Bill
Bill > SB394
summary
Introduced
08/25/2025
08/25/2025
In Committee
10/22/2025
10/22/2025
Crossed Over
11/18/2025
11/18/2025
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Under current law, it is a Class I felony to damage or graffiti certain vehicles, highways, common carrier property, grand juror property, and state-owned historical property. This bill makes it a Class I felony to damage or graffiti any structure, plaque, statue, painting, or other monument of commemorative or historical significance that is on public property or is maintained by the state or any county or municipality. 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 expands existing criminal penalties to protect historical and commemorative property from damage and graffiti. Currently, damaging state-owned historical property is a Class I felony, but this legislation broadens the scope to include any structure, plaque, statue, painting, or monument of commemorative or historical significance that is either on publicly owned land or maintained by the state, county, or municipality. The bill modifies two sections of Wisconsin statutes (943.01 and 943.017) to replace the term "state-owned" with "publicly owned" and adds language explicitly protecting historical monuments. By doing so, the bill provides stronger legal protection for a wider range of historically significant properties, ensuring that vandalism or destruction of these sites can be prosecuted as a Class I felony, which typically carries significant criminal penalties. The legislative change reflects a broader commitment to preserving historical and cultural heritage by creating more comprehensive legal safeguards against intentional damage.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (16)
Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R)*,
André Jacque (R)*,
Steve Nass (R)*,
Van Wanggaard (R)*,
Elijah Behnke (R),
Lindee Brill (R),
Barbara Dittrich (R),
Joy Goeben (R),
Rick Gundrum (R),
Brent Jacobson (R),
Dan Knodl (R),
Rob Kreibich (R),
Paul Melotik (R),
Dave Murphy (R),
William Penterman (R),
Chuck Wichgers (R),
Last Action
Received from Senate (on 11/19/2025)
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/sb394 |
| SB394 ROCP for Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety On 10/22/2025 | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/senate/judiciary_and_public_safety/1949585.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB394.pdf |
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