Rep. Alex Joers

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school districts to include education about fentanyl and the use of opioid antagonists in their official educational goals. It amends existing state law to add specific awareness of fentanyl and naloxone to the list of required drug abuse prevention topics. The changes would first apply to the 2026-27 school year, ensuring students receive information about these specific opioid-related issues as part of their health education curriculum.

Maddy summaryAB 155 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 12 in Lake Delton, Sauk County, as the "Tom Diehl Memorial Highway." The bill requires the state transportation department to officially mark this portion of the highway with the memorial name. This is a commemorative designation with no substantive policy changes or financial impact beyond signage. It directly affects the highway location in Lake Delton and honors Tom Diehl through the naming.

Maddy summaryAB 659 modifies Wisconsin's tuition benefit policies for veterans and their families. It reduces the required residency period from 5 to 3 consecutive years in the state before enrollment for veterans themselves and their dependents (spouses or children) to qualify for tuition exemptions or grants at University of Wisconsin System schools, technical colleges, or private nonprofit institutions. The bill applies to veterans who served honorably, died on duty or from service-connected disabilities, or have a 30% service-connected disability rating, and to dependents who meet the revised residency requirement. It does not change eligibility for veterans who were Wisconsin residents at the time of military entry. The policy change takes effect for the first semester or session beginning after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a grant program to help school districts build or upgrade playgrounds to be accessible for students with disabilities. It allocates $1 million for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to fund these projects. The program requires school districts to match the grant amount with their own spending on playground construction or upgrades. Only school districts can apply for these grants, and the funding is intended specifically for making playgrounds accessible to pupils with disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires unregulated pregnancy centers to obtain written authorization from individuals before disclosing their personal health information, with specific requirements for what the authorization must include and how long it remains valid. The law defines unregulated pregnancy centers as facilities that do not provide abortions or emergency contraception and are not covered by existing medical privacy laws, while also establishing rules for when information can be shared without consent, such as for legal compliance or law enforcement cooperation. Centers must notify individuals if their health data is breached and face penalties for violating these privacy protections, while also being prohibited from discriminating against people who refuse to authorize information sharing. The bill creates a new section in the state statutes to establish these requirements and specifies that the law takes effect three months after publication.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits grocery retailers from using personalized algorithmic pricing for essential consumer goods like food and household products. It requires clear disclosure when prices are set by algorithms using personal data and bans displaying such prices on electronic screens within stores. The law also prevents retailers from using consumer data to set prices that vary based on protected characteristics like race, sex, or disability. Grocery retailers face penalties of up to $2,000 per violation and could be subject to investigations and civil lawsuits from affected consumers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school boards to pay teachers for time spent on nonclassroom duties, such as grading, planning, or administrative tasks, rather than expecting this work to be done without compensation. The key provision states that no school board can require teachers to perform services outside regular classroom instruction unless they are compensated for that time. The law applies to all teachers affected by collective bargaining agreements or contracts, taking effect when their current agreements expire or are modified. This change aims to ensure teachers are paid for all professional time they spend supporting students and school operations.

Maddy summaryAB 1068 modifies Wisconsin's broadband expansion grant program to better support local governments. It repeals outdated sections and updates rules to allow cities, villages, towns, and counties to apply for grants covering broadband infrastructure construction in unserved areas and related planning costs. Key changes include enabling grants for project planning (like feasibility studies) and permitting up to 50% of a broadband director's salary to be covered by grant funds. The bill directly affects local governments seeking to expand high-speed internet access in underserved communities.

Maddy summaryAB 1075 changes the age threshold for juvenile court jurisdiction by reclassifying 17-year-olds as adults for criminal prosecution purposes. It amends definitions to define "adult" as 17 years or older (instead of 18) for investigating and prosecuting criminal violations, while keeping 17-year-olds under juvenile court jurisdiction for specific cases. The bill also creates a new funding mechanism to reimburse counties for costs related to 17-year-olds accused of crimes starting in 2026. This directly affects 17-year-olds facing criminal charges and county juvenile justice systems managing their cases.

Maddy summaryAB 953 requires retail firearm sellers to provide a clear written warning about child safety risks and a secure storage option during each sale. The warning, in block letters at least one-fourth inch tall, states that leaving a loaded firearm accessible to a child may result in fines or jail time if the child discharges it. Sellers must also provide either a lockable container designed for firearms or a trigger lock. Violating these requirements carries a penalty of up to $500 or 30 days in jail.