Legislator
Legislator > André Jacque

State Senator
André Jacque
(R) - Wisconsin
Wisconsin Senate District 01
In Office - Started: 01/07/2019

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Capitol Office

P.O. Box 7882
State Capitol, 2 E. Main St.
Madison, WI 53707
Phone: 608-266-3512

Bill Bill Name Summary Progress
SB341 The timing of equalization aid payments to school districts. (FE) Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction pays equalization aid to school districts for each school year in the following four installments: 15 percent in September, 25 percent in December, 25 percent in March, and 35 percent in June. This bill increases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in September by 2 points each school year, and decreases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in June by 2 points each school year, until the 2029-30 school year, at which time the amount of equalization aid distributed in both September and June will be 25 percent. The result is that equalization aid will be paid to school districts in four equal installments beginning in the 2029-30 school year. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-3223/1 FFK:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 341 In Committee
AJR68 Honoring Anna Mae Robertson for her extraordinary achievements and service to our nation. Relating to: honoring Anna Mae Robertson for her extraordinary achievements and service to our nation. In Committee
AJR71 Honoring Jerry Apps for his contributions to Wisconsin’s heritage. Relating to: honoring Jerry Apps for his contributions to Wisconsin[s heritage. In Committee
AB323 Ratification of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. (FE) This bill ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, which provides for the ability of a cosmetologist to become eligible to practice in other compact states. Significant provisions of the compact include the following: 1. The creation of a Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission, which includes one administrator of the cosmetology licensure authority of each member state. The commission has various powers and duties granted in the compact, including adopting bylaws, promulgating binding rules for the compact, appointing officers and hiring employees, and establishing and electing an executive committee. The commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on licensees who receive multistate licenses to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the commission and its staff. 2. The ability for a cosmetologist to obtain a Xmultistate license,Y which allows a cosmetologist who satisfies certain criteria to practice cosmetology in other member states (remote states) under the remote state[s scope of practice laws and rules of the remote state[s licensing authority. The compact specifies a number of requirements in order for a cosmetologist to obtain a multistate license, including holding an unencumbered cosmetology license in his or her primary state of residence (home state) and paying any required fees. A remote state may, in accordance with that state[s laws, take adverse action against a cosmetologist[s authorization to practice cosmetology in the remote state. If a cosmetologist[s home state takes adverse action against the cosmetologist[s license, the cosmetologist[s authorization to practice in all other member states is deactivated until all encumbrances have been removed from the home state license. 3. The ability of member states to issue subpoenas that are enforceable in other states. 4. The creation of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and the reporting of the existence of investigative information on a) cosmetologists and b) applicants denied a cosmetologist license. The compact requires information related to adverse actions to be shared with the commission and other member states, through the data system and otherwise. A member state must submit a uniform data set to the data system on all individuals to whom the compact is applicable as required by the rules of the commission. 5. Provisions regarding resolutions of disputes among member states and between member and nonmember states, including a process for termination of a state[s membership in the compact if the state defaults on its obligations under the compact. The compact becomes effective upon enactment by seven states. The compact provides that it may be amended upon enactment of an amendment by all member states. A state may withdraw from the compact by repealing the statute authorizing the compact, but the compact provides that a withdrawal does not take effect until 180 days after the enactment of that repeal. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB330 Enforcement of the federal Help America Vote Act. Current law allows any person who believes that a violation of the federal Help America Vote Act is occurring or is proposed to occur with respect to an election for national office in this state to file a written verified complaint with the Elections Commission. The person filing the complaint may request a hearing. If a hearing is requested, the commission must make a final determination regarding the merits of the complaint and issue a decision no later than 89 days after receiving the complaint. The Elections Commission has taken a position that it cannot decide a complaint brought against itself. In 2022, the Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed with that position. See, Teigen v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, 2022 WI 64, 33, 403 Wis. 2d 607, 976 N.W.2d 519. The commission recently received a letter from the federal Department of Justice asserting that such a position violates the administrative complaint requirements under the Help America Vote Act. Under this bill, if the Elections Commission receives a complaint that alleges that the commission itself is violating HAVA, the commission must make a final determination on the merits of the complaint and issue a decision. The bill prohibits the commission from dismissing the complaint simply because the complaint alleges a commission violation. The bill also provides that if a hearing is requested it must be held in open session and the oral proceedings of the hearing must be recorded by stenographic or electronic means. In addition, the Elections Commission must make a transcript of oral proceedings available for public inspection. Under current law, all records that are distributed or discussed in the course of a meeting or hearing by the commission in open session are available for public inspection. Under the bill, the commission must transmit to the complainant and all known interested parties an acknowledgment of receipt of the complaint within five business days from the date of its receipt. In addition, if the complainant requests a hearing, a hearing must be held no later than 30 days after the commission receives the complaint. The commission must also make a final determination of all complaints alleging a HAVA violation no later than 89 days after receiving the complaint, regardless of whether the complainant requests a hearing. Finally, the bill makes changes to the complaint procedures to ensure compliance with HAVA. The bill requires the Elections Commission to examine and investigate all complaints in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner, as required under HAVA. In addition, if the commission finds that a complaint has merit, the commission must take corrective action to remedy the violation alleged in the complaint. If the commission dismisses the complaint or does not grant the relief requested in the complaint, the person filing the complaint may appeal the commission[s decision to a court of competent jurisdiction. Finally, the bill requires the commission to publish the results of all dismissed complaints on its website and provide such results to the legislature and the standing committees with jurisdiction over elections. In Committee
AB328 Providing permanency plan and comments to out-of-home care providers in advance of a permanency plan review or hearing. (FE) Under current law, when a child is the subject of a child or juvenile in need of protection or services (CHIPS or JIPS) proceeding, the county social or human services department, a child welfare agency, or, if the child or juvenile is located in Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families is required to prepare a permanency plan for the child. The permanency plan is reviewed every six months either by a review panel or at a court hearing. Before the review or hearing, the agency is required to provide a copy of the plan, and any written comments that the agency receives about the plan, to the following people: the members of the review panel; the child[s parent, guardian, or legal custodian; the person representing the interests of the public; the child[s counsel, guardian ad litem, or court-appointed special advocate; and, if the child is an Indian child who is placed outside the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian, the child[s Indian custodian and tribe. This bill allows an agency to provide a copy of a child[s permanency plan and comments on the plan to a child[s out-of-home care provider in the context of a permanency review and a permanency hearing. An out-of-home care provider includes a foster parent, guardian, relative other than a parent, nonrelative in whose home a child or juvenile is placed, and operator of a group home, residential care center for children and youth, or shelter care facility in which a child or juvenile is placed. Under this bill, any information that is required to remain confidential under federal or state law must be redacted from the permanency plan before it is provided to the out-of-home care provider. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB354 The timing of equalization aid payments to school districts. (FE) Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction pays equalization aid to school districts for each school year in the following four installments: 15 percent in September, 25 percent in December, 25 percent in March, and 35 percent in June. This bill increases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in September by 2 points each school year, and decreases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in June by 2 points each school year, until the 2029-30 school year, at which time the amount of equalization aid distributed in both September and June will be 25 percent. The result is that equalization aid will be paid to school districts in four equal installments beginning in the 2029-30 school year. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB253 Jurisdiction over juveniles on federal enclaves. (FE) Under current law, land ceded by Wisconsin to the U.S. government for federal use is subject to concurrent jurisdiction to the extent that all legal and military process issued under the authority of the state may be served anywhere on such land. In general, federal officials exercise jurisdiction over matters arising on federal lands within the state, and the governor may accept an offer from an appropriate federal authority to resume state jurisdiction over such lands. Such an offer is called retrocession of jurisdiction. This bill provides that the state retains concurrent jurisdiction over matters involving juveniles on land ceded by Wisconsin to the U.S. government for federal use. The bill requires the governor to accept retrocession of jurisdiction over any matter involving a juvenile if it is offered by an appropriate federal authority. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1855/1 MJW&EHS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 253 In Committee
SB242 Required ratio of journeyworkers to apprentices in apprenticeship programs and contracts. Under current law, the Department of Workforce Development may not prescribe, enforce, or authorize a ratio of apprentices to journeyworkers for apprenticeship programs or apprentice contracts that requires more than one journeyworker for each apprentice. This bill increases the allowable ratio to one journeyworker to two apprentices. In Committee
SB235 Criminal trespass at a campground and providing a penalty. (FE) This bill prohibits persons from entering or remaining at a campground without the consent of the campground[s operator. A campground operator may provide a written request to a person who has entered or remained on the premises of a campground without the consent of the campground operator to immediately depart from the campground. A person who fails to immediately depart from a campground upon receipt of the request to depart shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and the person may be fined not more than $100 dollars or imprisoned in county jail for not more than 30 days, or both. The bill requires a law enforcement officer to arrest and take a person into custody if the law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the person has not departed from the campground after receiving the request to depart. The bill also provides that the landlord tenant laws in chapter 704, Wis. Stats. do not apply to an occupant, guest, or guest of an occupant or guest of a campground. 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. LRB-1166/1 JAM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 235 For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. Passed
