Rep. Steve Doyle

Maddy summaryAJR 34 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Wisconsin's child support program on its 50th anniversary, specifically recognizing January 4, 2025 - the anniversary of the federal law that established the program. It highlights the program's impact, noting it served 341,000 children and collected $841 million in fiscal year 2023 while ranking third nationally in support collection. The resolution commends the work of county, state, and tribal child support agencies and their staff, who help enforce support orders, connect parents to services, and promote financial security for families. As a joint resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the program's role in reducing child poverty and supporting Wisconsin families.

Maddy summaryAB 254 amends statutes governing the Chippewa and Flambeau Improvement Company’s regulation of water reservoirs. It defines "capital invested" as paid-in capital plus bond par value and sets rules for tolls charged to owners/operators of water power facilities on the Chippewa or Flambeau rivers that benefit from the reservoirs. Tolls must cover operational costs, taxes, depreciation, a 6% annual return on capital invested, and working capital, but cannot fund original reservoir construction. The bill requires semiannual toll adjustments based on benefits received and grants the state the right to take over the reservoirs at fair market value without compensating for business goodwill.

Maddy summaryAJR 72 is a ceremonial resolution that officially recognizes June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth Day in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or policies but formally declares this date to honor the historical significance of Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States following Union troops' arrival in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. The resolution acknowledges Wisconsin’s longstanding Juneteenth observance, including Milwaukee’s celebration beginning in 1971. As a symbolic gesture, it has no legal effect beyond promoting awareness of this historical milestone.

Maddy summaryAB 317 creates the Child Care Quality Improvement Program to provide monthly payments to certified child care providers, including licensed centers and school-based programs. It allocates $221 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and $220 million for 2026-27 from the Department of Children and Families budget. The program grants the department rule-making authority to set eligibility, payment amounts, and usage requirements for recipients. The bill repeals outdated sections of existing law and updates funding allocations for quality improvement activities.

Maddy summaryAB 288 prohibits retailers and plant providers from labeling plants as "beneficial to pollinators" if those plants were treated with systemic insecticides that carry pollinator warnings on their labels (such as "bee protection" statements or environmental hazard notices). The law directly affects businesses selling plants at retail or to end users, requiring them to avoid misleading claims about pollinator benefits when insecticides with specific warnings were used. Key provisions define "systemic insecticide" and require that labeling aligns with the insecticide's actual pollinator safety status. This creates a clear policy change: plants treated with pollinator-risk insecticides cannot be marketed as pollinator-friendly, aiming to prevent consumer confusion about environmental impact.

Maddy summaryAB 355 removes specific restrictions on abortion access and requires certain health insurance plans to cover abortion care without cost-sharing. It directly affects patients seeking abortion services and health insurers offering coverage under specified plans. Key provisions eliminate mandatory waiting periods and counseling requirements, while mandating coverage for abortion services in state-regulated health insurance plans. This policy change aims to improve access by removing regulatory barriers and ensuring insurance coverage.

Maddy summaryAB 250 allocates $9 million annually from the Veterans Affairs budget to fund war memorials in populous counties. Memorial boards must provide a full matching contribution to request funds, which can cover operations, maintenance, construction, or facility improvements. Boards must report annually to the legislature on fund usage and remaining balances. The bill creates a formal process for memorial boards to access state funding while requiring transparency in how funds are spent.

Maddy summaryAB 189 creates an optional process for finalizing divorce or legal separation without a court hearing. It allows couples to use a detailed affidavit instead of appearing in court if both are represented by lawyers or trained mediators, have signed a court-approved settlement (stipulation), and submit an affidavit confirming residency, disclosures, no domestic abuse history, and understanding of divorce terms. The affidavit must address specific requirements like public assistance status, military service, and prior abuse cases, and waives the right to a hearing. This applies only to couples who meet all conditions and choose this streamlined option, directly affecting those seeking uncontested divorces. The bill modifies existing statutes to enable this process while maintaining legal safeguards.

Maddy summaryAB 435 restructures funding and governance for Wisconsin's Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 conservation program. It establishes a new Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Board with specific member appointments (including assembly/senate representatives, environmental groups, tribal representatives, and outdoor recreation stakeholders) and creates two new grant programs: one for nonprofit conservation organizations ($5 million annually) and a tribal co-management program ($3 million annually). The bill also adjusts debt limits for the program and modifies how funds are allocated from the capital improvement fund to support state parks, local recreation, and boating facilities. This directly affects conservation organizations, tribal governments, local municipalities, and outdoor recreation businesses receiving program funding.

Maddy summaryThe bill title claims to address LLC filing fees, but the provided text actually amends a statute about student enrollment requirements (183.0122), not business fees. The bill text specifies that a student must be enrolled in a postsecondary institution, public/private/tribal high school, or home-based private program to qualify for certain benefits. It does not change LLC filing fees or affect business entities. The mismatch between the title and the actual content in the bill text makes it impossible to summarize the LLC fee aspect as described. This appears to be an error in the provided bill text.