Rep. Dave Maxey

Maddy summaryAB 327 increases the empty weight limit for utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) from 3,000 pounds to 3,500 pounds under Wisconsin law. This change directly affects UTV operators and manufacturers by expanding the regulatory threshold for vehicles classified as UTVs (excluding golf carts, dune buggies, and tracked vehicles). The bill amends two sections of statutes to reflect this updated weight limit, which applies to vehicles originally manufactured with that weight capacity and designed primarily for off-highway use. The bill passed committee recommendations in November 2025 and is currently pending further legislative action.

Maddy summaryAB 546 redefines "abortion" in state statutes to exclude specific medical procedures performed to save a pregnant woman's life when doctors make reasonable efforts to preserve both the mother's and unborn child's life. It clarifies that procedures like emergency cesareans, early inductions, or removal of dead embryos/fetuses - especially during ectopic, anembryonic, or molar pregnancies - do not count as abortion. The bill creates consistent definitions across multiple statutes (including 20.927, 48.375, and 69.01) to ensure these medical exceptions apply uniformly. It directly affects healthcare providers by clarifying legal boundaries for life-saving treatments during complex pregnancies. The bill does not restrict access to these procedures but explicitly defines them as non-abortion under the law.

Maddy summaryAB 138 modifies Wisconsin Retirement System rules for retirees who return to work. It specifically allows former jailers and protective occupation retirees (who previously received retirement benefits) to opt out of rejoining the retirement system if they are rehired by a participating employer within 75 days of leaving their prior job. To qualify, they must not have a pre-existing agreement to return and must formally decline re-enrollment using a department-provided form. This change applies only to those retiring from these specific roles and does not alter other retirement eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryAB 10 creates a sales and use tax exemption for gun safes specifically designed to store firearms, excluding general gun storage items like locking cabinets or racks. This exemption applies to buyers purchasing qualifying safes, meaning they won’t pay state sales or use tax on these items. The bill amends tax statutes to explicitly list gun safes under exempt categories, ensuring retailers don’t need to collect tax for these purchases. It directly affects consumers and retailers selling purpose-built gun safes, with no impact on other firearm-related products or tax policies.

Maddy summaryAB 493 authorizes community solar programs where multiple households share power generated from a single solar facility. It requires municipalities to approve new community solar projects with a two-thirds vote of their governing body (unless zoning allows it automatically), limits facility size to 5 megawatts (or 20 megawatts on previously developed sites like parking lots), and ensures no single subscriber controls more than 40% of the facility’s output. This directly affects local governments (through zoning rules), solar developers ("subscriber organizations"), and residents who join these programs. The bill defines key terms like "community solar facility" and "subscriber" to standardize program rules and interconnection with utilities.

Maddy summaryAB 377 establishes English as the official language of the state and requires all state agencies and local governmental units (like cities, counties, and school districts) to conduct official communications in English. It allows these entities to use artificial intelligence or machine translation tools instead of hiring human interpreters for individuals with language barriers, while still requiring interpreters in specific cases like health/safety emergencies or legal proceedings. The bill permits limited exceptions for non-English communication (e.g., for teaching languages, protecting criminal defendants' rights, or complying with federal law), but prohibits restricting private language use for non-governmental purposes. This law directly affects government operations and individuals seeking services who need language assistance.

Maddy summaryAB 362 requires all public school districts and charter schools to create written cardiac emergency response plans for cardiac emergencies occurring on school property or at school-sponsored athletic events, starting in the 2026-27 school year. These plans must include core elements like designated response teams, clear AED placement and maintenance, annual drills, and staff training in CPR and AED use following American Heart Association guidelines. Schools must also ensure coaches at athletic events hold current CPR/AED certification and that AEDs are accessible at all athletic venues. The law directly affects all K-12 schools and their staff, aiming to improve immediate response to cardiac emergencies.

Maddy summaryAB 640 sets a maximum age of 75 for new appointments or elections to the state supreme court or trial court judgeships. It prohibits anyone turning 75 or older from being appointed or elected to these positions on or after their 75th birthday. The bill excludes temporary reserve judges appointed under separate statutes. This directly affects future judicial candidates and appointments, not current judges.

Maddy summaryAB 38 clarifies that cash tips received by employees from customers are taxable income under state law. It creates a new definition (71.05(1)(j)) specifying that "tips" include cash tips paid directly by customers, and amends multiple tax calculation sections to explicitly include "tips" in income categories for nonresident and part-year resident taxpayers. The bill updates formulas to ensure tips are counted when calculating taxable income for apportionment purposes, affecting tipped employees (like servers) and nonresidents earning tips in the state. This change ensures cash tips are treated consistently with other wages for tax purposes, without creating new exemptions.

Maddy summaryAB 521 simplifies the process for sign owners to remove vegetation obstructing highway advertising signs. It defines a "viewing window" as a 500-foot zone along the highway where signs must remain visible, and creates a streamlined permit system for trimming or removing obstructing vegetation within this area. Existing sign owners with permits issued since 2012 can now maintain signs without new approvals (after notifying the department 15 days in advance), while new applicants must follow a 60-day permit review process. The bill also requires sign owners to remove stumps and dispose of all vegetation removed, and to compensate the department for trees (2+ inches in diameter) removed from designated "living snow fences."