SB36 An income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. (FE) This bill creates an income tax exemption for cash tips received by an employee from the customers of the employee[s employer. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-0181/1 KP:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 36 In Committee
AB38 An income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. (FE) This bill creates an income tax exemption for cash tips received by an employee from the customers of the employee[s employer. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB207 Creating a hazard mitigation revolving loan program, creating a Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) This bill authorizes the creation of a hazard mitigation revolving loan program to be administered by the Department of Military Affairs and requires the creation of a Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program to be administered by the Department of Natural Resources. Hazard mitigation revolving loan program The bill authorizes the Division of Emergency Management within DMA to enter into an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to receive federal grant funding for the purpose of establishing a hazard mitigation revolving loan program. The bill creates a separate, nonlapsible trust fund, designated as the Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund, to accept money from FEMA under the federal Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act, P.L. 116-284. Under the bill, if DMA enters into such an agreement LRB-1624/1 MJW&ZDW:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 207 with FEMA, the secretary of administration must transfer from the general fund to the Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund an amount equal to 10 percent of any money received from the federal government, and DMA must provide loans to local units of government for hazard mitigation projects in accordance with the requirements of the STORM Act. Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program The bill requires DNR to administer a revolving loan program to assist municipalities and owners of homes located on the shore of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior where the structural integrity of municipal buildings or homes is threatened by erosion of the shoreline. The bill appropriates $5,000,000 to DNR for this purpose and increases DNR[s position authorization by 0.5 FTE to administer the program. The bill requires DNR to promulgate rules to administer the program, including eligibility requirements and income limitations, and authorizes DNR to promulgate emergency rules for the period before permanent rules take effect. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB259 The notice of an investigation of child abuse or neglect or unborn child abuse provided to appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense. (FE) Under current law, if a county department of human services or social services or, in Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with DCF (collectively XagencyY) determines that a caregiver is suspected of committing or threatening abuse or neglect of a child or that a person who is not a caregiver has committed or threatened abuse of a child related to sex trafficking; cannot identify an individual who is suspected of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect of a child; or suspects abuse of an unborn child, the agency must, within 24 hours after receiving the report, initiate a diligent investigation to determine if the child or unborn child is in need of protection or services. Under this bill, if an agency knows or has reason to know that a parent of a child or unborn child with respect to whom the agency has initiated such an investigation is a member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces, or the Wisconsin national guard, the agency must provide notice of that investigation to the appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense CORRECTED COPY LRB-1859/2 EHS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 259 within 24 hours. The bill requires the notice to consist only of the name and address of the child or expectant mother and the fact that an investigation has been initiated about that child or unborn child. The bill imposes the same confidentiality requirements on such a notice as current law imposes on all reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB273 Camera monitor systems as an alternative to mirrors for commercial motor vehicles. Current law prohibits any person from operating a motor vehicle on a highway unless the vehicle is equipped with a mirror to provide a view of the roadway to the rear of the vehicle. Current regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) require commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to be equipped with mirrors on each side of vehicle positioned to provide a view of the highway to the rear and along both sides of the CMV. FMCSA has created an exemption to this requirement for CMVs equipped with a specified camera monitor system. This bill provides that a CMV may be equipped with a camera monitor system approved by FMCSA as an alternative to mirrors that would otherwise be required. In Committee
SB357 Establishing English as the official state language, use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing English language interpreters, and use of English for governmental oral and written communication and for nongovernmental purposes. (FE) Currently, Wisconsin has no official language. This bill provides that the official language of this state is English. The bill also allows any state or local governmental entity to provide a person with access to artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing an English language interpreter if the entity is authorized or required by law to appoint an interpreter for the person. Additionally, the bill provides that, unless otherwise specifically required by law, all oral and written communication by all state and local governmental entities must be in the English language, except that such communication may be in another language when appropriate to the circumstances of an individual case, the LRB-3756/1 MPG&KRP:ajk&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 357 implementation of a program in a specific instance, or the discharge of a responsibility in a particular situation. The bill also permits state and local government officers and employees to use a language other than English in oral or written communication whenever necessary for one or more of eight specified purposes. Finally, the bill precludes any state or local governmental entity from prohibiting any person from becoming proficient in any language or restricting the oral or written use of any language for a nongovernmental purpose. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB251 Jurisdiction over juveniles on federal enclaves. (FE) Under current law, land ceded by Wisconsin to the U.S. government for federal use is subject to concurrent jurisdiction to the extent that all legal and military process issued under the authority of the state may be served anywhere on such land. In general, federal officials exercise jurisdiction over matters arising on federal lands within the state, and the governor may accept an offer from an appropriate federal authority to resume state jurisdiction over such lands. Such an offer is called retrocession of jurisdiction. This bill provides that the state retains concurrent jurisdiction over matters involving juveniles on land ceded by Wisconsin to the U.S. government for federal use. The bill requires the governor to accept retrocession of jurisdiction over any matter involving a juvenile if it is offered by an appropriate federal authority. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB123 Calculation of miles for purposes of relocation of a child 100 miles or more from the other parent in an action affecting the family. Under current law, a parent granted periods of physical placement with a child in an action affecting the family must obtain a court order if the parent intends to relocate and reside with the child 100 miles or more from the other parent if the other parent also has court-ordered periods of physical placement with the child. Also under current law, during the pendency of an action affecting the family, parties are generally prohibited from relocating and establishing a residence with a minor child of the parties that is more than 100 miles from the residence of the other party, if the party does not have consent of the other party or an order of the court. The requirement to obtain a court order allowing relocation does not apply if the parents already live more than 100 miles apart when a parent proposes to relocate and reside with the child, but in that situation, the parent who intends to relocate with the child must serve written notice of the intent to relocate on the other parent at least 60 days before relocation. This bill adds an express requirement that the 100-mile distance for purposes of these provisions must be calculated as Xdriving miles,Y defined in the bill to mean the actual distance traveling by road required to get from one location to another rather than the straight-line distance between those locations. Crossed Over
AB149 The nomination of presidential electors. Under current law, at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday in October of each year in which there is a presidential election, the following members of a political party must convene in the state capitol to nominate the party[s presidential electors: candidates for state senate or assembly, state officers, and holdover state senators. A vote for a party[s candidates for president and vice president in the presidential election is a vote for the party[s presidential electors so nominated. After the election, the presidential electors of the winning candidates for president and vice president then convene and transmit their votes for president and vice president to Congress. Under this bill, if, in a presidential election year, a political party does not have a candidate for state senate or assembly, state officer, or holdover state senator, in lieu of a convention described above, no later than 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday in October preceding the presidential election, the chairperson of the state committee of the political party must nominate the party[s presidential electors. Crossed Over
AB187 Training completion awards for volunteer firefighters. (FE) Under current law, the Department of Administration administers a service award program to provide length-of-service awards to volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical responders, and volunteer emergency medical services practitioners. This bill expands the program to provide grants to volunteer fire departments and volunteer fire companies to make training completion awards to volunteer firefighters. Under the bill, in order to receive a grant, the municipality in which a department or company is organized must have a municipal ordinance that provides a 100 percent match. The completion award for a volunteer firefighter who completes 60 hours of training is $500. The bill also requires that any money a volunteer fire department or fire company receives beyond what it expends on awards each calendar year must be returned to DOA for deposit in the general fund. Finally, under the bill, DOA is required to provide a report to the legislature in the sixth, seventh, and eighth years after the start of the program that includes the number of people who received the grant through the preceding year and the number of those people who are still firefighters in Wisconsin. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. Crossed Over
AB65 Entering certain places with intent to commit battery and providing a penalty. Under current law, it is a Class F felony to intentionally enter a dwelling or certain other places without consent, that is, to commit a burglary, with intent to steal or commit a felony therein. Under current law, such a burglary is a Class E felony if certain additional circumstances apply. The penalty for a Class F felony is a fine not to exceed $25,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 years and six months, or both, and the penalty for a Class E felony is a fine not to exceed $50,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 15 years, or both. Under this bill, it is also a Class F felony, or a Class E felony if certain additional circumstances apply, to intentionally enter a dwelling or certain other places without consent with intent to commit any battery. 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. Crossed Over
