Rep. Elijah Behnke

Maddy summaryAB 676 creates a tax credit for Wisconsin insurers who invest in community development entities (CDEs) that fund qualifying low-income community businesses. Insurers can claim a 10% credit (after an initial 0% period) against certain insurance regulatory fees for investments in CDEs that deploy capital to businesses with principal operations in Wisconsin - $125 million allocated for rural counties and $125 million for metro counties. The credit applies to investments meeting specific criteria, such as funding businesses with at least 60% of operations in Wisconsin and excluding those deriving significant income from real estate. This policy directly affects insurers and CDEs by incentivizing capital deployment to underserved communities through a structured, state-funded tax credit mechanism.

Maddy summaryAB 530 restricts drone operations over school properties, directly affecting anyone flying drones near public, private, or tribal schools. The bill prohibits drones over school grounds without authorization, except for specific law enforcement or emergency purposes like search/rescue, locating escaped prisoners, or preventing imminent danger. Violations carry a maximum $5,000 penalty, and evidence from drone recordings related to violations must be handled by law enforcement or correctional authorities. The law clarifies definitions for "school" and "public protective services agency" to ensure consistent application.

Maddy summaryAB 778 changes eligibility rules for Wisconsin's Transform Milwaukee Jobs and Transitional Jobs programs. It requires applicants to have neither filed for unemployment insurance benefits nor be eligible for them. The bill repeals an existing eligibility provision (49.163(2)(am)4) and amends the current rule (49.163(2)(am)5) to clarify this requirement. This directly affects individuals seeking employment assistance through these specific Milwaukee-based workforce programs. The change simplifies eligibility by excluding those currently accessing unemployment benefits.

Maddy summaryAB 239 prohibits harassment of search and rescue dogs trained by state or nationally recognized agencies to locate missing people during disasters. It defines these dogs specifically and bans actions harming them while they perform official duties. Violations carry penalties ranging from a Class B forfeiture for basic violations to a Class H felony if the dog’s death results from intentional harm. The law applies directly to anyone who harasses these dogs, with stricter penalties for intentional acts causing injury or death. This bill strengthens protections for animals critical to emergency response efforts.

Maddy summaryAB 605 allows municipal solid waste facilities that received loans under Wisconsin's clean water fund program (for wastewater infrastructure) to retain a portion of environmental repair fees collected from waste disposal. Specifically, these facilities may keep fees equal to their outstanding loan principal and interest while repaying the loan, instead of paying all collected fees to the state department. The bill directly affects municipal waste facilities that have secured such loans, modifying how they handle environmental fees. This change streamlines loan repayment by redirecting fees that would otherwise go to the state. The bill amends existing statutes to create this exception without altering general fee collection requirements.

Maddy summaryAB 19 increases penalties for crimes against elders (60+ years) and adults at risk (a defined term under state law) by raising felony classifications for physical abuse and sexual assault. It requires courts to allow these victims to participate in hearings via phone or video, and allows asset freezes for defendants charged with financial exploitation of such victims. Crucially, the bill states that defendants cannot claim ignorance of the victim’s age or status as a defense. The bill directly affects vulnerable adults, courts handling related cases, and defendants facing charges under these provisions. It amends multiple statutes to implement these changes without creating new offenses.

Maddy summaryAB 425 creates a special registration plate system for trailers transporting manufactured housing units, eliminating the need for separate trailer registration. It directly affects transporters of manufactured housing, who must apply to the department for a plate based on the combined weight of the unit and trailer, paying a fee similar to standard vehicle registration. The plate allows multiple trailers owned by the same transporter to be used for moving housing units or empty trailers, valid only for the calendar year issued. This simplifies compliance by replacing individual trailer registration with a single annual plate for transporters' equipment.

Maddy summaryAB 657 exempts sales and use taxes for specific equipment and materials used exclusively in qualified nuclear fusion technology projects. It covers over 70 listed items, including plasma heating systems, superconductors, diagnostic tools, specialized materials like lithium and tungsten, and safety equipment. The exemption applies to businesses conducting fusion projects focused on energy generation, medical isotope production, research, or other fusion-related applications as defined in the bill. This policy directly reduces costs for companies developing nuclear fusion technology by eliminating taxes on qualifying purchases.

Maddy summaryAB 659 modifies Wisconsin's tuition benefit policies for veterans and their families. It reduces the required residency period from 5 to 3 consecutive years in the state before enrollment for veterans themselves and their dependents (spouses or children) to qualify for tuition exemptions or grants at University of Wisconsin System schools, technical colleges, or private nonprofit institutions. The bill applies to veterans who served honorably, died on duty or from service-connected disabilities, or have a 30% service-connected disability rating, and to dependents who meet the revised residency requirement. It does not change eligibility for veterans who were Wisconsin residents at the time of military entry. The policy change takes effect for the first semester or session beginning after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryAB 596 creates a state matching grant program that allocates $950,000 to provide state funds matching federal per diem payments received by eligible non-state entities. It directly affects organizations or programs receiving federal per diem payments (such as those supporting veterans) by allowing them to access additional state funding. The bill establishes this program under the Veterans Affairs department budget, requiring the state to match federal payments without changing eligibility criteria or adding new requirements for recipients.