Rep. Ben DeSmidt

Maddy summaryAB 920 automatically registers eligible voters for state elections when they interact with the Department of Transportation (e.g., renewing a driver’s license or ID card). It requires the election commission to match DOT data (including name, address, date of birth, and verified citizenship proof) with existing voter records. If someone appears eligible but isn’t registered, they’re added to the voter list with a multilingual notice explaining how to opt out. Individuals can request exclusion from the list at any time, and the commission must verify eligibility before re-registering someone previously removed. The bill directly affects voters who use state-issued licenses or IDs but does not change voter eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryAB 952 requires anyone living in a household with a person prohibited from possessing firearms (such as someone with certain felony convictions or domestic violence orders) to securely store their own firearms - either in a locked container, a locked location a reasonable person would consider secure, or with a trigger lock engaged. This law directly affects residents in households where one member has a legal restriction on firearm possession. Violating this storage requirement results in penalties: a first offense is a Class A misdemeanor, and repeat violations are classified as Class I felonies. The bill aims to prevent accidental or unauthorized access to firearms in homes where one resident cannot legally own them.

Maddy summaryAB 949 clarifies pet insurance rules to prevent consumer confusion. It bans marketing pet wellness programs as insurance and requires clear separation between wellness programs and insurance policies (e.g., separate pricing, distinct terms, and explicit "not insurance" disclosures). The bill also mandates training for insurance agents on policy terms like preexisting conditions and waiting periods, and requires insurers to disclose coverage limitations, exclusions, and policy details upfront. These changes directly affect pet insurance companies, their agents, and pet owners purchasing these products.

Maddy summaryAB 951 requires retail stores that sell firearms to securely store all firearms when the business is unattended. It mandates specific security methods, such as locking firearms in fireproof safes, using reinforced display cases with thick polycarbonate or laminated glass, securing firearms with hardened steel rods through trigger guards, storing them in windowless rooms with deadbolts, or using steel roll-down doors. These provisions apply directly to retailers engaged in the commercial sale or transfer of firearms. The law aims to prevent unauthorized access to firearms during unattended periods, with additional requirements for street-level stores like bollards or roll-down doors. The bill was introduced in January 2026 and referred to the Criminal Justice Committee.

Maddy summaryAB 820 clarifies and expands the scope of practice for audiologists in Wisconsin. It specifically allows audiologists to prescribe hearing aids (including over-the-counter options), manage osseo-integrated devices, and handle cochlear implants for correction or relief of hearing conditions. The bill also explicitly prohibits audiologists from performing surgical procedures, including cochlear implant surgery or osseo-integrated device surgery. Additionally, it updates the Hearing and Speech Examining Board composition to require one public member who is a hearing aid, osseo-integrated device, or cochlear implant user.

Maddy summaryAB 921 establishes a $35 monthly cap on out-of-pocket costs for insulin under disability insurance policies and self-insured health plans. It directly affects people with diabetes who rely on these specific insurance types for insulin coverage. The bill prohibits insurers from charging more than $35 for a one-month supply of insulin, covering all cost-sharing elements like deductibles and copays. This policy change applies to existing coverage requirements without altering other insurance benefits or mandates. The bill is pending in the 2026 Wisconsin Legislature.

Maddy summaryAB 944 creates a state grant program to fund municipalities' purchases of election supplies and equipment, such as electronic poll books and accessibility tools. It allocates $5 million biennially (split equally for 2025-26 and 2026-27), with funding amounts tiered by municipal population size: up to $2.5 million for cities over 250,000, $1 million for 100,000-250,000, $500,000 for 50,000-100,000, and $250,000 for smaller cities. Municipalities must apply 180 days before elections and agree to random inspections of grant-funded equipment, with a minimum $250 grant per recipient. The bill directly affects all cities and towns in the state based on their population, providing targeted funding for election infrastructure.

Maddy summaryAB 967 increases funding by $500,000 for Wisconsin's Family Foundations home visitation program to provide parental education about social media's effects on children and healthy social media practices. It directly affects parents eligible for Medical Assistance who are assessed as at-risk for child abuse or neglect under the existing program. The bill modifies the Department of Children and Families' budget to allocate these funds specifically for social media education components within home visitation services. This is a concrete policy change expanding an existing program's educational focus, not a new initiative.

Maddy summaryAB 971 creates a state program to reimburse community paramedics and community emergency medical services practitioners for tuition and materials costs incurred in completing approved training programs. It covers individuals who paid for their own training or employers who paid for their employees' training. To qualify, applicants must complete a state-approved training program and receive department approval. Reimbursement requires applying through the state board and meeting specific training completion criteria.

Maddy summaryAB 970 allocates $600,000 in state funding for two programs: (1) grants to six municipal emergency medical services programs (prioritizing two rural, two suburban, and two urban programs) to hire full-time community paramedics or practitioners, and (2) $200,000 annually for the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging to run statewide falls prevention initiatives. The bill creates a pilot program requiring grantees to report on cost savings and service impact within one year. It directly affects local EMS providers and aging services organizations by funding community-based health support. The funding is appropriated for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, with a 12-month deadline for grant awards.