SJR71 Honoring Jerry Apps for his contributions to Wisconsin’s heritage. Relating to: honoring Jerry Apps for his contributions to Wisconsin[s heritage. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
SJR70 Proclaiming June 12, 2025, as Women Veterans Day. Relating to: proclaiming June 12, 2025, as Women Veterans Day. Crossed Over
AB271 Camera monitor systems as an alternative to mirrors for commercial motor vehicles. Current law prohibits any person from operating a motor vehicle on a highway unless the vehicle is equipped with a mirror to provide a view of the roadway to the rear of the vehicle. Current regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) require commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to be equipped with mirrors on each side of vehicle positioned to provide a view of the highway to the rear and along both sides of the CMV. FMCSA has created an exemption to this requirement for CMVs equipped with a specified camera monitor system. This bill provides that a CMV may be equipped with a camera monitor system approved by FMCSA as an alternative to mirrors that would otherwise be required. In Committee
AB259 Criminal trespass at a campground and providing a penalty. (FE) This bill prohibits persons from entering or remaining at a campground without the consent of the campground[s operator. A campground operator may provide a written request to a person who has entered or remained on the premises of a campground without the consent of the campground operator to immediately depart from the campground. A person who fails to immediately depart from a campground upon receipt of the request to depart shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and the person may be fined not more than $100 dollars or imprisoned in county jail for not more than 30 days, or both. The bill requires a law enforcement officer to arrest and take a person into custody if the law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the person has not departed from the campground after receiving the request to depart. The bill also provides that the landlord tenant laws in chapter 704, Wis. Stats. do not apply to an occupant, guest, or guest of an occupant or guest of a campground. 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. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB253 Independence accounts. (FE) This bill requires the Department of Health Services to allow an individual to deposit up to $15,000 of the individual[s gross earnings in an independence account over a 12-month period. Further, the bill prohibits DHS from including assets acquired by an individual by inheritance when determining the individual[s financial eligibility for Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. Under current law, an independence account is an account approved by DHS that consists solely of savings, dividends, other gains derived from those savings, and income earned from paid employment after the date on which the individual began receiving Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. The Medical Assistance purchase plan is a subprogram of the Medical Assistance program that allows individuals who have a qualifying disability and who are working or who want to work to remain eligible for Medical Assistance benefits. To be eligible for benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan, among other things, an individual[s assets must not exceed $15,000, but assets accumulated in an independence account are excluded from the calculation. The Medical Assistance program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SJR7 Recognizing that the Wisconsin State Legislature supports nuclear power and fusion energy as clean energy sources that are critical to safely meeting Wisconsin’s growing energy demands and declaring the legislature’s commitment to the continuation and expansion of nuclear power and nuclear technologies, the development of nuclear technologies and fusion energy, and employing the leadership and resources necessary to support the development of and investment in nuclear power, fusion energy, and r Relating to: recognizing that the Wisconsin State Legislature supports nuclear power and fusion energy as clean energy sources that are critical to safely meeting Wisconsin[s growing energy demands and declaring the legislature[s commitment to the continuation and expansion of nuclear power and nuclear technologies, the development of nuclear technologies and fusion energy, and employing the leadership and resources necessary to support the development of and investment in nuclear power, fusion energy, and related technologies in the state. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
AJR6 Recognizing that the Wisconsin State Legislature supports nuclear power and fusion energy as clean energy sources that are critical to safely meeting Wisconsin’s growing energy demands and declaring the legislature’s commitment to the continuation and expansion of nuclear power and nuclear technologies, the development of nuclear technologies and fusion energy, and employing the leadership and resources necessary to support the development of and investment in nuclear power, fusion energy, and r Relating to: recognizing that the Wisconsin State Legislature supports nuclear power and fusion energy as clean energy sources that are critical to safely meeting Wisconsin[s growing energy demands and declaring the legislature[s commitment to the continuation and expansion of nuclear power and nuclear technologies, the development of nuclear technologies and fusion energy, and employing the leadership and resources necessary to support the development of and investment in nuclear power, fusion energy, and related technologies in the state. In Committee
SB77 Entering certain places with intent to commit battery and providing a penalty. Under current law, it is a Class F felony to intentionally enter a dwelling or certain other places without consent, that is, to commit a burglary, with intent to steal or commit a felony therein. Under current law, such a burglary is a Class E felony if certain additional circumstances apply. The penalty for a Class F felony is a fine not to exceed $25,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 years and six months, or both, and the penalty for a Class E felony is a fine not to exceed $50,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 15 years, or both. Under this bill, it is also a Class F felony, or a Class E felony if certain additional circumstances apply, to intentionally enter a dwelling or certain other places without consent with intent to commit any battery. 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. In Committee
SB186 Training completion awards for volunteer firefighters. (FE) Under current law, the Department of Administration administers a service award program to provide length-of-service awards to volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical responders, and volunteer emergency medical services practitioners. This bill expands the program to provide grants to volunteer fire departments and volunteer fire companies to make training completion awards to volunteer firefighters. Under the bill, in order to receive a grant, the municipality in which a department or company is organized must have a municipal ordinance that provides a 100 percent match. The completion award for a volunteer firefighter who completes 60 hours of training is $500. The bill also requires that any money a volunteer fire department or fire company receives beyond what it expends on awards each calendar year must be returned to DOA for deposit in the general fund. Finally, under the bill, DOA is required to provide a report to the legislature in the sixth, seventh, and eighth years after the start of the program that includes the LRB-2625/1 MIM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 186 number of people who received the grant through the preceding year and the number of those people who are still firefighters in Wisconsin. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB143 The nomination of presidential electors. Under current law, at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday in October of each year in which there is a presidential election, the following members of a political party must convene in the state capitol to nominate the party[s presidential electors: candidates for state senate or assembly, state officers, and holdover state senators. A vote for a party[s candidates for president and vice president in the presidential election is a vote for the party[s presidential electors so nominated. After the election, the presidential electors of the winning candidates for president and vice president then convene and transmit their votes for president and vice president to Congress. Under this bill, if, in a presidential election year, a political party does not have a candidate for state senate or assembly, state officer, or holdover state senator, in lieu of a convention described above, no later than 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday in October preceding the presidential election, the chairperson of the state committee of the political party must nominate the party[s presidential electors. In Committee
SB131 Calculation of miles for purposes of relocation of a child 100 miles or more from the other parent in an action affecting the family. Under current law, a parent granted periods of physical placement with a child in an action affecting the family must obtain a court order if the parent intends to relocate and reside with the child 100 miles or more from the other parent if the other parent also has court-ordered periods of physical placement with the child. Also under current law, during the pendency of an action affecting the family, parties are generally prohibited from relocating and establishing a residence with a minor child of the parties that is more than 100 miles from the residence of the other party, if the party does not have consent of the other party or an order of the court. The requirement to obtain a court order allowing relocation does not apply if the parents already live more than 100 miles apart when a parent proposes to relocate and reside with the child, but in that situation, the parent who intends to relocate with the child must serve written notice of the intent to relocate on the other parent at least 60 days before relocation. This bill adds an express requirement that the 100-mile distance for purposes of these provisions must be calculated as Xdriving miles,Y defined in the bill to mean LRB-0421/1 SWB:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 131 the actual distance traveling by road required to get from one location to another rather than the straight-line distance between those locations. In Committee
SB252 Independence accounts. (FE) This bill requires the Department of Health Services to allow an individual to deposit up to $15,000 of the individual[s gross earnings in an independence account over a 12-month period. Further, the bill prohibits DHS from including assets acquired by an individual by inheritance when determining the individual[s financial eligibility for Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. Under current law, an independence account is an account approved by DHS that consists solely of savings, dividends, other gains derived from those savings, and income earned from paid employment after the date on which the individual began receiving Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. The Medical Assistance purchase plan is a subprogram of the Medical Assistance program that allows individuals who have a qualifying disability and who are working or who want to work to remain eligible for Medical Assistance benefits. To be eligible for benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan, among other things, an individual[s assets must not exceed $15,000, but assets accumulated in an independence account are excluded from the calculation. The Medical Assistance program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. LRB-0174/1 JPC:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 252 For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AJR59 Proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. Relating to: proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
