Rep. Alex Joers

Maddy summaryAB 735 creates a centralized online clearinghouse for Wisconsin small businesses, requiring the state Department to compile and publish key information on a single website. The clearinghouse will include details on government contract bidding opportunities, economic development programs, business training/events, licensing/permit requirements, and tax/fee obligations from state and local agencies. This bill directly affects Wisconsin small businesses by making it easier to access government resources and compliance information in one place. The clearinghouse will be coordinated with agencies like the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Revenue.

Maddy summaryAB 809 prohibits state and local government funding for investigations into pregnancy outcomes (like miscarriage or stillbirth) when treating the person as a crime suspect. It bans law enforcement from investigating individuals as suspects solely due to their own pregnancy outcomes, requiring consent before investigating cases involving others' pregnancy outcomes. The bill exempts women from civil or criminal liability for pregnancy outcomes (including miscarriage, abortion, or stillbirth) and amends statutes to clarify that abortion-related legal protections apply. It directly affects women experiencing pregnancy outcomes, law enforcement agencies, and health services (with limited exceptions for health investigations). The bill creates new legal protections by restricting investigations and eliminating liability for pregnancy-related events.

Maddy summaryAB 805 creates a program to reimburse corn farmers for seed coating that deters sandhill cranes from eating corn seeds. Eligible farmers must have produced at least $6,000 in gross farm revenue the previous year and plant corn on agricultural land. The program covers up to 50% of seed coating costs (max $6,250 per farmer per planting season), prioritizing farmers with prior crane permits, recent reimbursement, or documented vulnerability to crane damage. It is funded by a $1.875 million annual appropriation for two years to cover reimbursements and administrative costs.

Maddy summaryAB 811 creates a $25 million annual grant program for businesses opening new locations or expanding into vacant commercial spaces, administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). It directly affects eligible businesses in commercial districts, continuing a similar program from June 2023 while explicitly excluding nonprofit organizations from receiving grants. The bill allocates $25 million for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to fund these "Main Street Bounceback Grants" through WEDC's existing grant framework. Key provisions require WEDC to follow eligibility rules nearly identical to the prior "Wisconsin Tomorrow" program, focusing on revitalizing underutilized commercial properties.

Maddy summaryAB 797 creates a $2.5 million grant program to help counties, cities, and towns test privately owned wells for water quality and map well locations. It provides up to $10,000 per grant for well testing, groundwater assessment, and geologic studies, plus separate grants for county health departments to offer well-testing education. The bill also requires municipalities with private wells to inform residents about testing importance and exempts the department from standard emergency rule procedures for implementing this program. The law appropriates funds for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support these concrete actions.

Maddy summaryAB 804 establishes two new grant programs: a $200,000 annual "Farm to Fork" grant for non-school entities (like businesses, hospitals, or universities with cafeterias) to connect local farms with food service operations, and a $250,000 annual "Farm to School" grant for school districts to expand local food sourcing. The bill prioritizes innovative proposals, high-need schools (where many students qualify for free/reduced meals), and projects supporting value-added agricultural products. It requires the Agriculture Department to administer the grants, provide annual legislative reports, and create rules for implementation. The legislation also adds one dedicated staff position to manage the Farm to Fork program.

Maddy summaryAB 800 standardizes procedures for handling absentee ballots in Wisconsin municipalities. It requires absentee ballots to be delivered to election inspectors or the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers by 8 p.m. on election day, clarifying that in some communities, ballots must be canvassed by a designated board rather than at polling places. The bill also specifies that municipal clerks must securely handle ballots in carrier envelopes and ensures military and overseas voters can submit applications up to election day. These changes directly affect municipal clerks and election officials managing absentee voting processes.

Maddy summaryAB 796 creates a $5 million annual grant program to help nonprofit religious organizations improve security. It directly affects religious groups facing bias-motivated threats or crime, prioritizing those at higher risk. Grants can cover physical security upgrades (like surveillance or fencing), staff/volunteer training, or emergency planning. No single organization can receive more than $500,000 per biennium, though umbrella groups may apply for multiple members. The program is administered by the Department of Military Affairs with additional staffing.

Maddy summaryAB 754 requires most health insurance plans and disability policies covering preventive care to cover home test kits for sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), including HIV. It mandates coverage when a healthcare provider deems the test medically necessary and orders it directly or through a standing order. The law defines "home test kits" as products meeting CDC or FDA guidelines, allowing self-collection outside clinical settings. This applies to plans covering primary care or preventive services, including laboratory processing costs for approved kits.

Maddy summaryAB 775 limits out-of-pocket costs for epinephrine delivery systems (like EpiPens) under specific health insurance plans. It caps cost-sharing at $60 for two doses of these devices, applying to disability insurance policies and self-insured health plans covering government entities (such as state agencies, schools, or local governments). Insurers cannot charge more than $60 per two-dose supply regardless of the device type, though they may charge less. The law takes effect for plan years beginning after its publication date.