Rep. Kevin Petersen

Maddy summaryAJR 133 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to suspend any state agency rule through a joint resolution approved by a majority of all elected members in both houses. If enacted, the legislature could immediately halt the enforcement of agency rules (for a set period or indefinitely) without requiring governor approval or following standard lawmaking procedures. The suspension would make the rule unenforceable during the suspension period, shifting authority from agencies to the legislature regarding rule implementation. This change would require voter approval after legislative passage, as it modifies the state constitution.

Maddy summaryAB 955 limits state agencies' ability to interpret laws by requiring explicit statutory permission before creating rules that interpret statutes they enforce. It adds a new section (227.11(1m)) stating agencies cannot interpret laws without specific legislative authorization. The bill also repeals existing language that allowed broader agency interpretation authority and reorganizes related sections. This directly affects all state agencies that develop rules for enforcing or administering laws, ensuring they cannot interpret statutes without clear prior legislative permission. The change focuses on clarifying rule-making boundaries, not altering policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryAB 24 requires Wisconsin county sheriffs to verify the immigration status of individuals jailed for felony offenses by requesting specific documentation (such as passports, birth records, or immigration documents) to confirm lawful presence in the U.S. If verification fails, sheriffs must notify federal Homeland Security and comply with federal detainer requests. Sheriffs must annually report compliance and maintain records of individuals found unlawfully present, with data shared with the state justice department. Counties failing to comply face a 15% reduction in state funding for the following year. The bill directly affects felony inmates, sheriffs, and state-local funding relationships.

Maddy summaryAB 461 creates a new tax deduction for Wisconsin taxpayers who earn qualifying overtime pay. It allows individuals to subtract up to $12,500 (or $25,000 for joint filers) of overtime compensation from their taxable income, provided the overtime was reported to the IRS via standard forms (like Form 1099-NEC). The deduction phases out for higher earners: it decreases by $100 for every $1,000 their modified federal adjusted gross income exceeds $150,000 (or $300,000 for joint filers). This applies only to overtime pay reported to the IRS, excluding tips, and requires taxpayers to include their Social Security number on their return.

Maddy summaryAB 699 creates a 20% tax credit for disability insurers who pay long-term care insurance assessments. The credit applies to the taxable year after the assessment is paid and the next four years, reducing taxes owed under Wisconsin law. It directly affects disability insurers (defined in the bill) who collect these assessments, not individual consumers. The credit cannot be claimed by partnerships or their members if the entity claims it, and unused credits are paid by the state from a dedicated fund. This bill establishes a new tax credit mechanism without changing insurance requirements for consumers.

Maddy summaryAB 700 appropriates state funds to cover refundable credits for Wisconsin taxpayers who pay long-term care insurance assessments. It directly affects residents who pay these assessments by ensuring they receive the full credit amount through a dedicated budget appropriation. The bill amends statute 20.835(2)(de) to specify the funding needed for credits under existing laws (sections 71.07(12)(d)2., 71.28(12)(d)2., 71.47(12)(d)2., and 76.633(4)). This creates a permanent funding mechanism for the credits rather than relying on annual budget adjustments.

Maddy summaryAB 840 regulates data centers in the state by requiring specific operational and environmental standards. It mandates that data centers use closed-loop cooling systems (recycling water instead of using fresh water) and report annual water usage to the department. The bill also requires renewable energy facilities serving data centers to be located on-site and prohibits utility customers from paying for data center infrastructure costs. Additionally, operators must provide financial bonds for construction and restore land if projects are abandoned. These provisions directly affect all data center operators and developers in the state.

Maddy summaryAB 814 creates a sales and use tax exemption for movie theater projectors purchased by movie theaters. This directly affects movie theaters by eliminating sales tax on projector purchases, potentially reducing their operating costs. The exemption includes a revenue trigger: if tax revenues drop by $2 million due to this exemption, the state must notify lawmakers, and the exemption expires either 25 months after the bill's effective date or 3 months after the notification, whichever comes first. The bill does not change tax rates but modifies the tax code to exclude these specific equipment purchases.

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 25 grants transmission companies (incumbent owners) the right to construct, own, and maintain specific high-voltage transmission lines approved in the Midwest Independent System Operator's (MISO) regional plan, provided the lines connect to their existing facilities. It requires these owners to notify Wisconsin's Public Service Commission within 90 days of MISO approval, provide competitive-bid cost estimates, and submit quarterly cost reports during construction. The bill also mandates disclosure of costs charged to out-of-state energy consumers for these regionally cost-shared lines. These provisions apply to transmission lines eligible for regional cost sharing under MISO, without requiring a right of first refusal.