SB338 Enforcement of the federal Help America Vote Act. Current law allows any person who believes that a violation of the federal Help America Vote Act is occurring or is proposed to occur with respect to an election for national office in this state to file a written verified complaint with the Elections Commission. The person filing the complaint may request a hearing. If a hearing is requested, the commission must make a final determination regarding the merits of the complaint and issue a decision no later than 89 days after receiving the complaint. The Elections Commission has taken a position that it cannot decide a complaint brought against itself. In 2022, the Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed with that position. See, Teigen v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, 2022 WI 64, 33, 403 Wis. 2d 607, 976 N.W.2d 519. The commission recently received a letter from the federal Department of Justice asserting that such a position violates the administrative complaint requirements under the Help America Vote Act. Under this bill, if the Elections Commission receives a complaint that alleges that the commission itself is violating HAVA, the commission must make a final determination on the merits of the complaint and issue a decision. The bill prohibits the commission from dismissing the complaint simply because the complaint alleges a commission violation. The bill also provides that if a hearing is requested it must be held in open LRB-3682/1 JK:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 338 session and the oral proceedings of the hearing must be recorded by stenographic or electronic means. In addition, the Elections Commission must make a transcript of oral proceedings available for public inspection. Under current law, all records that are distributed or discussed in the course of a meeting or hearing by the commission in open session are available for public inspection. Under the bill, the commission must transmit to the complainant and all known interested parties an acknowledgment of receipt of the complaint within five business days from the date of its receipt. In addition, if the complainant requests a hearing, a hearing must be held no later than 30 days after the commission receives the complaint. The commission must also make a final determination of all complaints alleging a HAVA violation no later than 89 days after receiving the complaint, regardless of whether the complainant requests a hearing. Finally, the bill makes changes to the complaint procedures to ensure compliance with HAVA. The bill requires the Elections Commission to examine and investigate all complaints in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner, as required under HAVA. In addition, if the commission finds that a complaint has merit, the commission must take corrective action to remedy the violation alleged in the complaint. If the commission dismisses the complaint or does not grant the relief requested in the complaint, the person filing the complaint may appeal the commission[s decision to a court of competent jurisdiction. Finally, the bill requires the commission to publish the results of all dismissed complaints on its website and provide such results to the legislature and the standing committees with jurisdiction over elections. In Committee
AB241 Required ratio of journeyworkers to apprentices in apprenticeship programs and contracts. Under current law, the Department of Workforce Development may not prescribe, enforce, or authorize a ratio of apprentices to journeyworkers for apprenticeship programs or apprentice contracts that requires more than one journeyworker for each apprentice. This bill increases the allowable ratio to one journeyworker to two apprentices. In Committee
AB85 Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) Under current law, a person who is released on extended supervision, parole, or probation is subject to conditions or rules of the release. If the person violates a condition or rule, the person is subject to sanctions for the violation, which may include revocation of release. This bill requires the Department of Corrections to recommend revoking a person[s extended supervision, parole, or probation if the person is charged with a crime while on release. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. Passed
AB27 Expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War. This bill expands the definition of XveteranY to include individuals who were naturalized pursuant to the Hmong Veterans[ Naturalization Act of 2000. The bill extends most veterans benefits to anyone who meets this newly expanded definition of veteran, however, admission to a state veterans home and burial in a veterans cemetery are not included benefits as they are subject to federal regulation. In Committee
SB335 Ratification of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. (FE) This bill ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, which provides for the ability of a cosmetologist to become eligible to practice in other compact states. Significant provisions of the compact include the following: 1. The creation of a Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission, which includes one administrator of the cosmetology licensure authority of each member state. The commission has various powers and duties granted in the compact, including adopting bylaws, promulgating binding rules for the compact, appointing LRB-2939/1 MED:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 335 officers and hiring employees, and establishing and electing an executive committee. The commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on licensees who receive multistate licenses to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the commission and its staff. 2. The ability for a cosmetologist to obtain a Xmultistate license,Y which allows a cosmetologist who satisfies certain criteria to practice cosmetology in other member states (remote states) under the remote state[s scope of practice laws and rules of the remote state[s licensing authority. The compact specifies a number of requirements in order for a cosmetologist to obtain a multistate license, including holding an unencumbered cosmetology license in his or her primary state of residence (home state) and paying any required fees. A remote state may, in accordance with that state[s laws, take adverse action against a cosmetologist[s authorization to practice cosmetology in the remote state. If a cosmetologist[s home state takes adverse action against the cosmetologist[s license, the cosmetologist[s authorization to practice in all other member states is deactivated until all encumbrances have been removed from the home state license. 3. The ability of member states to issue subpoenas that are enforceable in other states. 4. The creation of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and the reporting of the existence of investigative information on a) cosmetologists and b) applicants denied a cosmetologist license. The compact requires information related to adverse actions to be shared with the commission and other member states, through the data system and otherwise. A member state must submit a uniform data set to the data system on all individuals to whom the compact is applicable as required by the rules of the commission. 5. Provisions regarding resolutions of disputes among member states and between member and nonmember states, including a process for termination of a state[s membership in the compact if the state defaults on its obligations under the compact. The compact becomes effective upon enactment by seven states. The compact provides that it may be amended upon enactment of an amendment by all member states. A state may withdraw from the compact by repealing the statute authorizing the compact, but the compact provides that a withdrawal does not take effect until 180 days after the enactment of that repeal. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SJR64 Supporting the induction of Jack Vainisi into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Relating to: supporting the induction of Jack Vainisi into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Crossed Over
SB258 Advanced practice registered nurses, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. (FE) NURSING PRACTICE AND LICENSURE This bill makes various changes to practice, licensure, and certification requirements for nurses, which are administered by the Board of Nursing. Licensure of advanced practice registered nurses Under current law, a person who wishes to practice professional nursing must be licensed by the Board of Nursing as a registered nurse (RN). This bill creates an additional system of licensure for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), to be administered by the board. Under the bill, in order to apply for an APRN license, a person must 1) hold, or concurrently apply for, an RN license; 2) have completed an accredited graduate-level or postgraduate-level education program preparing the person to practice as an APRN in one of four recognized roles and hold a current national certification approved by the board; 3) possess malpractice liability insurance as provided in the bill; 4) pay a fee determined by the Department of Safety and Professional Services; and 5) satisfy certain other criteria specified in the bill. The bill also allows a person who has not completed an accredited education program described above to receive an APRN license if the person 1) on January 1, 2026, is both licensed as an RN in Wisconsin and practicing in one of the four recognized roles and 2) satisfies additional practice or education criteria established by the board. The bill also, however, automatically grants licenses to certain RNs, as further described below. The four recognized roles, as defined in the bill, are 1) certified nurse-midwife; 2) certified registered nurse anesthetist; 3) clinical nurse specialist; and 4) nurse practitioner. The bill requires the board, upon granting a person an APRN license, to also grant the person one or more specialty designations corresponding to the recognized role or roles for which the person qualifies. Under the bill, all APRNs, except APRNs with a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation, must practice in collaboration with a physician or dentist. However, under the bill, an APRN may practice without being supervised by a physician or dentist if the board verifies that the APRN has completed 3,840 hours of professional nursing in a clinical setting and has completed 3,840 clinical hours of advanced practice registered nursing practice in their recognized role while working with a physician or dentist during those 3,840 hours of practice. APRNs may count additional hours practiced as an APRN in collaboration with a physician or dentist towards the 3,840 required hours of professional nursing. APRNs with a LRB-1565/1 JPC:emw&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 258 certified nurse-midwife specialty designation are instead required, if they offer to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting, to file and keep current with the board a proactive plan for involving a hospital or a physician who has admitting privileges at a hospital in the treatment of patients with higher acuity or emergency care needs, as further described below. Regardless of whether an APRN has qualified to practice independently, the bill provides that an APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques only while working in a collaborative relationship with any physician who, through education, training, and experience, specializes in pain management. Alternatively, if an APRN has qualified to practice independently, the APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques in a hospital or clinic associated with a hospital. Further, an APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques if the APRN has qualified to practice independently and has privileges in a hospital to provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques without a collaborative relationship with a physician. The holder of an APRN license may append the title XA.P.R.N.Y to his or her name, as well as a title corresponding to whichever specialty designations that the person possesses. The bill prohibits any person from using the title XA.P.R.N.,Y and from otherwise indicating that he or she is an APRN, unless the person is licensed by the board as an APRN. The bill also prohibits the use of titles and abbreviations corresponding to a recognized role unless the person has a specialty designation for that role. The bill further prohibits any person licensed by the board from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name any title that is not granted under the nursing statutes unless the person holds another credential that entitles the person to use, assume, or append to his or her name the title or the person is permitted to use, assume, or append to his or her name the title under any other law of the state. However, the bill provides that a person who is licensed by the board and holds a doctorate degree is not prohibited from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name the title XdoctorY or any other words, letters, or