Rep. Duke Tucker

Maddy summaryAB 913 creates a new tax break for Wisconsin National Guard and Reserve members by allowing a subtraction from taxable income for specific military pay. It covers basic pay received during federally required drills and field exercises (for National Guard) and inactive-duty training compensation (for Reserves), as defined under federal law. This applies to tax years starting after December 31, 2025, and fills a gap in current law, which previously only provided similar tax breaks for active duty or certain call-ups. The bill directly affects Wisconsin residents serving in these military roles who receive this type of compensation.

Maddy summaryAJR 133 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to suspend any state agency rule through a joint resolution approved by a majority of all elected members in both houses. If enacted, the legislature could immediately halt the enforcement of agency rules (for a set period or indefinitely) without requiring governor approval or following standard lawmaking procedures. The suspension would make the rule unenforceable during the suspension period, shifting authority from agencies to the legislature regarding rule implementation. This change would require voter approval after legislative passage, as it modifies the state constitution.

Maddy summaryAB 955 limits state agencies' ability to interpret laws by requiring explicit statutory permission before creating rules that interpret statutes they enforce. It adds a new section (227.11(1m)) stating agencies cannot interpret laws without specific legislative authorization. The bill also repeals existing language that allowed broader agency interpretation authority and reorganizes related sections. This directly affects all state agencies that develop rules for enforcing or administering laws, ensuring they cannot interpret statutes without clear prior legislative permission. The change focuses on clarifying rule-making boundaries, not altering policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryAB 881 requires town boards to approve water diversion or elevation projects in towns before they can proceed. Specifically, it mandates that towns must pass a resolution approving projects that use pumps to divert water to unnatural locations or raise water levels above natural elevations (excluding emergencies). This applies to all projects located within town boundaries, giving local governments direct control over such water management activities. The bill does not change existing state authority over navigable waters but adds a new local approval step for town-based projects.

Maddy summaryAB 882 allows towns to set maximum water levels for artificial water bodies (like ponds or reservoirs behind dams) if high water saturates road beds. It specifically enables town boards to require lower water elevations when a dam's operation threatens road safety. The bill also clarifies that landowners damaged by flooding from negligent obstruction of waterways can demand removal of the obstruction by giving written notice to the responsible party. These changes directly affect towns managing water infrastructure and landowners impacted by water-related damage.

Maddy summaryAB 104 prohibits health care providers from performing or referring minors under 18 for medical interventions intended to change their physical characteristics to match a gender different from their biological sex. It specifically bans surgeries (like hysterectomy or orchiectomy), mastectomies, puberty-blocking drugs, and high-dose cross-sex hormone treatments. Exceptions apply for genetic disorders of sex development, treating complications from prior procedures, or immediate life-threatening conditions. Violations could result in license revocation for health care providers by the licensing board.

Maddy summaryAB 24 requires Wisconsin county sheriffs to verify the immigration status of individuals jailed for felony offenses by requesting specific documentation (such as passports, birth records, or immigration documents) to confirm lawful presence in the U.S. If verification fails, sheriffs must notify federal Homeland Security and comply with federal detainer requests. Sheriffs must annually report compliance and maintain records of individuals found unlawfully present, with data shared with the state justice department. Counties failing to comply face a 15% reduction in state funding for the following year. The bill directly affects felony inmates, sheriffs, and state-local funding relationships.

Maddy summaryAB 241 amends Wisconsin statute 106.015(1) to prohibit requiring more than one journeyworker for every two apprentices in apprenticeship programs or contracts. This directly affects apprenticeship programs, particularly those governed by collective bargaining agreements, by limiting the minimum journeyworker-to-apprentice ratio. The bill prevents state agencies from enforcing or authorizing stricter ratios (e.g., requiring two journeyworkers per apprentice) through rules, program approvals, or contracts. It takes effect for collective bargaining agreements when they expire or are modified, renewed, or extended. The legislation aims to standardize ratio requirements across apprenticeship programs statewide.

Maddy summaryAB 167 requires the governor or state agency to notify the Joint Committee on Finance before implementing any increase to unemployment benefits above current state law (e.g., higher weekly rates or additional benefit weeks). The committee must approve such "benefit augmentations" before they take effect, and it retains the right to terminate them at any time. This applies to federally funded benefits but excludes federal extended benefits under Section 108.141. The bill also makes minor technical updates to unemployment claim requirements, such as requiring out-of-state claimants to register with local job centers. These changes aim to centralize oversight of unemployment benefit adjustments at the state level.

Maddy summaryAB 211 creates a new exemption in Wisconsin law allowing "tobacco bars" to operate without adhering to the state's public smoking ban. To qualify, these establishments must have opened after June 4, 2009, allow only cigar and pipe smoking (not cigarettes), not be classified as food establishments, display clear signage about smoking, prohibit minors under 21 from entering, require employee acknowledgment of secondhand smoke exposure, and demonstrate adequate air filtration in licensing applications. The bill directly affects tobacco bars meeting these specific criteria, enabling them to operate with smoking permitted while imposing strict operational requirements. It does not change the general public smoking ban but establishes a defined exception for this narrow category of businesses.