Rep. Dave Murphy

Maddy summaryAB 627 modifies licensing fees for animal-related businesses in Wisconsin. It creates three new market license classes: Class A ($420 annual fee) for markets selling livestock and wild animals, Class B ($220) for livestock-only sales with limited auctions, and Class E ($280) for equine-only sales (no wild animals or non-equine livestock). The bill also establishes a $20 annual fee for each animal transport vehicle and clarifies a $150 reinspection fee for violations. These changes directly affect animal market operators, dealers, truckers, and transport vehicle owners by adjusting their required annual fees and reinspection costs.

Maddy summaryAB 546 redefines "abortion" in state statutes to exclude specific medical procedures performed to save a pregnant woman's life when doctors make reasonable efforts to preserve both the mother's and unborn child's life. It clarifies that procedures like emergency cesareans, early inductions, or removal of dead embryos/fetuses - especially during ectopic, anembryonic, or molar pregnancies - do not count as abortion. The bill creates consistent definitions across multiple statutes (including 20.927, 48.375, and 69.01) to ensure these medical exceptions apply uniformly. It directly affects healthcare providers by clarifying legal boundaries for life-saving treatments during complex pregnancies. The bill does not restrict access to these procedures but explicitly defines them as non-abortion under the law.

Maddy summaryAB 574 updates Wisconsin's voter registration processes to improve accuracy by requiring election officials to verify voters' addresses using U.S. Postal Service data. It mandates that clerks remove voters from registration lists if they no longer reside at their registered address (e.g., when a postcard is returned or USPS data shows a change), and requires timely notifications to voters and election authorities about status changes. This affects all registered voters whose addresses need verification and election officials responsible for maintaining voter rolls. The bill streamlines existing procedures by standardizing address verification, removal triggers, and reporting requirements for voter registration lists.

Maddy summaryAB 545 prevents University of Wisconsin System institutions from charging students supplemental fees for exclusively online courses unless the fee covers specific, verifiable online costs or applies equally to in-person versions of the same course. It directly affects students enrolled in online courses at UW institutions, particularly non-resident students who might face higher fees. The bill adds a new requirement (36.27(1)(c)) that prohibits unjustified fees for online-only courses while allowing fees tied to actual online-specific expenses or those applied consistently to in-person equivalents. This policy change targets course-related charges, not tuition rates, and applies starting 30 days after the law takes effect.

Maddy summaryAB 458 modifies standards for admitting expert witness testimony in court cases. It directly affects courts, lawyers, and parties involved in legal disputes where expert opinions are used, such as medical malpractice or accident investigations. The bill establishes new criteria for determining whether an expert's qualifications and methodology meet legal standards before testimony is allowed. This would require courts to evaluate the reliability and relevance of expert evidence more rigorously during pretrial proceedings. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee after its introduction and public hearing.

Maddy summaryAB 615 requires all public school districts and independent charter schools (K-8) to implement math screening tests three times yearly to identify students at-risk of not meeting grade-level math standards. Schools must then provide "quality math tutoring" (aligned with classroom instruction, offered 3 days weekly or 50 hours annually by state-approved providers) and develop personalized math plans for at-risk students within 30 days of identification. The bill also mandates schools with low 4th-grade math proficiency to create evidence-based achievement plans by 2026, including professional development for teachers. This law directly affects K-8 students identified as needing math support and schools serving those students.

Maddy summaryAB 200 creates a refund program for retail fuel sellers (like gas stations) who experience fuel loss from evaporation or shrinkage. It allows retailers to claim a 0.5% refund on the motor vehicle fuel tax they paid when purchasing fuel, based on their tax-paid amount. Retailers must submit detailed invoices showing the tax amount separately, and file claims within 12 months of purchase. The refund applies to all motor vehicle fuels, including diesel, and requires suppliers to provide specific purchase documentation.

Maddy summaryAB 493 authorizes community solar programs where multiple households share power generated from a single solar facility. It requires municipalities to approve new community solar projects with a two-thirds vote of their governing body (unless zoning allows it automatically), limits facility size to 5 megawatts (or 20 megawatts on previously developed sites like parking lots), and ensures no single subscriber controls more than 40% of the facility’s output. This directly affects local governments (through zoning rules), solar developers ("subscriber organizations"), and residents who join these programs. The bill defines key terms like "community solar facility" and "subscriber" to standardize program rules and interconnection with utilities.

Maddy summaryAB 526 modifies state contracting rules for airport improvements to align with federal requirements when federal funds are involved. It allows the state transportation secretary to use "construction manager at risk" contracts for qualified airport projects (like building or upgrading structures), where the contractor guarantees a maximum price and selection isn't based solely on lowest bid. This applies when projects are partially or fully funded by federal money, overriding standard state procurement rules for those specific cases. The bill directly affects state agencies, municipalities operating airports, and contractors bidding on federal-funded airport construction or improvement projects.

Maddy summaryAB 564 updates Wisconsin law to allow chiropractors to perform health examinations required for school employees (like teachers and staff). The bill amends statute 118.25(1)(a) by explicitly adding "chiropractor" to the list of licensed professionals authorized to conduct these exams, alongside physicians, naturopathic doctors, and physician assistants. This change directly affects school employees needing these exams and chiropractors who can now legally provide them. The law does not alter exam requirements or costs but expands who may perform the exams. The bill was introduced in October 2025 and referred to the Health Committee for review.