Rep. Rick Gundrum

Maddy summaryAB 711 increases funding for the Family Foundations home visitation program by $1.2 million in fiscal year 2026-27. This appropriation directly supports the Department of Children and Families' program under section 48.983, which provides home visits to families with young children. The bill modifies the existing budget allocation without changing program eligibility or requirements. It was introduced in December 2025 with multiple co-authors and is currently under review by the Committee on State Affairs.

Maddy summaryAB 779 increases the dollar limits for cases heard in Wisconsin's small claims courts. It raises the maximum amount for consumer credit transactions (from $25,000 to $50,000), property recovery cases (from $10,000 to $25,000), personal injury/tort claims (from $5,000 to $25,000), and other civil cases (from $10,000 to $25,000). The bill also establishes automatic adjustments to these limits every five years based on inflation, using the U.S. consumer price index. This change directly affects individuals and small businesses filing claims in small claims court, allowing them to seek higher compensation without moving to a more complex court system.

Maddy summaryAB 709 amends Wisconsin state law to clarify rules for school transportation services, primarily affecting schools, school bus contractors, and emergency transportation providers. It allows school boards to request temporary emergency transportation for 15+ students when regular service isn't available, requiring written approval from the state transportation secretary. The bill also updates insurance requirements: vehicles carrying 9-14 students (not owned/leased by schools) must carry $10,000 property damage and $25,000 per person bodily injury coverage. These changes standardize emergency procedures and ensure minimum insurance coverage for non-school-operated transportation.

Maddy summaryAB 803 would expand state funding for workforce training grants to specifically include programs preparing individuals to become teachers. The bill creates a new grant category (106.27 (1) (b) 1. b.) for programs offering evidence-based training, leadership development, on-site job experience, and support to build teaching skills. This directly affects teacher preparation programs, including those in dual enrollment settings, by adding them to eligible grant recipients. The key change is codifying support for structured career pathways into teaching, moving beyond current grant scope. The bill is currently pending in the Rules committee after passing its primary committee unanimously.

Maddy summaryAB 794 clarifies that healthcare workers using digital platforms to book shifts at facilities remain independent contractors - not employees - under specific conditions. The bill requires platforms to meet 15 criteria, such as allowing workers to freely accept/reject shifts, set their own rates, avoid mandatory availability, and not restrict other work. It directly affects healthcare workers and platforms connecting them to facilities, ensuring they retain contractor status if all conditions are met. The law explicitly excludes these workers from employee protections under certain statutes, focusing solely on shifts booked through compliant platforms.

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 792 modifies how Wisconsin calculates state funding for public school districts by excluding certain costs funded through local voter-approved referenda (like bond elections) from the "shared cost" formula. This directly affects school districts receiving state equalization aid, as it prevents referendum-funded expenses from reducing their state aid eligibility. The bill adds specific rules to exclude referendum-authorized levies and related debt service from the calculation, ensuring districts aren’t penalized for using locally raised funds. These changes aim to align funding formulas with how school districts actually finance projects through voter-approved measures.

Maddy summaryAB 796 creates a $5 million annual grant program to help nonprofit religious organizations improve security. It directly affects religious groups facing bias-motivated threats or crime, prioritizing those at higher risk. Grants can cover physical security upgrades (like surveillance or fencing), staff/volunteer training, or emergency planning. No single organization can receive more than $500,000 per biennium, though umbrella groups may apply for multiple members. The program is administered by the Department of Military Affairs with additional staffing.

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.