abbreviations that represent that the person holds that doctorate degree or the field in which the degree was received. If a person who is licensed by the board uses, assumes, or appends to his or her name the title Xdoctor,Y the bill requires that person to also use, assume, or append to his or her name words, letters, or abbreviations that represent the field in which the person received the doctorate degree. Further, the bill provides that a person who holds a bachelor[s degree or master[s degree is not prohibited from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name any words, letters, or abbreviations that represent that the person holds that degree or the field in which the degree was received. The bill allows an APRN to delegate a task or order to another clinically trained health care worker if the task or order is within the scope of the APRN[s practice, the APRN is competent to perform the task or issue the order, and the APRN has reasonable evidence that the health care worker is minimally competent LRB-1565/1 JPC:emw&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 258 to perform the task or issue the order under the circumstances. The bill requires an APRN to adhere to professional standards when managing situations that are beyond the APRN[s expertise. Under the bill, when an APRN renews his or her APRN license, the board must grant the person the renewal of both the person[s RN license and the person[s APRN license. The bill requires all APRNs to complete continuing education requirements each biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the APRN[s area of practice and to satisfy certain other requirements when renewing a license. Practice of nurse-midwifery This bill repeals licensure and practice requirements specific to nurse- midwives and the practice of nurse-midwifery, including specific requirements to practice with an obstetrician. Under the bill, Xcertified nurse-midwifeY is one of the four recognized roles for APRNs, and a person who is licensed as a nurse-midwife under current law is automatically granted an APRN license with a certified nurse- midwife specialty designation. The bill otherwise allows nurse-midwives to be licensed as APRNs if they satisfy the licensure requirements, except that the bill also requires that a person applying for a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation be certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. The bill also requires an APRN with a specialty designation as a certified nurse-midwife to file with the Board of Nursing, and obtain the board[s approval of, a plan for ensuring appropriate care or care transitions in treating certain patients if the APRN offers to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting. Prescribing authority Under current law, a person licensed as an RN may apply to the Board of Nursing for a certificate to issue prescription orders if the person meets certain requirements established by the board. An RN holding a certificate is subject to various practice requirements and limitations established by the board and must possess malpractice liability insurance in an amount determined by the board. The bill eliminates certificates to issue prescription orders and generally authorizes APRNs to issue prescription orders. A person who is certified to issue prescription orders under current law is automatically granted an APRN license with his or her appropriate specialty designation. RNs who are practicing in a recognized role on January 1, 2026, but who do not hold a certificate to issue prescription orders on that date and who are granted an APRN license under the bill may not issue prescription orders. As under current law, an APRN issuing prescription orders is subject to various practice requirements and limitations established by the board. The bill repeals a provision concerning the ability of advanced practice nurses who are certified to issue prescription orders and who are required to work in collaboration with or under the supervision of a physician to obtain and practice LRB-1565/1 JPC:emw&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 258 under a federal waiver to dispense narcotic drugs to individuals for addiction treatment. Malpractice liability insurance The bill requires all APRNs to maintain malpractice liability insurance coverage evidenced by personal liability coverage in the amounts specified under current law for physicians and nurse anesthetists or coverage under a group liability policy providing individual coverage for the APRN in the amounts specified under current law for physicians and nurse anesthetists. Additionally, the bill requires APRNs who have qualified to practice independently and who practice outside a collaborative or employment relationship to participate in the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund. The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund provides excess medical malpractice coverage for health care providers who participate in the fund and meet all other participation requirements, which includes maintaining malpractice liability insurance in coverage amounts specified under current law. OTHER CHANGES The bill makes numerous other changes throughout the statutes relating to APRNs, including various terminology changes. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SJR63 Proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. Relating to: proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. In Committee
SB2 Expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War. This bill expands the definition of “veteran” to include individuals who were naturalized pursuant to the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000. The bill extends most veterans benefits to anyone who meets this newly expanded definition of veteran, however, admission to a state veterans home and burial in a veterans cemetery are not included benefits as they are subject to federal regulation. Crossed Over
SB290 Local government rules of proceedings and consideration of ordinances or resolutions for which enactment or adoption previously failed. (FE) Under this bill, the rules of proceedings for a governing body of a political subdivision may not prohibit the body from taking up an ordinance or resolution that is substantially similar or identical to an earlier ordinance or resolution that was taken up and voted upon but not enacted or adopted if the later ordinance or resolution is taken up at least two years after the earlier. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SJR67 Honoring Anna Mae Robertson for her extraordinary achievements and service to our nation. Relating to: honoring Anna Mae Robertson for her extraordinary achievements and service to our nation. In Committee
SB57 County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) This bill requires sheriffs to request proof of legal presence status from individuals held in a county jail for an offense punishable as a felony. The bill also requires sheriffs to comply with detainers and administrative warrants received from the federal department of homeland security regarding individuals held in the county jail for a criminal offense. Under the bill, sheriffs must annually certify to the Department of Revenue that they have complied with each of these requirements. If a sheriff fails to provide such a certification, DOR must reduce the county[s shared revenue payments for the next year by 15 percent. The bill also requires sheriffs to maintain a record of the number of individuals from whom proof of legal presence is requested who are verified as unlawfully present in this state and a list of the types of crimes for which those individuals were confined in the jail. The information must be provided to the Department of Justice upon request, and DOJ must compile the information and submit a report to the legislature. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1735/1 EVM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 57 In Committee
AB24 County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) This bill requires sheriffs to request proof of legal presence status from individuals held in a county jail for an offense punishable as a felony. The bill also requires sheriffs to comply with detainers and administrative warrants received from the federal department of homeland security regarding individuals held in the county jail for a criminal offense. Under the bill, sheriffs must annually certify to the Department of Revenue that they have complied with each of these requirements. If a sheriff fails to provide such a certification, DOR must reduce the county[s shared revenue payments for the next year by 15 percent. The bill also requires sheriffs to maintain a record of the number of individuals from whom proof of legal presence is requested who are verified as unlawfully present in this state and a list of the types of crimes for which those individuals were confined in the jail. The information must be provided to the Department of Justice upon request, and DOJ must compile the information and submit a report to the legislature. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. Crossed Over
AB286 Interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE) Under this bill, $172,000,000 is lapsed to the general fund from a federal program revenue appropriation to the Department of Administration on the date the bill becomes law. On May 9, 2025, the secretary of administration reported to the co-chairs of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee that, as of the end of April, the total interest earned on advanced coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds and credited to the federal program revenue appropriation was $171,487,101.82. Under current law, unless specifically provided by law, miscellaneous receipts collected by a state agency, such as interest earnings, must be credited to general purpose revenues of the general fund. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB280 Interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE) Under this bill, $172,000,000 is lapsed to the general fund from a federal program revenue appropriation to the Department of Administration on the date the bill becomes law. On May 9, 2025, the secretary of administration reported to the co-chairs of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee that, as of the end of April, the total interest earned on advanced coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds and credited to the federal program revenue appropriation was $171,487,101.82. Under current law, unless specifically provided by law, miscellaneous receipts collected by a state agency, such as interest earnings, must be credited to general purpose revenues of the general fund. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB282 Local government rules of proceedings and consideration of ordinances or resolutions for which enactment or adoption previously failed. (FE) Under this bill, the rules of proceedings for a governing body of a political subdivision may not prohibit the body from taking up an ordinance or resolution that is substantially similar or identical to an earlier ordinance or resolution that was taken up and voted upon but not enacted or adopted if the later ordinance or resolution is taken up at least two years after the earlier. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB33 Representations depicting nudity and providing a penalty. Under current law, it is generally a Class I felony to capture or distribute representations depicting nudity without the consent of the person depicted. This bill expands the prohibition to include what are known as Xdeep fakes.Y The bill provides that it is a Class I felony to post, publish, distribute, or exhibit a synthetic intimate representation (commonly known as a Xdeep fakeY) of an identifiable person with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate that person. Under the bill, a synthetic intimate representation is defined as a representation generated using technological means that uses an identifiable person[s face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic to depict an intimate representation of that person, regardless of whether the representation includes components that are artificial, legally generated, or generally accessible. Under current law, it is a Class A misdemeanor to publish or post a private representation, which is a sexually explicit representation that is intended by the person depicted in the representation to be possessed or viewed only by the persons with whom it was directly shared, without consent of the person depicted. This bill provides that it is also a Class A misdemeanor to reproduce such representations without that person[s consent. 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. In Committee
