Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk

Maddy summaryAB 662 prohibits Wisconsin state agencies from contracting with business entities primarily based in designated "foreign countries of concern" (like China), controlled by Chinese government entities, or subsidiaries of such entities. Contractors must certify they are not prohibited entities and ensure goods/services aren’t sourced from them. Violations trigger significant penalties, including fines up to twice the contract value or $250,000, plus a 5-year contracting ban. An exemption exists if the goods/services are unavailable elsewhere and approved by the Department of Administration.

Maddy summaryAB 211 creates a new exemption in Wisconsin law allowing "tobacco bars" to operate without adhering to the state's public smoking ban. To qualify, these establishments must have opened after June 4, 2009, allow only cigar and pipe smoking (not cigarettes), not be classified as food establishments, display clear signage about smoking, prohibit minors under 21 from entering, require employee acknowledgment of secondhand smoke exposure, and demonstrate adequate air filtration in licensing applications. The bill directly affects tobacco bars meeting these specific criteria, enabling them to operate with smoking permitted while imposing strict operational requirements. It does not change the general public smoking ban but establishes a defined exception for this narrow category of businesses.

Maddy summaryAB 673 bans medical and research facilities receiving state or federal funds from using genetic software or sequencers developed by foreign adversaries (as defined by federal regulations). It also prohibits storing human genome data of state residents in foreign adversary countries, with exceptions for certain clinical trials. The law applies to facilities, companies, and nonprofits handling genetic data, requiring them to keep such data inaccessible to foreign adversaries. Violations carry a $10,000 penalty per offense, enforced by the state Attorney General.

Maddy summaryAB 450 creates a new statute (101.02(26)) specifying that Wisconsin’s commercial building codes (Chapters SPS 361-366) apply to public buildings, structures, or places of employment when their plans are submitted to the state department or a local government authorized to review such plans under statute 101.12. It explicitly excludes Section SPS 361.03(7) from applying to these public projects. This bill directly affects public construction projects requiring building plan reviews by state or local authorities, effective August 1, 2025, with local jurisdictions required to comply by April 1, 2026. The change clarifies code applicability without altering the underlying building safety standards.

Maddy summaryAB 518 allows private schools participating in state parental choice programs (like voucher systems) to hire substitute teachers who hold a state-issued substitute teaching permit. Currently, these schools must employ teachers with full teaching licenses or bachelor's degrees. The bill creates a specific exception to that requirement for substitute permit holders at eligible schools. This directly affects private schools in choice programs and substitute teachers seeking positions in those settings.

Maddy summaryAB 674 prohibits health insurance plans and the Medical Assistance program from covering organ transplants or related care if the organ was transplanted in or originated from a country designated by the department as participating in forced organ harvesting. The bill applies to disability insurance, self-insured health plans, and Medical Assistance. It defines "forced organ harvesting" as removal via coercion, deception, or abuse of power, and requires the department to designate affected countries. Life-saving post-transplant care remains covered even if the transplant itself is prohibited under the bill.

Maddy summaryAB 614 clarifies teachers' authority to manage classrooms and addresses student behavior incidents. It defines key terms like "disruptive behavior" and "violent incident," requiring teachers to immediately notify school principals when removing a student for safety concerns or classroom disruptions. The bill mandates that students can only return to a classroom after removal if a behavior intervention plan is in place for serious incidents, and it prohibits school districts from retaliating against teachers who enforce classroom rules or report disruptive behavior. This directly affects teachers (by protecting their actions), students (through new placement rules), and school administrators (by requiring specific procedures for student removals). The bill passed the Assembly on November 19, 2025, with 54 votes in favor.

Maddy summaryAB 248 creates a new statutory section (17.03(10m)) clarifying how vacancies are handled in appointive state offices with fixed terms. It defines "appointive state office" to include positions in state departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and authorities (but excludes the legislature and courts). The bill specifies that when an appointee's fixed term expires, the vacancy is filled under existing procedures - without changing current rules. This is a procedural clarification, not a policy change, affecting state government appointees but not altering how vacancies are currently managed.

Maddy summaryAB 918 amends Wisconsin statute 118.019(2m)(e) to require public schools to include specific topics in human growth and development curriculum. The bill mandates instruction on adoption, parental responsibility, and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage for adults and children. This directly affects K-12 schools developing or updating their human growth curriculum. The change adds these three subjects to the existing required content without altering other curriculum elements. The bill was introduced in January 2026 and referred to the Children and Families committee.

Maddy summaryAB 923 creates a civil legal pathway for victims of sexual extortion (defined under statute 942.095) to sue for physical injury, emotional distress, or property loss. It allows victims, their parents/guardians (if minors), or estate representatives (in cases involving suicide linked to the extortion) to file lawsuits regardless of any criminal case outcome. The bill includes strong privacy protections, permitting plaintiffs to use initials instead of full names in court documents and allowing courts to issue orders shielding victims from public disclosure or unnecessary examinations. If successful, plaintiffs can recover damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, attorney fees, and other litigation costs.