Rep. Elijah Behnke

Maddy summaryAB 843 would require all law enforcement officers and tribal law enforcement officers in the state to be U.S. citizens. This bill directly affects individuals seeking or currently holding these law enforcement positions, including tribal officers. The key provision creates a new statutory requirement stating: "No person may be employed as a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer unless that person is a citizen of the United States." The bill does not alter existing hiring practices for other public safety roles, focusing solely on citizenship as a mandatory qualification for these specific law enforcement positions.

Maddy summaryAB 861 extends the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits related to child trafficking. It allows victims to file lawsuits for damages before reaching age 35, instead of the previous deadline. The bill specifically creates new legal provisions (895.439(2) and 893.586) to clarify this timeline for child trafficking cases. It does not change criminal penalties but ensures victims have more time to pursue civil claims, regardless of whether criminal charges were filed. The law directly affects minors who were trafficked and now have until their 35th birthday to seek legal remedies.

Maddy summaryAB 849 amends Wisconsin statute 939.46(1m) to define "direct result" for an affirmative defense available to victims of human trafficking. The bill clarifies that victims who commit offenses (like theft or assault) to escape or prevent trafficking under s. 940.302(2) or s. 948.051 may use this defense if the offense has a logical causal connection to the trafficking violation, occurs immediately afterward, and is necessary for escape. It directly affects trafficking victims facing criminal charges for actions taken while escaping exploitation. The law removes the requirement that the trafficking violation must have been prosecuted or convicted for the defense to apply.

Maddy summaryAB 841 expands Wisconsin's sex offender registration requirements by adding specific sexual assault and child abuse crimes to the list of offenses triggering registration. It updates the legal definition of "sex offense" to include violations of statutes covering crimes like sexual assault of minors, certain predatory acts, and offenses against children under 14. People convicted of these specific crimes will now be required to register as sex offenders, with the exception that the rule applies only when the victim was a minor and the offender was not the victim’s parent. This change directly affects individuals convicted of the newly listed offenses under Wisconsin law.

Maddy summaryAB 896 requires local governments (cities, towns, counties, school districts) to coordinate with federal refugee resettlement programs. If federal authorities or a private agency contact a local official about placing refugees, the official must report this within 7 business days to their chief elected official. Within 30 days, the local government must appoint a designee to consult with federal agencies, form a county committee for discussion, and hold a public hearing before making a recommendation on refugee placement. This bill establishes a structured process for local input on federal refugee resettlement plans, affecting all local governments within a 100-mile radius of the initial contact.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires courts to automatically seal personal details (like names or photos) of child victims and witnesses in human trafficking cases. It prohibits public disclosure of this information unless a court holds a hearing considering the child's safety and decides disclosure serves justice. Courts must also provide necessary support services - such as private testimony rooms or emotional support - to protect the child's well-being during proceedings. These changes directly protect children involved in trafficking cases from potential harm while ensuring fair legal processes.

Maddy summaryAB 833 creates a state grant program to fund nonprofit organizations providing support services to human trafficking victims. The bill appropriates $1.25 million biennially for grants to nonprofits that coordinate with law enforcement and provide at least 50% private matching funds. Grants are capped at $125,000 per biennium for organizations offering housing services, or $50,000 for other support services like advocacy, medical care, or job training. The Department of Justice will administer the program and establish rules for grant distribution, prioritizing organizations with established law enforcement partnerships or capacity to serve large numbers of victims.

Maddy summaryAB 901 establishes rules for net metering of rooftop solar energy systems in Wisconsin. It directly affects homeowners and businesses with solar installations by setting capacity limits (30 kW for residential, 500 kW for commercial) and requiring advanced metering for grid interconnection. The bill mandates that electric providers credit customers 100% of the retail electricity rate for excess power sent to the grid, with credits expiring March 31 annually and transferring to new property owners upon sale. It also allows providers to reduce credits to 90% if solar adoption exceeds 10% in their service area, while maintaining minimum billing standards for solar customers.

Maddy summaryAB 897 removes the right to a jury trial in Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) proceedings for non-Indian children. It also restricts requests to substitute judges in parental rights termination cases to only the parent and petitioner, limiting such requests to one per case and requiring them within 10 days of a new judge's assignment. The bill affects parents and children in these specific child welfare cases, directly changing court procedures for CHIPS petitions and termination hearings. These changes apply only to cases filed after the bill's effective date, with Indian children’s cases remaining exempt under federal law.

Maddy summaryAB 902 prohibits state agencies from quarantining certain animals solely due to exposure to chronic wasting disease (CWD) if the animals belong to species that neither carry nor are susceptible to CWD. It directly affects livestock owners, particularly those raising farm-raised fallow deer (Dama dama), by preventing unnecessary quarantines for these animals after exposure incidents. The bill creates new rules (sections 95.23(5) and 95.55(6)(c)) that block quarantine orders based only on exposure, while allowing other CWD-related measures for at-risk species. This policy change specifically targets non-susceptible animals, ensuring quarantine is not applied unnecessarily.