Rep. Chuck Wichgers

Maddy summaryAB 913 creates a new tax break for Wisconsin National Guard and Reserve members by allowing a subtraction from taxable income for specific military pay. It covers basic pay received during federally required drills and field exercises (for National Guard) and inactive-duty training compensation (for Reserves), as defined under federal law. This applies to tax years starting after December 31, 2025, and fills a gap in current law, which previously only provided similar tax breaks for active duty or certain call-ups. The bill directly affects Wisconsin residents serving in these military roles who receive this type of compensation.

Maddy summaryAJR 133 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to suspend any state agency rule through a joint resolution approved by a majority of all elected members in both houses. If enacted, the legislature could immediately halt the enforcement of agency rules (for a set period or indefinitely) without requiring governor approval or following standard lawmaking procedures. The suspension would make the rule unenforceable during the suspension period, shifting authority from agencies to the legislature regarding rule implementation. This change would require voter approval after legislative passage, as it modifies the state constitution.

Maddy summaryAJR 10 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would amend Article I, Section 18 to prohibit state or local governments from closing places of worship or banning gatherings there during a state of emergency (including public health emergencies). If approved by voters, this change would directly affect religious congregations and local officials responsible for emergency orders. The amendment would require that places of worship be treated equally with other businesses during emergencies, preventing restrictions specifically targeting them. This is a voter-approved constitutional change, not a law, and is currently awaiting submission to the November 2026 ballot.

Maddy summaryAJR 102 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit state government entities from discriminating against or giving preferential treatment to individuals or groups based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. It specifically applies to public employment, education, contracting, and administration by state or local government. If approved by voters in November 2026, it would add Section 27 to the state constitution. This is a second consideration of the same proposal previously introduced as AJR 109 in 2023. The amendment requires voter ratification and is not yet law.

Maddy summaryAB 1032 allows the Natural Resources Board to sell state-owned lands adjacent to or within one mile of commercial egg farms. This policy change directly affects state property under the Department of Natural Resources and commercial egg farms by enabling land sales to create buffers against avian flu spread. The key provision authorizes the board to sell these specific properties without requiring additional approvals under existing statutes. The bill aims to prevent disease transmission through strategic land management, focusing on concrete property transactions rather than broader regulatory changes. It passed the legislature on February 19, 2026, and is now awaiting the governor's signature.

Maddy summaryAB 955 limits state agencies' ability to interpret laws by requiring explicit statutory permission before creating rules that interpret statutes they enforce. It adds a new section (227.11(1m)) stating agencies cannot interpret laws without specific legislative authorization. The bill also repeals existing language that allowed broader agency interpretation authority and reorganizes related sections. This directly affects all state agencies that develop rules for enforcing or administering laws, ensuring they cannot interpret statutes without clear prior legislative permission. The change focuses on clarifying rule-making boundaries, not altering policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryAB 750 amends state rules for admitting students to technical college programs. It establishes new admission priority rules for in-state residents versus non-residents (Section 38.22(5)(a)) and creates two new options for community college districts (Section 38.22(5)(b)). Districts may now reserve program spaces for students facing hardship or participating in school-to-work programs, or for protective services training like law enforcement, firefighting, or emergency medical services. These changes give colleges flexibility to address specific student needs and workforce preparation goals within existing admission frameworks.

Maddy summaryAB 793 creates a new Office of Internal Audit within Wisconsin's Department of Employee Trust Funds. This office, led by an internal auditor appointed directly by the Employee Trust Funds Board (outside regular civil service), will independently monitor the department's handling of public employee trust fund assets. The auditor will review all department activities related to the funds, ensure compliance with laws and contracts, and provide risk assessments to safeguard benefits for plan participants. The bill directly affects the Department of Employee Trust Funds and its Board by establishing this dedicated oversight role.

Maddy summaryAB 100 requires public and participating private schools to designate athletic teams and sports as "males" or "females" based solely on the sex assigned at birth (as recorded on a birth certificate). It prohibits students assigned male at birth from participating on female-designated teams or using female-designated locker rooms. The bill allows students denied participation or harmed by violations to sue for relief, and gives schools legal recourse if they face penalties for following the policy. This directly affects student athletes in school sports programs and defines participation eligibility based on biological sex at birth.

Maddy summaryAB 102 requires University of Wisconsin and technical college athletic programs to designate intercollegiate and club sports teams exclusively for "males" or "females" based on birth sex as recorded on a student's birth certificate. It prohibits students assigned male at birth from participating on teams designated for females or using female-designated locker rooms. The bill creates legal remedies for female students denied participation or harmed by violations, and for institutions facing penalties for compliance. It applies to all such teams starting in the first semester after the law takes effect, overriding existing anti-discrimination protections for these specific athletic contexts.