Rep. Elijah Behnke

Maddy summaryAB 315 modifies grant rules for Wisconsin's Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship program and land conservation efforts. It creates new provisions requiring governmental units and nonprofits to apply for funding *before* purchasing land to qualify for up to 50% of acquisition costs (reduced to 40% if applying after purchase). The bill maintains a 30% cap on additional costs covered by grants or in-kind contributions. These changes directly affect local governments and conservation groups seeking state funds to acquire land for parks, recreation, or conservation. The bill does not create new funding but adjusts eligibility and percentage limits for existing programs.

Maddy summaryAB 439 modifies eligibility rules for a state grant program that funds improvements to agricultural roads. The bill adds a new requirement: a highway must have an engineering analysis by a licensed professional showing it cannot handle heavy agricultural traffic to qualify for the grant. This directly affects farmers and agricultural businesses that rely on these roads, as it expands the criteria beyond existing structural deficiencies or weight restrictions. The change aims to ensure roads serving farming operations receive targeted funding based on actual traffic capacity needs.

Maddy summaryAB 197 creates a new exemption allowing local governments (like counties or municipalities) to count certain regional emergency medical services costs toward their budget limits without triggering spending restrictions. To qualify, the service must cover at least 232 square miles or include 8 municipalities, and annual cost increases must stay below the inflation rate plus 5%. The exemption requires confirmation of a regional service area and a designated coordination entity for EMS across the area. This specifically affects jurisdictions operating joint emergency medical services districts or intergovernmental agreements for EMS, including fire department-provided services.

Maddy summaryAB 156 requires public school districts in the 2026-27 school year to provide age-appropriate child sexual abuse prevention education to all students from 4-year-old kindergarten through 12th grade. The curriculum must include specific topics like correct body part names, setting personal boundaries, identifying safe adults, distinguishing safe/unsafe touch, and reporting abuse, using research-based methods. Schools must notify parents about the program schedule and content annually, and parents can opt their child out with a written request. This law directly affects all K-12 students and their families in public schools across the state.

Maddy summaryAJR 109 is a symbolic joint resolution honoring Wisconsin's Hispanic and Latino veterans. It formally recognizes their service and sacrifices throughout U.S. military history, including specific references to the Borinqueneers unit and General Richard Cavazos. The resolution expresses the Wisconsin Legislature's gratitude through a formal statement, acknowledging these veterans' contributions without creating new programs or altering laws. This is a commemorative gesture, not a policy change, and directly affects no individuals or entities through legislative action.

Maddy summaryAB 426 establishes clear rules for election observer access during voting and recounts. It requires election officials to designate observation areas 3-8 feet from voting tables and ensures all observers (like candidates' representatives) have uniform, nondiscriminatory access to every election stage, including absentee voting, ballot counting, and recounts. Officials who violate these rules face penalties of up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail. The bill directly affects election clerks, inspectors, and canvassers who must implement these procedures.

Maddy summaryAB 613 requires school principals to notify parents in writing within 5 p.m. the same day when a student is removed from a classroom in a way that reduces instructional time for other students (e.g., during drills). Notices must be electronic (or by mail if declined) and cannot include personal information. School principals must report annual removal counts to school boards by October 1, 2027, and school boards must submit this data to the state superintendent by December 1, starting in 2028. The law applies to all public schools and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryAB 678 requires Wisconsin school boards to adopt a policy by July 2026 governing appropriate communication between school employees and volunteers (acting in their official capacity) and students. The policy must cover all communication methods and content, both during and outside school hours, and specify consequences for violations. It directly affects school district staff, volunteers, and students by establishing clear standards for professional interactions. The bill creates a new statutory requirement (120.12(30)) without dictating specific communication rules, leaving implementation to individual school boards.

Maddy summaryAB 312 sets standardized operating hours for in-person absentee ballot voting at local election offices (municipal clerks) and approved alternate sites. It directly affects voters who cast absentee ballots in person and local election officials managing these locations. The bill establishes specific, consistent hours for these locations to ensure accessible voting access, replacing variable or inconsistent schedules previously set by individual jurisdictions. This is a procedural change to improve clarity and convenience for voters using in-person absentee voting.

Maddy summaryAB 618 creates tax credits for nuclear energy facilities in Wisconsin, directly affecting electric utilities, cooperatives, municipal companies, and qualified wholesale providers. It provides a credit against income/franchise tax for wages paid to full-time nuclear facility workers (defined as 2,080 hours/year at 150% federal minimum wage) and capital expenditures for facility construction, maintenance, or operation (excluding land purchases). The credit can be transferred to other taxpayers subject to certain taxes, though partnerships and LLCs must pass the credit amount to owners rather than claiming it directly. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2027.