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Bill > SB147
WI SB147
Interpreter action by telephone or live audiovisual means in civil or criminal proceedings.
summary
Introduced
03/21/2025
03/21/2025
In Committee
05/27/2025
05/27/2025
Crossed Over
05/15/2025
05/15/2025
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Under current law, in any civil or criminal proceeding other than a trial, a court may permit an interpreter to act by telephone or live audiovisual means. This bill removes the exclusion for trials, so that an interpreter may act by telephone or live audiovisual means in any civil or criminal proceeding.
AI Summary
This bill modifies two existing Wisconsin statutes (807.14 and 967.09) to allow interpreters to participate by telephone or live audiovisual means during trials in both civil and criminal proceedings. Currently, interpreters were permitted to use remote communication methods for court proceedings, but trials were explicitly excluded from this provision. By removing the phrase "other than trial" from both statutes, the bill expands the flexibility for court interpreters to provide language assistance remotely during all types of court proceedings, including trials. This change could potentially improve access to interpretation services, reduce costs associated with in-person interpretation, and help courts manage scheduling and resource challenges, especially in situations where in-person interpretation might be difficult or expensive. The bill applies to both civil and criminal court proceedings, ensuring that parties who need language interpretation can receive these services through telephone or video technology during any stage of a legal process.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (25)
Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R)*,
Cory Tomczyk (R)*,
Van Wanggaard (R)*,
Scott Allen (R),
David Armstrong (R),
Lindee Brill (R),
Barbara Dittrich (R),
Robert Donovan (R),
Cindi Duchow (R),
Rick Gundrum (R),
Joel Kitchens (R),
Dan Knodl (R),
Dave Maxey (R),
Dave Murphy (R),
Jeff Mursau (R),
Adam Neylon (R),
Todd Novak (R),
Jerry O'Connor (R),
Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D),
William Penterman (R),
Jim Piwowarczyk (R),
Jessie Rodriguez (R),
Shae Sortwell (R),
David Steffen (R),
Chuck Wichgers (R),
Last Action
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules (on 05/27/2025)
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/sb147 |
| Analysis - LC Amendment Memo | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/lcamendmentmemos/2025/REG/SB147.pdf |
| SB147 ROCP for Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/senate/judiciary_and_public_safety/1917909.pdf |
| Senate Amendment 1 | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/SB147-SA1.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB147.pdf |
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