Rep. Cindi Duchow

Maddy summaryAB 649 increases state funding for school district consolidation efforts in Wisconsin for fiscal year 2026. It provides $250,000 for feasibility studies on consolidation or whole grade sharing (where schools share grades), $2.7 million in grants for districts that adopt whole grade sharing agreements, and $3 million in supplemental aid for consolidated districts with higher tax rates than their former districts. These funds are added to existing state appropriations under Section 20.865(4)(a). The bill directly affects Wisconsin school districts considering or implementing consolidation or shared-grade arrangements, offering financial support for planning and operational costs.

Maddy summaryAB 678 requires Wisconsin school boards to adopt a policy by July 2026 governing appropriate communication between school employees and volunteers (acting in their official capacity) and students. The policy must cover all communication methods and content, both during and outside school hours, and specify consequences for violations. It directly affects school district staff, volunteers, and students by establishing clear standards for professional interactions. The bill creates a new statutory requirement (120.12(30)) without dictating specific communication rules, leaving implementation to individual school boards.

Maddy summaryAB 645 creates grants to help school district consortia (groups of two or more school boards) assess the feasibility of merging districts or sharing grade levels. It allows reimbursement of up to $25,000 per group for costs like financial analyses and population studies related to consolidation or sharing agreements. To qualify, a group must provide proof that all member school boards have approved resolutions supporting the study. The bill does not fund actual consolidation but provides initial support for planning.

Maddy summaryAB 193 ratifies Wisconsin's participation in the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, an agreement allowing respiratory care practitioners licensed in one participating state to practice in Wisconsin without obtaining a new license. This bill amends Wisconsin statutes to recognize "respiratory care compact privileges," enabling out-of-state practitioners to work across state lines under the compact's terms. It affects respiratory care practitioners seeking to work in Wisconsin from other compact states, streamlining licensure for those already certified elsewhere. The bill does not create new practice standards but facilitates cross-state practice through existing interstate agreement terms.

Maddy summaryAB 185 modifies property tax exemption rules to expand eligibility for nonprofit theaters. It creates a new provision (70.11 (29m)(b)) requiring qualifying theaters to be operated by an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit (with a determination letter by October 1, 1990), use all property for theater arts, and have a total seating capacity of at least 240 persons. The bill repeals the previous exemption section (70.11 (29p)) and applies to property tax assessments starting January 1, 2025. This change directly affects nonprofit theaters meeting these specific criteria, potentially reducing their property tax burden.

Maddy summaryAB 97 extends health coverage under Wisconsin's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance) for postpartum women from 60 days to 365 days after pregnancy, directly affecting pregnant and postpartum women who qualify for the program. The bill changes eligibility rules to ensure coverage continues without regard to income changes during this extended period. It also adds a provision allowing women with family incomes above 300% of the poverty line to qualify if their income is spent on medical care or health insurance premiums. This policy update aims to provide longer-term health coverage for new mothers during a critical postpartum period.

Maddy summaryAB 263 requires disability insurance policies and self-insured health plans to cover diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental screenings for individuals at increased breast cancer risk, as defined by National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines or breast density (per American College of Radiology standards). It mandates coverage without copays or deductibles for these specific screenings, including diagnostic exams for abnormalities and supplemental screenings for high-risk patients. The bill applies to all affected plans, ensuring coverage regardless of symptoms and prohibiting cost-sharing for these services. This directly impacts patients with dense breast tissue, family history, or other risk factors, as well as the insurers and employers offering these health plans.

Maddy summaryAB 274 establishes a 7-year expiration cycle for Wisconsin administrative rules, requiring state agencies to formally request "readoption" before rules expire. It directly affects state agencies that create and maintain administrative rules, mandating they submit detailed notices to the legislature with specific information about each rule's purpose, legal basis, and compliance status. Key provisions include new requirements for readoption notices (including statements on rule compliance), a process for legislative committees to review these notices, and a schedule for expiring rules that were in effect before 2025. The bill also creates a rules procedures manual to guide agencies on drafting and legislative review. These changes streamline rule expiration and renewal while increasing transparency for lawmakers.

Maddy summaryAB 693 allows hunters in Wisconsin's designated central and southern farmland zones to offer legally taken deer to meat processing facilities in exchange for local business gift cards. The processed meat must then be provided to food distribution services (as defined by state law) that supply food pantries. This bill creates a new legal pathway for connecting hunting harvests with food assistance programs through a specific gift-card exchange mechanism. It directly affects hunters in those zones, meat processors, and food pantries receiving donated meat. The policy change streamlines how donated venison from legal hunts can reach food pantries via this structured process.

Maddy summaryAB 682 increases fees for nonresident hunting, trapping, and fishing permits and vehicle admissions in Wisconsin. The bill raises specific fee amounts across multiple categories, such as increasing the annual deer license fee from $197.25 to $237.25 and the annual small game license fee from $87.25 to $107.25. These fee increases will take effect on March 1, 2026, and primarily affect nonresidents who wish to engage in hunting, fishing, or trapping activities within Wisconsin. The bill does not introduce new programs but adjusts existing fee structures for nonresident users.