SB93 Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) Under current law, a person who is released on extended supervision, parole, or probation is subject to conditions or rules of the release. If the person violates a condition or rule, the person is subject to sanctions for the violation, which may include revocation of release. This bill requires the Department of Corrections to recommend revoking a person[s extended supervision, parole, or probation if the person is charged with a crime while on release. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB37 Local regulation of vegetable gardens. This bill prohibits a political subdivision from requiring a permit for or prohibiting the cultivation of a vegetable or flower garden on residential property not owned by the political subdivision. In Committee
SB225 Regulation of amusement rides located at campgrounds. (FE) This bill exempts amusement rides located at campgrounds licensed by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection from regulation by the Department of Safety and Professional Services if they are installed according to the manufacturer[s recommended standards. Under current law, DSPS regulates amusement rides. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB313 Providing permanency plan and comments to out-of-home care providers in advance of a permanency plan review or hearing. (FE) Under current law, when a child is the subject of a child or juvenile in need of protection or services (CHIPS or JIPS) proceeding, the county social or human services department, a child welfare agency, or, if the child or juvenile is located in Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families is required to prepare a permanency plan for the child. The permanency plan is reviewed every six months either by a review panel or at a court hearing. Before the review or hearing, the agency is required to provide a copy of the plan, and any written comments that the agency receives about the plan, to the following people: the members of the review panel; the child[s parent, guardian, or legal custodian; the person representing the interests of the public; the child[s counsel, guardian ad litem, or court-appointed special advocate; and, if the child is an Indian child who is placed outside the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian, the child[s Indian custodian and tribe. This bill allows an agency to provide a copy of a child[s permanency plan and LRB-3305/1 MDE:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 313 comments on the plan to a child[s out-of-home care provider in the context of a permanency review and a permanency hearing. An out-of-home care provider includes a foster parent, guardian, relative other than a parent, nonrelative in whose home a child or juvenile is placed, and operator of a group home, residential care center for children and youth, or shelter care facility in which a child or juvenile is placed. Under this bill, any information that is required to remain confidential under federal or state law must be redacted from the permanency plan before it is provided to the out-of-home care provider. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB7 Prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state. This bill generally prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state. In the bill, “foreign adversary” means a foreign government or nongovernment person determined by the federal secretary of commerce to have engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or security and safety of U.S. persons. Current law generally prohibits a nonresident alien or a corporation that is not created under federal law or the laws of any state (foreign person) from acquiring, owning, or holding more than 640 acres of land in this state. However, that prohibition does not apply to any of the following activities: 1. An exploration mining lease and land used for certain mining and associated activities. LRB-0067/1 KRP:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 7 2. Certain manufacturing activities. 3. Certain mercantile activities. 4. A lease for exploration or production of oil, gas, coal, shale, and related hydrocarbons, including by-products of the production, and land used in connection with the exploration or production. Those exceptions have been interpreted to be “extremely broad, embracing almost every conceivable business activity [other than a]ctivities relating to agriculture and forestry.” See Opinion of Wis. Att’y Gen., OAG 11-14, ¶5, available at https://www.doj.state.wi.us. In other words, under current law, a foreign person may acquire, own, and hold unlimited amounts of land for most nonagricultural and nonforestry purposes, but a foreign person may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of land for agricultural or forestry purposes. The bill retains the current law restriction on foreign person ownership of agricultural and forestry land and adds a provision that prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring any land for agricultural or forestry purposes. In Committee
AB18 Fee waivers for state park vehicle admission receipts to pupils with Every Kid Outdoors passes. (FE) Under current law, no person may operate a vehicle in any state park or in certain other recreational areas on state land unless the vehicle displays a vehicle admission receipt. This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to waive the fee for an annual vehicle admission receipt issued to the parent or guardian of a child who possesses a valid Every Kid Outdoors pass issued by the U.S. National Park Service. Under current federal law, such a pass authorizes free admission to national parks for any 4th grader and his or her family. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB19 Fee waivers for state park vehicle admission receipts to pupils with Every Kid Outdoors passes. (FE) Under current law, no person may operate a vehicle in any state park or in certain other recreational areas on state land unless the vehicle displays a vehicle admission receipt. This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to waive the fee for an annual vehicle admission receipt issued to the parent or guardian of a child who possesses a valid Every Kid Outdoors pass issued by the U.S. National Park Service. Under current federal law, such a pass authorizes free admission to national parks for any 4th grader and his or her family. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB215 Town clerk and treasurer appointments, publication requirements for proposed budget summary and notice of public hearing, and discontinuance of highways. (FE) This bill makes changes to various town procedures. Current law provides that a town may combine certain positions, such as the town clerk and the town treasurer, and provides that the combination takes effect on the latest date that any current term of an office to be combined expires. The bill retains that deadline, but allows the town board to provide that the combination of offices takes effect immediately as both positions become vacant or, if the person appointed to the combined office holds one of the offices to be combined, immediately upon a vacancy in the other office to be combined. Current law also provides that a town with a population of 2,500 or more may move from an elected clerk, treasurer, or combined office of clerk and treasurer to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Under current law, a town with a population of under LRB-1061/1 SWB&EVM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 215 2,500 may only move from an elected clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer to an appointed position through a referendum. The bill allows a town of any size to move from an elected position to an appointed one by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Current law also prohibits a town[s change from an elected to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer from taking effect until the end of the current elected term. Under the bill, a town may move to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer position during an elected term when there is a vacancy in the position. Under current law, a town treasurer is permitted to appoint a deputy treasurer, while a town clerk may appoint one or more deputies. The bill provides that a town treasurer may appoint one or more deputies. The bill also provides that deputy town clerks and deputy town treasurers need not be residents of the town. The bill also changes the publication and notice requirements for towns with respect to the public hearing regarding the town[s proposed budget. Current law requires that towns, cities, and villages conduct a public hearing on a proposed budget. Under current law, cities and villages must provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing and may do so by publishing the summary and notice in a newspaper, posting it in three locations, or posting it in one location and on a website maintained by the municipality. Current law also requires towns to provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing, but towns must post the summary and notice in three locations. This bill eliminates the limitation on how towns must provide the summary and notice, instead allowing towns the same options as cities and villages. Finally, under current law, every highway ceases to be a public highway four years from the date on which it was laid out, except the parts of the highway that have been opened, traveled, or worked within that time. The bill eliminates the travel exception from consideration by a town board in determining whether a highway has ceased to be a public highway. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. Crossed Over
AB214 Town clerk and treasurer appointments, publication requirements for proposed budget summary and notice of public hearing, and discontinuance of highways. (FE) This bill makes changes to various town procedures. Current law provides that a town may combine certain positions, such as the town clerk and the town treasurer, and provides that the combination takes effect on the latest date that any current term of an office to be combined expires. The bill retains that deadline, but allows the town board to provide that the combination of offices takes effect immediately as both positions become vacant or, if the person appointed to the combined office holds one of the offices to be combined, immediately upon a vacancy in the other office to be combined. Current law also provides that a town with a population of 2,500 or more may move from an elected clerk, treasurer, or combined office of clerk and treasurer to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Under current law, a town with a population of under 2,500 may only move from an elected clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer to an appointed position through a referendum. The bill allows a town of any size to move from an elected position to an appointed one by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Current law also prohibits a town[s change from an elected to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer from taking effect until the end of the current elected term. Under the bill, a town may move to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer position during an elected term when there is a vacancy in the position. Under current law, a town treasurer is permitted to appoint a deputy treasurer, while a town clerk may appoint one or more deputies. The bill provides that a town treasurer may appoint one or more deputies. The bill also provides that deputy town clerks and deputy town treasurers need not be residents of the town. The bill also changes the publication and notice requirements for towns with respect to the public hearing regarding the town[s proposed budget. Current law requires that towns, cities, and villages conduct a public hearing on a proposed budget. Under current law, cities and villages must provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing and may do so by publishing the summary and notice in a newspaper, posting it in three locations, or posting it in one location and on a website maintained by the municipality. Current law also requires towns to provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing, but towns must post the summary and notice in three locations. This bill eliminates the limitation on how towns must provide the summary and notice, instead allowing towns the same options as cities and villages. Finally, under current law, every highway ceases to be a public highway four years from the date on which it was laid out, except the parts of the highway that have been opened, traveled, or worked within that time. The bill eliminates the travel exception from consideration by a town board in determining whether a highway has ceased to be a public highway. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB177 Sales and use tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products. (FE) This bill creates a sales and use tax exemption for the sale of diapers and feminine hygiene products. