department of Financial Institutions overseeing credentialing.

Maddy summaryAB 128 requires specific first responders - including firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, correctional officers, and conservation wardens - to complete training on recognizing severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), safely storing and administering epinephrine delivery systems, and following up after use. The bill mandates that all qualifying first responders must have an epinephrine delivery system available during duty and be trained on all required subjects. The state department must compile and maintain a list of approved training organizations and may distribute epinephrine systems using existing funds. This legislation directly affects over 30,000 first responders across multiple agencies who respond to medical emergencies.

Maddy summaryAB 517 prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to referendum committees and bans referendum committees from accepting such contributions. The bill directly affects foreign nationals (defined using federal campaign finance rules) and referendum committees organizing ballot initiatives. It adds a new provision to state law stating: "No foreign national may make a contribution to a referendum committee, and no referendum committee may accept a contribution from a foreign national." This clarifies existing federal restrictions apply to state-level referendum committees. The bill is currently in committee for review after its October 2025 introduction.

Maddy summaryAB 145 requires the state legislature to create and pass a plan to reduce carbon emissions by 52% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The bill mandates that any legislative plan developed must prioritize improving both economic and racial equity alongside emission reductions. It directly affects the legislature, which must finalize this plan during the 2025-26 session. The key provision is establishing legally binding emission reduction targets with an explicit requirement to address equity impacts in the implementation strategy.