Rep. Gus Gustafson

Maddy summaryAB 742 regulates lease-purchase agreements for personal property (like furniture or appliances used at home), directly affecting consumers who rent items with an option to buy. It requires written agreements with clear disclosures, including total payments needed to own the goods, the cash-sale price, payment frequency, and terms for early purchase. The law mandates that lessors provide these details in plain language (at least 8-point type) and in the same language as any advertising. Violations allow consumers to sue for damages, but the law exempts business leases, vehicles, mobile homes, and real estate-related rentals.

Maddy summaryAB 718 regulates the prescription, use, and disposal of abortion-inducing drugs. It requires physicians to schedule a patient follow-up within 7 days after prescribing such drugs and provide a catch kit and medical waste bag for proper disposal. The bill also holds drug manufacturers responsible for safely disposing of abortion-related waste and mitigating endocrine disruptors (chemicals interfering with hormones), imposing fines up to $20,000 per violation. Additionally, it mandates wastewater treatment plants to test for endocrine disruptors. The law takes effect on May 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryAB 749 requires all public high schools to include instruction about organ and blood donation in at least one grade between 9 and 12. The law mandates that this instruction cover the purpose of donations, the statewide and nationwide need for them, and how students can participate. This applies to all high school curricula starting with the 2026-27 school year. The bill directly affects high school students and school districts by adding this specific health education requirement to their curriculum.

Maddy summaryAB 795 requires Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction to create a free online portal where the public can search for license holder information. The portal must include the names of license holders under investigation, the outcome of those investigations (including voluntary license surrender), and the names of individuals whose licenses were revoked. This affects licensed professionals (like educators or healthcare workers) whose records are accessed through the portal, as well as the Department of Public Instruction, which must maintain and update the portal. The bill mandates specific data points be included, such as investigation dates and reasons, without disclosing confidential details during active cases. It does not change investigation procedures but increases public access to existing disciplinary records.

Maddy summaryAB 807 creates a new "office of board counsel" in counties that already have a corporation counsel (including jointly designated counsel) and a county executive or administrator. This office, appointed by the county board and staffed by licensed attorneys, provides independent legal advice and services specifically to the county board itself. The bill establishes this role as separate from existing corporation counsel, allows the county board to leave the position unfilled, and specifies that board counsel serves "at the pleasure of the county board." This is a procedural change affecting county governance structures, not a policy impacting residents or taxpayers.

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.

Maddy summaryAB 56 requires all state agencies, local governments, and public schools to display the national motto "In God We Trust" in specific locations. Public buildings must show it on a poster, framed document, or wall (at least 11x14 inches, in English, and visible to the public), while schools must display it in every classroom starting in the 2026-27 school year. The bill mandates these displays within six months of the law taking effect, with detailed size, format, and visibility requirements. It directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and all state/local government buildings.

Maddy summaryAB 143 modifies vehicle law to clarify that vehicle owners or renters can be held liable for allowing unlicensed drivers to operate a vehicle, regardless of whether they knew the driver lacked a license. It adds new provisions (343.45(2m) and 343.46(2m)) stating that authorization or rental rules apply without requiring knowledge of the operator's license status. Violations carry fines: up to $1,000 for a first offense and up to $10,000 for repeat offenses. The bill directly affects vehicle owners, renters, and businesses that rent vehicles, as they face penalties if unlicensed operators use their vehicles. It does not change licensing requirements for drivers but shifts liability to those who permit unlicensed operation.

Maddy summaryAJR 21 is a procedural bill that designates April 2025 and April 2026 as Testicular Cancer Awareness Month in Wisconsin. This resolution aims to raise awareness about testicular cancer, which is common among young men.

Maddy summaryAssembly Bill 160 proposes to eliminate daylight saving time in Wisconsin. It achieves this by repealing the state statute that currently mandates the annual time change. If enacted, Wisconsin residents and businesses would no longer adjust their clocks forward in spring or backward in fall. The bill also amends regulations for certain licensed premises, removing the special one-hour extension that currently occurs on the Sunday daylight saving time begins. This would establish a consistent standard time throughout the year for the state.