Rep. Dave Armstrong

Maddy summaryAB 948 requires Wisconsin public school boards to adopt policies by July 1, 2027, prohibiting students from using personal wireless devices (like cell phones, tablets, and laptops) during the entire school day - including instruction, recess, transitions, and lunch - except for specific exceptions. These exceptions include emergencies, health management, accommodations under IEPs or 504 plans, and teacher-approved educational use. Schools must annually provide students with a copy of the policy and submit it to the Department of Justice by October 1, 2027, with annual updates thereafter. The bill affects all public school students and boards in Wisconsin, taking effect July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryAB 904 creates immunity from prosecution and parole/probation revocation for people who seek help during a suspected overdose (aiders) and offers treatment-based alternatives instead of jail for the person experiencing the overdose (aided persons). Specifically, aiders who get help immediately after seeing someone overdose cannot lose parole or face charges for drug possession under certain circumstances. Aided persons can avoid prosecution by completing a treatment program or serving 15 days in jail if treatment isn't available, with prosecutors required to offer deferred prosecution tied to treatment. The bill applies to offenses involving controlled substances, paraphernalia, or masking agents directly related to overdose assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines artificial intelligence and explicitly states that AI systems are not considered legal persons under Wisconsin law. It prevents AI from being granted rights such as marriage, holding property, serving in corporate roles, or facing legal liability, while assigning ownership of any assets generated by AI to its developers, manufacturers, or owners. The legislation clarifies that any attempt to grant AI legal personhood would be void and unenforceable.

Maddy summaryAB 961 requires distributors of explicit content (such as publishers and digital platforms) to display specific warning labels on all adult-oriented material. For print publications, labels must appear on the cover in 20-point bold Arial font; for digital content, labels must appear before access, remain visible for 10 seconds, and occupy two-thirds of the screen. The labels must include standardized language warning: "WARNING: This material contains explicit content that may be harmful or offensive. Viewer discretion is advised. Not intended for minors." Violations incur fines, with 50% of fines funding a state appropriation via a surcharge.

Maddy summaryAB 962 requires app store providers to verify the age of users creating accounts in the state and link accounts of minors (under 18) to parent accounts. Before minors can purchase apps, make in-app purchases, or download apps, providers must obtain explicit parental consent after disclosing age ratings, content descriptions, and data practices. The bill also mandates that providers notify parents of significant app changes (like new in-app purchases or privacy shifts) affecting apps downloaded by minors. This directly affects minors using app stores, their parents, and app store operators like Apple or Google.

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.

Maddy summaryAB 908 requires state agencies to improve how they deliver public services (like tax filings or business licensing) by creating new standards for accessibility, efficiency, and customer feedback. It mandates agencies to designate a lead official to develop implementation plans, collect public input, and measure service quality using metrics like wait times and ease of access. The Secretary of State must appoint a coordinator to oversee cross-agency efforts and establish guidelines for service delivery channels (in-person, digital, phone, etc.). Annual reports to the legislature will track progress on these improvements.

Maddy summaryAB 909 creates a joint legislative steering committee to conduct a state-wide study of data sharing practices across government agencies. The committee will hire an external firm to assess current data management systems, identify barriers to efficient data sharing, and recommend improvements like standardized frameworks or an enterprise data office. The study must evaluate best practices from other states and identify high-value use cases for better data collaboration. The committee must submit its final report with recommendations by December 31, 2026, to the legislature. This bill focuses on improving internal government efficiency through data standardization, not on direct policy changes affecting the public.