Rep. Jerry O'Connor

Maddy summaryAB 250 allocates $9 million annually from the Veterans Affairs budget to fund war memorials in populous counties. Memorial boards must provide a full matching contribution to request funds, which can cover operations, maintenance, construction, or facility improvements. Boards must report annually to the legislature on fund usage and remaining balances. The bill creates a formal process for memorial boards to access state funding while requiring transparency in how funds are spent.

Maddy summaryAB 154 requires potato farmers planting 5 or more acres in Wisconsin to use officially certified seed potatoes, directly affecting commercial potato growers. The bill allows the department to waive this requirement for specific potato varieties if certified seed is unavailable and poses no serious disease risk, with conditions like geographic restrictions. Violations trigger a 72-hour order to remove and destroy non-compliant seed potatoes, with penalties of up to $5,000 plus $5,000 per acre planted in violation. The bill also permits penalty waivers if violations are corrected by destroying affected potatoes per department orders.

Maddy summaryAB 189 creates an optional process for finalizing divorce or legal separation without a court hearing. It allows couples to use a detailed affidavit instead of appearing in court if both are represented by lawyers or trained mediators, have signed a court-approved settlement (stipulation), and submit an affidavit confirming residency, disclosures, no domestic abuse history, and understanding of divorce terms. The affidavit must address specific requirements like public assistance status, military service, and prior abuse cases, and waives the right to a hearing. This applies only to couples who meet all conditions and choose this streamlined option, directly affecting those seeking uncontested divorces. The bill modifies existing statutes to enable this process while maintaining legal safeguards.

Maddy summaryAB 58 restricts flags displayed on state and local government buildings, requiring only the U.S. flag, Wisconsin state flag, or a state agency flag to be flown from flagpoles or exteriors. Exceptions allow flags for veterans (e.g., POW/MIA), federally recognized tribes, neighboring states at border crossings, or emergency services, but only for ceremonial or safety purposes. The bill explicitly prohibits any flag supporting political parties, social causes, racial/sexual identities, or extremist groups, including flags designed for specific holidays. It applies to all state office buildings, schools, and local government facilities, with limited exemptions for leased properties.

Maddy summaryAJR 80 is a symbolic resolution declaring May 2025 and May 2026 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness Months in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the impact of ALS on patients and families while promoting public awareness of the disease. The resolution highlights ALS as a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative condition with no known cure, emphasizing the importance of research and support for those affected. It directly affects Wisconsin residents by designating these months for community education and advocacy efforts focused on ALS.

Maddy summaryAB 369 creates a state tax credit for businesses that provide child care, allowing them to claim a credit equal to the federal employer-provided child care credit (under IRS Section 45F) on their state tax return. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and directly affects businesses that already claim the federal credit. Key provisions require the state credit to match the federal amount claimed, prohibit claims for out-of-state child care expenses, and mandate adjustments if federal tax increases under Section 45F(d). This bill aligns state tax treatment with the federal credit system without changing the federal rules.

Maddy summaryAB 255 requires referral agencies that connect prospective residents to assisted living facilities to disclose key financial details to those residents before making referrals. Specifically, agencies must reveal any business relationships with facilities, the exact fixed referral fee paid by the facility, and that they only list facilities with which they have contracts. Prospective residents can also terminate an agency's services at any time, including stopping the use of their personal information. Violations carry penalties of up to $1,000 per violation, enforced by the state attorney general or local district attorneys. The bill directly affects referral agencies and prospective residents in Wisconsin assisted living facilities.

Maddy summaryAB 284 streamlines the management of state construction projects by raising the cost threshold for mandatory project enumeration from $1 million to $2 million. It requires quarterly budget reports for projects needing increases, sets a 6-month deadline for the Claims Board to resolve certain construction claims, and mandates state agencies to collaborate with energy conservation contractors on pilot projects. The bill also clarifies responsibilities for utility costs in contracts, modifies bidding procedures, and transfers $32 million from the general fund to the state building trust fund for infrastructure. These changes primarily affect state agencies, the building commission, and contractors managing public construction projects.

Maddy summaryAB 406 establishes the framework for setting resident undergraduate tuition and fee rates at the University of Wisconsin System. It directly affects Wisconsin residents enrolled in undergraduate programs across UW System campuses. The bill outlines the process for determining these rates, though specific dollar amounts or changes are not detailed in the current summary. Introduced in August 2025 and referred to the Consumer Protection committee, it is currently under review with a fiscal estimate received.

Maddy summaryAB 92 creates a Spinal Cord Injury Council in Wisconsin's Department of Health Services to oversee research funding. It allocates $2.5 million biennially for grants supporting research into new treatments for spinal cord injuries, including pharmaceutical, medical device, and rehabilitative approaches. The council - composed of researchers, patients, veterans, and family members - sets grant criteria, reviews applications, and recommends awardees. Grant recipients must present findings at department-hosted symposia (held no more than once every two years) and report annual results to the legislature. This directly affects Wisconsin-based researchers and medical institutions conducting spinal cord injury research.