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB156 Requiring child sexual abuse prevention education. (FE) Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, this bill requires each school board to provide a child sexual abuse prevention instructional program to pupils in grades four-year-old kindergarten to 12. Under the bill, each school board must include various topics in its child sexual abuse prevention instructional program, including 1) age-appropriated facts about sexual abuse; 2) how to communicate incidents of sexual abuse to trustworthy adults; 3) how to set and respect personal boundaries; and 4) information about giving and receiving consent. Annually before offering the child sexual abuse prevention instructional program to a pupil, the bill requires that each school board provide a pupil[s parent or guardian with information related to the instructional program, including approximately when it will be provided to the pupil, an explanation of how to opt out of the instructional program, an outline of the instructional program for the pupil[s specific grade, and facts and clear explanations related to specific child sexual abuse topics. Lastly, under the bill, a pupil[s parent or guardian may opt the pupil out of the instructional program by filing a written request with the pupil[s teacher or principal. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB36 Law enforcement and firefighter annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) Under current law, certain persons who receive a retirement or disability annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System and who are hired by an employer that participates in the WRS must suspend that annuity and may not receive a WRS annuity payment until the employee is no longer in a WRS-covered position. This suspension applies to a person who 1) has reached his or her normal retirement date; 2) is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer or provides employee services to a WRS-participating employer; and 3) is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds. This bill creates an exception to this suspension for an annuitant who retired from employment with a participating employer and who is subsequently rehired or provides employee services after retirement if 1) the annuitant is a retired law enforcement officer or firefighter; 2) at the time the annuitant initially retires from covered employment with a participating employer, the annuitant does not have an agreement with any participating employer to return to employment; and 3) the annuitant elects to not become a participating employee at the time the annuitant is rehired or enters into a contract after retirement. In other words, the bill allows an annuitant who was a law enforcement officer or firefighter to return to work with an employer that participates in the WRS and elect to not become a participating employee for purposes of the WRS but instead continue to receive an annuity from the WRS. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB124 Prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty. Current law prohibits a person who is registered as a sex offender with the Department of Corrections from changing their name during the period they are required to register. With certain exceptions, a person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. This bill prohibits a person who has been convicted of a violent crime, which is defined in the bill and includes homicide, battery, kidnapping, stalking, human trafficking, and sexual assault, from changing their name. A person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. 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. In Committee
AB243 Regulation of amusement rides located at campgrounds. (FE) This bill exempts amusement rides located at campgrounds licensed by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection from regulation by the Department of Safety and Professional Services if they are installed according to the manufacturer[s recommended standards. Under current law, DSPS regulates amusement rides. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB270 A school psychologist loan program. (FE) This bill creates a school psychologist loan program to be administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) for students who meet certain eligibility criteria, including enrollment at an institution of higher education in a program of study leading to a school psychologist career. Under the program, HEAB may award to an eligible graduate student a loan of up to $10,000 annually for up to three years. HEAB must forgive 25 percent of the loan for each school year that the recipient is employed as a school psychologist in a rural county or urbanized area, as defined in the bill. XSchool psychologistY is defined in the bill as a licensed psychologist who practices in a school-based setting or an individual who is licensed as a school psychologist under rules promulgated by the Department of Public Instruction. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB269 A school psychologist loan program. (FE) This bill creates a school psychologist loan program to be administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) for students who meet certain eligibility criteria, including enrollment at an institution of higher education in a program of study leading to a school psychologist career. Under the program, HEAB may award to an eligible graduate student a loan of up to $10,000 annually for up to three years. HEAB must forgive 25 percent of the loan for each school year that the recipient is employed as a school psychologist in a rural county or urbanized area, as defined in the bill. XSchool psychologistY is defined in the bill as a licensed psychologist who practices in a school-based setting or an individual who is licensed as a school psychologist under rules promulgated by the Department of Public Instruction. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB146 Prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty. Current law prohibits a person who is registered as a sex offender with the Department of Corrections from changing their name during the period they are required to register. With certain exceptions, a person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. This bill prohibits a person who has been convicted of a violent crime, which is defined in the bill and includes homicide, battery, kidnapping, stalking, human trafficking, and sexual assault, from changing their name. A person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. 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. Crossed Over
SJR30 Congratulating the University of Wisconsin–Madison women’s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey National Championship. Relating to: congratulating the University of Wisconsin]Madison women[s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women[s Hockey National Championship. Crossed Over
SB134 Alternative open enrollment application procedures for residency change based on military orders. Under the full-time open enrollment program (OEP), a pupil may attend a public school in a school district other than the pupil[s resident school district (nonresident school district). Under current law, the standard OEP application procedure requires a pupil[s parent to apply to a nonresident school district during the spring semester immediately preceding the school year in which the pupil wishes to attend the nonresident school district. Current law also provides an alternative application procedure that allows a pupil[s parent to apply to a nonresident school district at any time during the school year, if certain circumstances apply. One of those circumstances is that the place of residence of the pupil and the pupil[s parent or guardian has changed as the result of military orders. Under current law, an alternative application based on this circumstance must be received by no later than 30 days after the date on which the applicable military orders were issued. This bill extends this deadline to 90 days after the applicable military orders were issued and expressly states that military orders include orders from a reserve component of the U.S armed force and the national guard of any state. LRB-1852/2 FFK:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 134 Crossed Over
SB78 The distribution and labeling of fertilizers and soil or plant additives produced from manure. (FE) This bill makes the following changes to requirements that apply to fertilizers and soil or plant additives that are produced from converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives: 1. The bill allows a person to distribute a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives and that has a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is less than 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer. Current law requires a fertilizer distributed in this state to be guaranteed to contain a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium that is at least 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer, unless either 1) the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection promulgates a rule exempting the fertilizer; or 2) DATCP grants a LRB-0065/1 JAM:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 78 permit authorizing the distribution of the fertilizer as a nonagricultural or special- use fertilizer. 2. The bill also exempts a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure into compost from being required to contain a minimum amount of certain plant nutrients. Additionally, under the bill, a label, invoice, or statement accompanying fertilizer produced from converting manure into compost is allowed to represent the amount of plant nutrients or other beneficial substances contained in the fertilizer if the truthfulness of the representation is substantiated by a typical analysis or other scientifically validated analytical method. 3. Under the bill, DATCP may not require a controlled experimental field test to substantiate the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost. Under current law, DATCP may require the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive to be substantiated by controlled experimental studies using the soil or plant additive. 4. The bill allows the truthfulness of a statement on a permit application or label of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost to be substantiated by a typical analysis. Current law requires the label of a soil or plant additive to make a guarantee about the minimum amount of the substances that it contains. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. Crossed Over
SB33 Representations depicting nudity and providing a penalty. Under current law, it is generally a Class I felony to capture or distribute representations depicting nudity without the consent of the person depicted. This bill expands the prohibition to include what are known as Xdeep fakes.Y The bill provides that it is a Class I felony to post, publish, distribute, or exhibit a synthetic intimate representation (commonly known as a Xdeep fakeY) of an identifiable person with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate that person. Under the bill, a synthetic intimate representation is defined as a representation generated using technological means that uses an identifiable person[s face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic to depict an intimate representation of that person, regardless of whether the representation includes components that are artificial, legally generated, or generally accessible. Under current law, it is a Class A misdemeanor to publish or post a private representation, which is a sexually explicit representation that is intended by the person depicted in the representation to be possessed or viewed only by the persons with whom it was directly shared, without consent of the person depicted. This bill LRB-0058/1 MJW:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 33 provides that it is also a Class A misdemeanor to reproduce such representations without that person[s consent. 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. Crossed Over
AJR29 Celebrating May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. Relating to: celebrating May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
AJR18 Honoring the life and public service of Representative Jonathan Brostoff. Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative Jonathan Brostoff. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
AJR12 Honoring the life and public service of Assembly Chief Clerk Patrick Fuller. Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Assembly Chief Clerk Patrick Fuller. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
SJR2 Requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). To create section 1m of article III of the constitution; Relating to: requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). Signed/Enacted/Adopted
