Bill
Bill > SB94
WI SB94
Civil action for injury or damages resulting from riot or vandalism, participation in a riot, prohibiting certain limitations or restrictions on law enforcement responses to riot or vandalism activity, and providing a penalty.
summary
Introduced
03/07/2025
03/07/2025
In Committee
06/05/2025
06/05/2025
Crossed Over
06/18/2025
06/18/2025
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill makes it a Class I felony to urge, promote, organize, encourage, or instigate others to commit a riot and a Class H felony to intentionally commit an act of violence while participating in a riot. The bill defines a XriotY as a public disturbance that involves an act of violence, as part of an assembly of at least three persons, that constitutes a clear and present danger of property damage or personal injury or a threat of an act of violence, as part of an assembly of at least three persons having the ability of immediate execution of the threat, if the threatened action constitutes a clear and present danger of property damage or personal injury. The bill establishes a civil cause of action for any person who suffers injury or loss to person or property as a result of conduct that violates the criminal prohibitions on vandalism or participation in a riot. The bill allows a person to bring a civil action against a person who committed the violation and against any person or organization that provided material support or resources with the intent LRB-2144/1 SWB:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 94 that such support or resources would be used to perpetrate the offense. The person bringing the action may obtain an order requiring the offender to fix or repair the damage caused to the person[s property if certain requirements set forth in the bill are met. The bill also prohibits any government official with authority over any law enforcement agency or law enforcement officers from limiting or restricting the authority of the agency to have its officers, or certain officers, arrest or detain individuals involved in a riot or vandalism activity or take action to quell a riot or vandalism activity. The bill also prohibits any government official with authority over any law enforcement agency from limiting or restricting the authority of law enforcement officers, or certain designated law enforcement officers, to arrest or detain individuals involved in a riot or vandalism activity or to take action to quell a riot or vandalism activity. Finally, the bill provides that no government official, law enforcement agency, or law enforcement officer may discharge, demote, reassign, or take any punitive action against any employee because the employee made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing regarding a violation of the prohibitions on government officials set forth in the bill. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.
AI Summary
This bill establishes new legal provisions related to riots and vandalism, creating criminal penalties and civil action opportunities. Specifically, the bill defines a "riot" as a public disturbance involving at least three persons that includes an act of violence or a credible threat of violence that poses a clear and present danger to property or personal safety. It makes it a Class I felony to incite a riot (which means to urge, promote, organize, encourage, or instigate others to riot) and a Class H felony to intentionally commit an act of violence while participating in a riot. The bill also creates a civil cause of action that allows individuals who suffer injury or property loss due to riot or vandalism to sue not only the direct perpetrators but also any person or organization that provided material support with the intent of helping commit the offense. Furthermore, the bill prohibits government officials from restricting law enforcement's ability to arrest, detain, or take action to stop riot or vandalism activities, and protects law enforcement employees from punitive actions if they participate in investigations related to such restrictions. The legislation aims to provide stronger legal tools for preventing and responding to riot-related activities by establishing both criminal penalties and civil remedies for those affected by such events.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (21)
Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R)*,
Dan Feyen (R)*,
Steve Nass (R)*,
Cory Tomczyk (R)*,
Van Wanggaard (R)*,
Elijah Behnke (R),
Lindee Brill (R),
Barbara Dittrich (R),
Robert Donovan (R),
Joy Goeben (R),
Rick Gundrum (R),
Brent Jacobson (R),
Dan Knodl (R),
Dave Maxey (R),
Clint Moses (R),
Dave Murphy (R),
Jeff Mursau (R),
Jerry O'Connor (R),
Shae Sortwell (R),
Ron Tusler (R),
Chuck Wichgers (R),
Last Action
Received from Senate (on 06/19/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
Document Type | Source Location |
---|---|
State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb94 |
SB94 ROCP for Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/senate/judiciary_and_public_safety/1923028.pdf |
BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB94.pdf |
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