Rep. Ryan Spaude

Maddy summaryAB 912 amends Wisconsin law to allow audiovisual recordings of children's statements as evidence in court for children aged 12 to 18 (previously 12-16). The bill requires recordings to begin before the child's statement is made and directs courts to consider factors like the child's age and the interests of justice when admitting such evidence. It specifically raises the upper age limit for admissibility from 16 to 18 years old. This change directly affects children involved in legal cases where their recorded statements might be used as evidence. The bill does not alter how recordings are made but adjusts the eligibility criteria and court considerations.

Maddy summaryAB 976 clarifies how tax credits for low-income housing projects are claimed by business entities. It modifies rules so partnerships, limited liability companies, and tax-option corporations cannot claim the credit directly; instead, their members or shareholders (including insurers who are part of such entities) may claim it based on the entity's eligible costs. The bill requires entities to calculate and distribute credit amounts to members/shareholders, with specific allocation rules for ownership interests or written agreements. It directly affects housing developers, investors, and insurers involved in low-income housing projects financed through tax-exempt bonds in the state. The changes standardize credit allocation across multiple tax code sections without altering eligibility or credit amounts.

Maddy summaryAB 774 prohibits health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers from requiring step therapy protocols for certain cancer treatments. Specifically, it bans forcing patients to try less expensive drugs first when a doctor prescribes a drug approved by the FDA for metastatic cancer (cancer that has spread) or a cancer-associated condition (symptoms or side effects from cancer treatment that worsen health if untreated). The ban applies only when the drug meets three evidence-based criteria: FDA approval, alignment with best medical practices, and support from peer-reviewed research. This directly affects patients with advanced cancer and their insurers, ensuring access to prescribed treatments without unnecessary barriers.

Maddy summaryAB 765 creates a state bonding program to fund lead service line replacement for private water users connected to public water systems. It authorizes up to $274.95 million in state bonds (increasing previous limits) and allocates $200 million from bond proceeds to provide forgivable loans covering up to 50% of replacement costs for homeowners. The bill directly affects private residents with lead pipes by reducing their financial burden for replacing hazardous infrastructure. Key provisions include the new bonding authority and the specific allocation for forgivable loans to address public health concerns related to lead in drinking water.

Maddy summaryAB 710 expands Wisconsin's child care subsidy program (Wisconsin Shares) to include tribal-regulated child care providers operating under tribal authority in Indian country. It creates a new eligibility category for providers who meet federal child care standards, have a tribal regulatory attestation, and have an agreement with the state. This change allows families to choose these tribal providers when accessing state-funded child care assistance, directly affecting tribal child care programs and families seeking subsidized care. The bill modifies existing statutes to ensure these providers can receive state payments under the same terms as other licensed providers.

Maddy summaryAB 708 extends the lifespan of tax incremental districts (TIDs) used for housing improvements by up to three years after a city pays off project costs. It directly affects cities that have established TIDs for housing development, allowing them to continue using tax increment financing beyond the district's original expiration. The bill requires cities to submit extension resolutions to the Department of Revenue and obtain joint review board approval for extensions longer than one year. This change aims to provide more flexibility for cities to complete housing projects without losing access to dedicated funding streams.

Maddy summaryAB 760 raises the monetary threshold for certain small claims court cases from $5,000 to $10,000. It directly affects individuals filing third-party complaints, personal injury claims, or tort actions with claims of $10,000 or less. The bill changes the statute to allow these specific claim types to be handled in small claims court instead of regular civil court when the amount sought is $10,000 or less. This policy change simplifies access to a faster, less formal court process for qualifying cases.

Maddy summaryAB 706 modifies Wisconsin's tax increment district (TID) rules by reducing the local tax base limit from 18% to 12% of a city's total taxable value for certain districts. It restricts residential use in mixed-use TID projects to 35% of the district area and expands allowable TID spending to include park development costs. These changes directly affect cities and towns operating TIDs by altering how they calculate tax base limits and fund eligible projects. The bill aims to clarify TID management while controlling tax impacts on non-district areas.

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 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.