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Bill > SB1029

WI SB1029

WI SB1029
Local regulation of landlords.

summary

Introduced
02/17/2026
In Committee
02/17/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Current law prohibits a political subdivision from enacting an ordinance that does any of the following with respect to a residential landlord: 1) prohibits or limits the landlord from obtaining or using various types of information about a tenant or prospective tenant, such as household income, occupation, court records, rental history, and credit information; 2) limits how far back in time a prospective tenant's credit information, conviction record, or previous housing may be considered by the landlord; 3) prohibits the landlord from showing a rental property to a prospective tenant, or from entering into a rental agreement for a rental property with a prospective tenant, while the current tenant is living there; 4) places requirements on the landlord relating to security deposits, earnest money, or inspections that are additional to the requirements under the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's rules; 5) limits a landlord's ability to recover for damages to a landlord's premises during the tenant's occupancy or to recover for costs for which the tenant is responsible under the lease; 6) requires a landlord to provide certain information to its tenants or to the political subdivision; 7) requires inspections of rental properties or units except upon complaint or as part of a statutorily described inspection program; 8) charges fees beyond those specified under the statutes; or 9) requires that a rental property or rental unit be certified, registered, or licensed or LRB-6379/1 MDE:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 1029 requires that a residential rental property owner register or obtain a certification or license related to owning or managing the rental property. This bill repeals these prohibitions.

AI Summary

This bill repeals a state law that currently prevents local governments, referred to as political subdivisions, from enacting ordinances that regulate residential landlords in several specific ways. Previously, local governments were prohibited from limiting a landlord's ability to gather tenant information like income, rental history, or credit reports, or dictating how far back landlords could consider this information. They also couldn't restrict landlords from showing properties or signing leases while a current tenant was still residing there. Furthermore, local governments were barred from imposing additional requirements on security deposits, earnest money, or inspections beyond those already set by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and they couldn't limit a landlord's ability to recover costs for damages or other tenant responsibilities outlined in a lease. The existing law also prevented local governments from requiring landlords to share specific information with tenants or the local government, mandating inspections except for complaint-based or specific statutory programs, charging fees beyond those allowed by statute, or requiring landlords to register, obtain certification, or get a license for their rental properties. By repealing this statute, the bill effectively allows local governments to enact their own regulations concerning these aspects of residential landlord-tenant relationships.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sponsors (34)

Last Action

Read first time and referred to Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry (on 02/17/2026)

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