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Bill > AB734
WI AB734
WI AB734Climate control in state correctional institutions and county jails and houses of correction and making an appropriation. (FE)
summary
Introduced
12/03/2025
12/03/2025
In Committee
12/03/2025
12/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires the warden or superintendent of a state correctional institution or the county sheriff or person in charge of a county jail or house of correction to ensure that the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in the state correctional institution or county jail or house of correction are in working order and to ensure that the temperature in each housing unit is not less than 68 degrees Fahrenheit and not more than 76 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. The bill also requires the warden or superintendent of a state correctional institution or the county sheriff or person in charge of a county jail or house of correction to record the temperatures in all housing facility common areas and two random cells located in substantially different areas of each housing unit on any day that the outdoor temperature is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and requires the Department of Corrections to report that temperature data to the legislature on an annual basis. The bill applies the temperature requirements in the bill to one-third of state correctional institutions on May 1, 2029; another one-third on May 1, 2031, and the final one-third of state correctional institutions and the county jails on May 1, 2035 and directs DOC to determine the order in which to install heating, ventilation, or air conditioning systems in the state correctional institutions to meet those deadlines and report that information to the legislature. This bill provides $500,000 to DOC in the 2025-26 fiscal year to complete the required report, $750,000 and 7.0 FTE positions to DOC in each year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium to support updates to correctional institution heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and provides a new $65,000,000 continuing appropriation beginning in the 2026-27 fiscal year to install and operate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in state correctional institutions as required under the bill, which sunsets on May 1, 2031. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AI Summary
This bill requires wardens and superintendents of state correctional institutions, as well as county sheriffs and jail administrators, to maintain indoor temperatures between 68 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit in all housing units and ensure that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are operational. The implementation will occur in phases, with one-third of state correctional institutions being required to meet these standards by May 1, 2029, another third by May 1, 2031, and the final third, along with county jails, by May 1, 2035. On days when outdoor temperatures are below 10 or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, these officials must record temperatures in housing facility common areas and two randomly selected cells in different areas of each housing unit. The Department of Corrections (DOC) is mandated to submit an annual report to the legislature detailing these temperature recordings. To support this initiative, the bill provides $500,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 for a preliminary report, $750,000 and seven full-time equivalent positions in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium for HVAC system updates, and a new $65 million continuing appropriation beginning in fiscal year 2026-27 to install and operate HVAC systems in state correctional institutions, with this funding sunset provision expiring on May 1, 2031.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (16)
Margaret Arney (D)*,
Mike Bare (D)*,
Ryan Clancy (D)*,
Francesca Hong (D)*,
Alex Joers (D)*,
Darrin Madison (D)*,
Supreme Moore Omokunde (D)*,
Greta Neubauer (D)*,
Christian Phelps (D)*,
Christine Sinicki (D)*,
Angela Stroud (D)*,
Shelia Stubbs (D)*,
Angelito Tenorio (D)*,
Randy Udell (D)*,
Chris Larson (D),
Kelda Roys (D),
Last Action
Fiscal estimate received (on 01/13/2026)
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/asm/bill/ab734 |
| Fiscal Note - AB734: Fiscal Estimate From DOC | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/fe/ab734/ab734_doc.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB734.pdf |
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