Rep. Jerry O'Connor

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies Wisconsin's rules for out-of-state all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs). It requires that vehicles registered outside Wisconsin must meet Wisconsin's specific definitions to operate on public trails or highways. If an out-of-state vehicle is classified as an ATV or UTV under Wisconsin law but doesn't meet the state's definition, Wisconsin will not issue trail passes for it, and operating it on trails or highways is prohibited. The law directly affects owners of ATVs/UTVs registered in other states who wish to use Wisconsin's public trails or roads. It ensures Wisconsin's vehicle definitions override out-of-state registrations for enforcement purposes.

Maddy summaryAB 153 requires parents in child support or maintenance cases to notify the child support agency within 10 business days of changes to their address, job, or significant income (like bonuses). It also creates new rules allowing parents to redact personal information (like social security numbers or home addresses) from documents shared with the agency, while clarifying that income changes alone don’t automatically adjust support payments. The bill specifically defines "shared-placement parents" and exempts them from some notification requirements if the other parent isn’t a shared-placement parent. This affects all Wisconsin parents receiving or paying child support/maintenance and the county child support agencies managing these cases.

Maddy summaryAB 74 requires Wisconsin public, private, and charter schools to notify parents or guardians within 24 hours if they receive a report alleging specific misconduct: sexual misconduct by a staff member, a convicted sex offender working with children, or a sex offender photographing a minor without consent. Schools must deliver notice by phone or in person, with deadlines of 5 p.m. the same day (if reported before school ends) or noon the next day. The law excludes reports involving the student’s parent or guardian and applies to all schools covered under Wisconsin education statutes. This is a direct notification requirement, not an investigation mandate.

Maddy summaryAB 302 amends Wisconsin statute 347.25(3) to allow funeral procession vehicles to use flashing amber or purple lights exclusively during processions. The law permits the lead vehicle in a procession to display such lights, or requires all vehicles in the procession to have them if any vehicle uses them. This change directly affects funeral homes, drivers, and vehicles participating in formal funeral processions by standardizing permissible lighting for visibility and safety during these events.

Maddy summaryAB 265 strengthens Wisconsin's penalties for human trafficking by requiring minimum prison terms: 15 years for child trafficking and 10 years for general human trafficking convictions. It creates new felony charges for individuals who profit from trafficking (Class D C felony) or receive compensation from commercial sex acts or debt bondage (Class F E felony). The bill directly affects convicted traffickers, their financial beneficiaries, and those who facilitate trafficking through recruitment or harboring of children for commercial sex. These sentencing changes apply to offenses committed after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryAB 280 amends Wisconsin tax credit rules to allow businesses to claim up to 15% of qualifying investments in workforce housing (for employees) and childcare programs as tax credits. It directly affects businesses that build, rehab, or establish housing/childcare for their employees, including contributions made to third parties like local revolving loan funds. The bill defines "investments" to include both direct capital expenditures and third-party contributions toward these projects. The tax credit applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2026, and is administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

Maddy summaryAB 201 modifies Wisconsin law to require sex offender registration for individuals convicted of sexual extortion or certain related offenses. It directs courts to mandate registration under Wisconsin Statute 301.45 if the underlying conduct was "sexually motivated" (as defined in Statute 980.01(5)), including violations of statutes related to sexual extortion (e.g., 942.09, 942.095). The bill affects offenders convicted of sexual extortion or sexually motivated crimes under Chapters 940, 942, 943, 944, or 948. Courts may later release individuals from registration if they meet conditions set by the court. This is a policy change to expand registration requirements for specific sexual offenses, not a new criminal penalty.

Maddy summaryAB 2 requires Wisconsin school boards to adopt policies banning student use of wireless communication devices (like cell phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices) during instructional time, effective July 1, 2026. The policy must define "wireless communication device," include specific exceptions for emergencies, health needs, individualized education programs, and teacher-approved educational use, and allow boards to add other learning-focused exceptions. It directly affects school boards, which must create and implement these policies, while students are the primary group subject to the restrictions. The bill does not mandate device confiscation but permits it as a consequence for violations.

Maddy summaryAB 35 requires candidates for most Wisconsin offices (excluding district attorney) to formally withdraw their candidacy by specific deadlines before elections. To withdraw, candidates must file a sworn statement with the election commission and pay a fee ($1,000 for statewide/national offices, $250 for local offices). The law also penalizes false withdrawal statements as a Class G felony, with the commission required to verify the authenticity of all sworn statements. This law directly affects candidates who wish to withdraw from races but does not apply to district attorney candidates.

Maddy summaryAB 75 (now Wisconsin Act 45) requires the Wisconsin Department of Justice to collect and report criminal case data using an interactive dashboard that excludes personally identifiable information about defendants. The bill amends existing requirements by replacing terms like "charging recommendation" with "arrest charge" and mandates the dashboard be available by January 1, 2026. It directly affects the Department of Justice’s data collection processes and ensures transparency while protecting defendant privacy. The law was enacted after Governor approval on October 31, 2025.