Rep. Barbara Dittrich

Maddy summaryAB 312 sets standardized operating hours for in-person absentee ballot voting at local election offices (municipal clerks) and approved alternate sites. It directly affects voters who cast absentee ballots in person and local election officials managing these locations. The bill establishes specific, consistent hours for these locations to ensure accessible voting access, replacing variable or inconsistent schedules previously set by individual jurisdictions. This is a procedural change to improve clarity and convenience for voters using in-person absentee voting.

Maddy summaryAB 394 requires all California public school driver education programs to include specific instruction on school bus safety. This directly affects students enrolled in driver education courses, ensuring they learn about bus stopping procedures and blind spots. The bill mandates that curricula cover how to safely approach stopped school buses and recognize hazards around them. These changes aim to improve student awareness and safety when near school buses.

Maddy summaryAB 447 amends Wisconsin law to clarify when courts must address objections to video testimony in certain civil cases. It removes a specific exception that previously required courts to sustain objections about expert witness testimony via video in cases under Chapters 51 or 55 of the statutes. For all such proceedings - including expert testimony objections - the bill requires courts to apply their discretion under existing rules (s. 885.56) rather than automatically sustaining objections. This change directly affects defendants and respondents in civil matters listed under the statute who may object to remote testimony.

Maddy summaryAB 523 bans the sale, installation, or distribution of counterfeit airbags (fake parts with misleading marks) and nonfunctional airbags (previously deployed, damaged, or falsely labeled as working). It directly affects auto parts sellers, installers, and repair shops by prohibiting these practices, with limited exceptions for police vehicles, dealers without knowledge of issues, and insurance-related vehicle transfers. Violations carry fines up to $5,000 or up to one year in jail per offense, escalating to felony charges for repeat offenses or if harm or death results. The bill creates specific definitions for these airbag types and establishes penalties under existing statute 347.50.

Maddy summaryAB 488 adds soybean-derived fire suppression products to the list of eligible costs for state fire safety grants. The bill specifically allows grant recipients to purchase these products using funds from existing fire suppression grant programs. This change directly affects state agencies, local fire departments, or organizations applying for these grants, making soybean-based fire suppression materials a qualifying expense.

Maddy summaryAB 395 requires school buses to be equipped with audiovisual recording devices to capture events during transportation. This mandate directly affects school districts and bus operators, who must install and maintain the devices. The key provision specifies that the recording systems must capture both audio and visual footage inside and around the bus, with data retention and privacy safeguards outlined in the bill. The legislation focuses on enhancing transparency during student transportation without specifying additional safety outcomes.

Maddy summaryAB 351 requires health insurance companies to accept virtual credit card payments for premium payments. It directly affects policyholders who pay premiums and insurers who process those payments. The key provision adds virtual credit cards as a valid payment method, alongside traditional cards or electronic transfers. This change aims to provide consumers with more flexible payment options for their health insurance coverage.

Maddy summaryAB 494 extends Wisconsin's research income tax credit carryover period from 15 to 50 taxable years. This change allows businesses that claim the credit but cannot fully use it in a single year to carry forward unused credits for up to five decades. The policy directly affects Wisconsin businesses eligible for the research tax credit, providing greater flexibility to offset future tax liabilities. The bill primarily modifies tax code sections (71.07 and 71.28) to implement this extended carryover period.

Maddy summaryAB 559 creates annual payments to municipalities and counties where energy storage facilities (like batteries or pumped hydro) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facilities are located. For energy storage facilities, payments equal $2,000 per megawatt of capacity, split between the local city/village/town and county. For LNG facilities, payments are based on 3-6 mills of the facility’s property value, also split between the local jurisdiction and county. The bill ensures these payments continue even if some facility units shut down, and funds come from a public utility account. It directly affects local governments hosting these facilities and utility companies owning them.

Maddy summaryAB 675 prohibits noncompete clauses that restrict medical practitioners from working for more than 24 consecutive months after beginning employment. It also makes all noncompete agreements void if a medical practitioner’s employment is terminated by their employer. The bill applies to physicians, physician assistants, psychologists, and advanced practice nurses (including certified nurse prescribers and registered nurses). New or modified employment contracts after the law’s effective date must comply with these restrictions.