Rep. Rob Brooks

Maddy summaryAB 123 defines "driving miles" as the actual road distance between locations and requires parents with court-ordered physical placement to seek court permission before relocating more than 100 driving miles from the other parent. If parents already live more than 100 miles apart, relocation only requires 60 days' written notice (including new address and move date) instead of a court motion. The bill allows parents to agree on relocation through a stipulation, which the court may incorporate into an order unless it deems the change not in the child's best interest. This directly affects parents in Wisconsin family court cases involving child custody and relocation disputes.

Maddy summaryAB 456 updates Wisconsin's real estate laws for residential transactions involving properties with one to four dwelling units. It requires real estate licensees to obtain written consent from property owners before sharing listing details with other agents or advertising properties online. The bill also mandates that owners must actively opt-in to public marketing (via a signed disclosure form) rather than having to opt-out, and prohibits licensees from accepting third-party fees without all parties' written agreement. These changes directly affect real estate agents and property owners in residential sales or leasing. The bill passed both chambers in November 2025 and is awaiting the governor's signature.

Maddy summaryAB 35 requires candidates for most Wisconsin offices (excluding district attorney) to formally withdraw their candidacy by specific deadlines before elections. To withdraw, candidates must file a sworn statement with the election commission and pay a fee ($1,000 for statewide/national offices, $250 for local offices). The law also penalizes false withdrawal statements as a Class G felony, with the commission required to verify the authenticity of all sworn statements. This law directly affects candidates who wish to withdraw from races but does not apply to district attorney candidates.

Maddy summaryAB 140 creates a specific exception in Wisconsin statute for Port Washington's Tax Incremental District Number 5, removing a standard 12% limit on the total taxable property value that can be included in such districts. This bill directly affects the city of Port Washington and its Tax Incremental District Number 5, allowing that district to exceed the usual property value cap. The key mechanism is adding a new statutory provision (66.1105 (17) (h)) that explicitly states the 12% limit does not apply to this specific district. The bill was enacted as 2025 Wisconsin Act 16 after approval by the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Wisconsin laws regarding when deer baiting is prohibited in counties where chronic wasting disease or bovine tuberculosis has been found. It requires that bans on baiting be based only on confirmed cases in free-roaming animals and limits how long these bans can last. Specifically, baiting restrictions cannot extend more than three years after a positive test in a county where the disease was found, or more than two years in counties within 10 miles of such a case. These changes aim to clarify the criteria for enforcing deer baiting rules while setting specific time limits on those restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis Wisconsin bill modifies the state's unemployment insurance law to improve how the department handles job search verification and fraud prevention. It allows employers to report when a job seeker declines offers, fails to attend interviews, or cannot perform available work, requiring the department to investigate these reports to determine eligibility. The legislation also establishes a legal presumption that anyone using a claimant's security credentials is acting on their behalf, while making the claimant responsible for protecting their login information and liable for benefits paid to unauthorized users. Additionally, the bill mandates that the department submit an annual report to the legislature detailing its efforts to detect and prosecute unemployment insurance fraud.

Maddy summaryThis Wisconsin bill proposes changes to the state's unemployment insurance law, specifically requiring the Joint Committee on Finance to approve certain federally authorized benefits before they are implemented. The legislation would mandate that the governor notify the committee whenever federal actions increase weekly benefit rates, total benefit amounts, or add new stipends based on unemployment eligibility. Additionally, it restricts the transfer of block grant funds between different programs unless the Joint Committee on Finance explicitly approves the move. Although the bill was amended and placed on the calendar, it ultimately failed to pass the legislature in 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposed changes to how Wisconsin fills vacancies in specific executive branch offices, including the secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general, and state superintendent. Under the new rules, the governor would be allowed to appoint a permanent replacement for these positions if a vacancy occurs on or after January 1 of an election year, rather than only using a temporary provisional appointment. The appointed official would serve the remainder of the term with the advice and consent of the Senate, but the bill explicitly prohibited the governor from using a provisional appointee for these roles. Although the legislation was passed by the legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes specific rules that currently ban hunting wild animals with dogs in northern Wisconsin between May 1 and June 30. It also lifts restrictions on training dogs to hunt and on competitive dog trials in that same area and time frame. The changes apply to hunters, dog trainers, and participants in dog sports who operate in the region north of certain east-west highways. By repealing these administrative code sections, the legislation allows these activities to proceed year-round instead of limiting them to the summer months.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes specific rights for parents and guardians regarding their children's upbringing, education, and healthcare, while creating a legal cause of action for violations of these rights. It requires schools to notify parents about controversial subjects taught in classrooms, such as gender identity or systemic racism, and grants parents the ability to opt their children out of related classes based on religious or personal convictions. Additionally, the legislation mandates that parents be informed about disciplinary actions, medical records, and school security systems, and it allows them to file complaints with school boards or sue for up to $10,000 if they believe their rights have been infringed. The law explicitly states that these provisions do not override existing court orders or authorize parents to neglect or abuse their children.