Rep. Jerry O'Connor

Maddy summaryAB 119 repeals statute 150.345, which previously governed procedures for transferring nursing home beds between facilities. This bill removes an existing regulatory requirement that nursing homes had to follow when moving beds. It directly affects nursing homes and state agencies responsible for implementing this rule. The bill makes no new policy changes but eliminates a current administrative requirement.

Maddy summaryAB 144 reassigns judicial positions within the state's court of appeals system. It eliminates one judgeship in District IV (reducing its total from 4 to 3 judges) and adds one judgeship to District III (increasing its total from 4 to 5 judges). The change takes effect on August 1, 2026, with the District IV position ending on July 31, 2026, and a new District III judge elected in the spring 2026 election for a 2026-2032 term. This directly affects the court structures in Districts III and IV of the court of appeals.

Maddy summaryAB 21 amends a statute to prohibit technical college districts from leasing their facilities to others for non-school purposes, with one exception: leases for child care centers remain permitted. This bill directly affects public technical college districts by restricting their ability to generate revenue through facility rentals, limiting such leases to only those supporting child care operations. The key provision clarifies that districts cannot enter new leases after the bill's effective date, except for child care centers, which would continue to be allowed under the existing exception. The bill focuses on defining permissible lease arrangements without creating new programs or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryAB 151 creates a legal presumption that courts should prioritize custody arrangements allowing children to spend roughly equal time with each parent, whenever feasible. This applies to all custody cases filed after the bill's effective date, directly affecting parents and judges determining physical placement. The law requires courts to assume equal time is in the child's best interest unless they find, based on evidence, that it isn't - considering factors like geographic separation between households. The bill modifies Wisconsin's custody statute to make this equal-time presumption the starting point for court decisions, with specific attention to practical realities like distance between parents' homes.

Maddy summaryAB 170 prohibits the Department of Justice from using legal services from non-governmental employees (such as private lawyers or contractors) for investigating or prosecuting civil or criminal cases. The only exception allows legal interns paid no more than $10,000 annually, even if they are not state or federal employees. This directly affects how the Department of Justice hires legal support for case work. The bill creates a new statute (165.252) to enforce this restriction, with no other exemptions beyond the intern provision. It was introduced in April 2025 and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryAJR 21 is a procedural bill that designates April 2025 and April 2026 as Testicular Cancer Awareness Month in Wisconsin. This resolution aims to raise awareness about testicular cancer, which is common among young men.

Maddy summaryAJR 22 is a joint resolution that proclaims April 26, 2025, as Shared Parenting Day in Wisconsin. This resolution recognizes the importance of both parents providing emotional and parental support to their children, particularly for separated parents, and aims to increase public awareness of this issue.

Maddy summaryAssembly Joint Resolution 24 expresses the Wisconsin Legislature's support for strengthening its relationship with Taiwan. The resolution reaffirms the existing sister-state ties between Wisconsin and Taiwan and reiterates support for the federal Taiwan Relations Act. It also endorses Taiwan's pursuit of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States to foster closer economic partnerships. Furthermore, the resolution advocates for Taiwan's increased participation in international organizations that impact its people's well-being.

Maddy summaryAB 203 creates a new statute to limit the liability of manufacturers, distributors, sellers, installers, and owners of traffic control devices. It specifies that these entities are not liable for damages if a device complies with the state's official traffic control devices manual and operates as intended. This limitation applies to claims for personal injury, property damage, and other losses. However, liability can be established if a claimant proves by clear evidence that the device did not meet specifications or operate as intended at the time of the damages. The bill also includes a rebuttable presumption that a device complied if it met manual standards or had authorized deviations.

Maddy summaryAssembly Joint Resolution 30 (AJR 30) congratulates the University of Wisconsin-Madison women’s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey National Championship. It commends the team, coaching staff, athletic department, and chancellor for their achievement.