Rep. Dave Armstrong

Maddy summaryAB 443 increases the maximum fee municipal courts can collect for most cases from $38 to $48 per matter, such as traffic violations or other non-traffic offenses. The bill affects municipal courts directly, as they collect these fees for cases not excluded (like certain traffic violations under specific statutes). For each fee collected, $5 goes to the state general fund, while the remainder stays with the municipality. This change applies to all court actions in municipal courts except for financial responsibility violations or certain ordinance violations. The bill does not alter the minimum fee ($15) or the fee structure for excluded cases.

Maddy summaryAB 61 increases penalties for harming police or fire department animals used in official duties. It creates three penalty tiers: a Class A misdemeanor for negligent harm, a Class I H felony for intentional injury, and a Class H G felony for intentional killing. The law applies specifically to animals working for law enforcement or fire departments during their duties. Penalties depend on the perpetrator's intent (intentional vs. negligent) and the outcome (injury vs. death). This bill, enacted as 2025 Wisconsin Act 28, directly affects individuals who intentionally or negligently injure or kill such animals.

Maddy summaryAJR 95 designates October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Wisconsin. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the importance of addressing domestic violence. It aims to honor survivors, remember those lost to domestic violence, and acknowledge the work of advocates and service providers across the state. The bill passed unanimously and is now official, aligning Wisconsin with national observances to promote awareness.

Maddy summaryAJR 92 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th birthday on November 10, 2025. It formally celebrates the Marine Corps' history, beginning with its founding by the Continental Congress on November 10, 1775, and acknowledges its ongoing service, including active-duty personnel and training at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. The resolution contains no new policies, funding, or legal requirements - it solely expresses the Wisconsin Legislature's symbolic appreciation for the Marine Corps' 250 years of service. As a procedural resolution, it does not directly affect any individuals or change existing laws.

Maddy summaryAB 123 defines "driving miles" as the actual road distance between locations and requires parents with court-ordered physical placement to seek court permission before relocating more than 100 driving miles from the other parent. If parents already live more than 100 miles apart, relocation only requires 60 days' written notice (including new address and move date) instead of a court motion. The bill allows parents to agree on relocation through a stipulation, which the court may incorporate into an order unless it deems the change not in the child's best interest. This directly affects parents in Wisconsin family court cases involving child custody and relocation disputes.

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 388 creates a one-time grant program to fund Rogers Behavioral Health for constructing an integrated mental health facility in Wisconsin's Chippewa Valley region. The facility will provide inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient services for adolescents and adults. To receive the grant, Rogers must submit detailed certification plans for each service type (e.g., inpatient, residential) and report annually on facility operations and Medical Assistance patient access. The bill establishes specific requirements for facility certification under state health codes and mandates annual reporting to the Department of Health Services.

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 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.