SJR54 Designating May 2025 and May 2026 as Food Allergy Awareness Months. Relating to: designating May 2025 and May 2026 as Food Allergy Awareness Months. In Committee
SB185 Property tax exemption for nonprofit theaters. (FE) Current law provides a property tax exemption for property owned or leased by a nonprofit organization that includes one or more outdoor theaters for performing theater arts which have a total seating capacity of not less than 400 persons. In addition, in order to claim the exemption, the Internal Revenue Service must have confirmed the organization[s federal tax exempt status in a determination letter issued no later than July 31, 1969. This bill modifies the exemption so that it applies to property owned or leased by a nonprofit organization that includes one or more theaters for performing theater arts, regardless of whether the theaters are outdoors or indoors. In addition, in order to claim the exemption, the total capacity of the theaters must be not less than 240 persons and the IRS must have confirmed the organization[s federal tax exempt status in a determination letter issued no later than October 1, 1990. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2526/1 JK:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 185 In Committee
AB185 Property tax exemption for nonprofit theaters. (FE) Current law provides a property tax exemption for property owned or leased by a nonprofit organization that includes one or more outdoor theaters for performing theater arts which have a total seating capacity of not less than 400 persons. In addition, in order to claim the exemption, the Internal Revenue Service must have confirmed the organization[s federal tax exempt status in a determination letter issued no later than July 31, 1969. This bill modifies the exemption so that it applies to property owned or leased by a nonprofit organization that includes one or more theaters for performing theater arts, regardless of whether the theaters are outdoors or indoors. In addition, in order to claim the exemption, the total capacity of the theaters must be not less than 240 persons and the IRS must have confirmed the organization[s federal tax exempt status in a determination letter issued no later than October 1, 1990. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB178 Expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE) Under current law, the Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health Services, awards grants to counties and tribes that have established qualifying treatment alternatives and diversion (TAD) programs that offer alcohol or drug treatment services as alternatives to prosecution or incarceration in order to reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and reduce prison and jail populations. Under this bill, a program funded by a TAD grant need not focus solely on alcohol and other drug treatment but may provide treatment programs for a person who has any mental illness. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AJR47 Declaring May as Eye Health Awareness Month. Relating to: declaring May as Eye Health Awareness Month. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
AJR48 Commemorating Hmong-Lao Veterans Day and honoring the Hmong-Lao veterans who served alongside the United States in the Vietnam War. Relating to: commemorating Hmong-Lao Veterans Day and honoring the Hmong-Lao veterans who served alongside the United States in the Vietnam War. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
AB73 Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets. This bill statutorily recognizes specialized dockets for treatment courts and for commercial cases. The bill recognizes in statute treatment courts, which are defined in the bill to include adult drug treatment court, juvenile drug treatment court, operating while intoxicated treatment court, mental health treatment court, family dependency treatment court, veterans treatment court, hybrid treatment court, and tribal healing to wellness court. The bill also statutorily recognizes a specialized docket for commercial cases. Under the bill, the chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, taking into consideration recommendations from the relevant chief judges of the judicial administrative districts, must select circuit court judges who will be assigned to the commercial court docket upon each judge[s agreement to serve. The bill provides that a judge who presides over cases on the commercial court docket is not prohibited from working on any other assigned docket. Under the bill, certain commercial case types must be assigned to the commercial court docket, including cases involving all of the following: governance or internal affairs of business organizations; 2) tortious or statutorily prohibited business activity, unfair competition, or antitrust claims; 3) the sale, consolidation, or merger of a business organization or the conversion, share exchange, or sale of substantially all of the assets of a business organization; 4) the issuance, sale, or transfer of securities; 5) intellectual property rights; 6) the relationship between a franchisor and franchisee or similar distribution relationship; 7) certain claims or disputes involving the Uniform Commercial Code, when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000; 8) receiverships in excess of $250,000; 9) confirmation of arbitration awards and compelling or enforcing arbitration awards when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000; and 10) real estate construction disputes when the amount in controversy exceeds $250,000. The bill provides that certain types of cases are ineligible for assignment to the commercial court docket, including small claims cases, cases involving a governmental entity or political subdivision seeking to enforce a statutory or regulatory restriction or prohibition, or disputes between landlords and tenants. The commercial court docket created under the bill is a commercial case docket that generally involves disputes between commercial entities rather than individuals and does not include actions typically involving individuals such as personal injury suits, products liability, malpractice, or other tort claims or landlord and tenant disputes or similar claims. Under the bill, parties may jointly move for discretionary assignment of a case to the commercial court docket if the case is one that is not identified under the mandatory criteria but is not otherwise ineligible for assignment. The bill provides that a decision granting or denying a motion for a discretionary assignment of a case to the commercial court docket is final and nonappealable. The bill also allows that parties to a case that is filed in a judicial administrative district that does not have a dedicated commercial court docket may, in certain circumstances, jointly petition for transfer of the case to a commercial court docket. Under the bill, no party may withdraw a request for transfer to the commercial court docket after a judicial assignment of the case has been made. Passed
SJR26 Celebrating May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. Relating to: celebrating May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. In Committee
AB202 Voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases. (FE) Under current law, a residential lease is void and unenforceable if it contains certain provisions (voidable provisions). Examples of voidable provisions include provisions that: 1) allow landlords to refuse to renew a lease because a tenant has contacted an entity for law enforcement, health, or safety services; 2) waive a landlord[s obligation to mitigate damages; 3) impose liability on a tenant for personal injury arising from causes clearly beyond the tenant[s control, and; 4) allow landlords to terminate a tenancy for a crime committed in relation to the rental property when the tenant[s lease did not include a statutorily required notice of domestic abuse protections. This bill provides that if court of competent jurisdiction finds that a residential lease includes a voidable provision, a tenant may elect to: 1) void the lease and have their tenancy converted into a periodic tenancy, or; 2) sever the voidable provision from their lease and continue under the remainder of the lease. In addition, in April 2024, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals published a decision, Koble Invs. v Marquardt, 2024 WI App 26, regarding certain landlord and CORRECTED COPY tenant matters. As of February 28, 2025, the case was on appeal to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, with parties[ first briefings due to the court in March 2025. Among the holdings in Koble, the court of appeals determined that a particular landlord was acting as a Xdebt collectorY and that landlord[s tenant was a XcustomerY as those terms are defined under Wisconsin Consumer Act. The court of appeals also held that because the landlord violated a provision of the Wisconsin Consumer Act, the tenant[s attorney was entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs. Under this bill, the Wisconsin Consumer Act does not apply to residential leases or mobile home leases. In the same case, the court of appeals held that the tenant[s lease was void and unenforceable under landlord and tenant law, and that, under another law enforcing fair methods of competition, the tenant could recover twice the amount of the tenant[s pecuniary loss, together with reasonable attorney fees and court costs. The bill provides that under landlord and tenant law, a person injured by a voidable provision can recover twice the amount of the pecuniary loss, together with reasonable attorney fees and court costs, and provides that such pecuniary loss does not include any rent paid by the tenant. The bill also limits the remedies a person may seek when a rental agreement includes a voidable provision to only those remedies provided in the bill. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SJR49 Commemorating Hmong-Lao Veterans Day and honoring the Hmong-Lao veterans who served alongside the United States in the Vietnam War. Relating to: commemorating Hmong-Lao Veterans Day and honoring the Hmong- Lao veterans who served alongside the United States in the Vietnam War. In Committee
AJR40 Celebrating 50 years of strength and resilience of the Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, and Vietnamese people. Relating to: celebrating 50 years of strength and resilience of the Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, and Vietnamese people. Crossed Over
AB209 Creating a hazard mitigation revolving loan program, creating a Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) This bill authorizes the creation of a hazard mitigation revolving loan program to be administered by the Department of Military Affairs and requires the creation of a Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program to be administered by the Department of Natural Resources. Hazard mitigation revolving loan program The bill authorizes the Division of Emergency Management within DMA to enter into an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to receive federal grant funding for the purpose of establishing a hazard mitigation revolving loan program. The bill creates a separate, nonlapsible trust fund, designated as the Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund, to accept money from FEMA under the federal Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act, P.L. 116-284. Under the bill, if DMA enters into such an agreement with FEMA, the secretary of administration must transfer from the general fund to the Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund an amount equal to 10 percent of any money received from the federal government, and DMA must provide loans to local units of government for hazard mitigation projects in accordance with the requirements of the STORM Act. Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program The bill requires DNR to administer a revolving loan program to assist municipalities and owners of homes located on the shore of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior where the structural integrity of municipal buildings or homes is threatened by erosion of the shoreline. The bill appropriates $5,000,000 to DNR for this purpose and increases DNR[s position authorization by 0.5 FTE to administer the program. The bill requires DNR to promulgate rules to administer the program, including eligibility requirements and income limitations, and authorizes DNR to promulgate emergency rules for the period before permanent rules take effect. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AJR51 Designating May 2025 and May 2026 as Food Allergy Awareness Months. Relating to: designating May 2025 and May 2026 as Food Allergy Awareness Months. Crossed Over
AB244 Posting the child abuse and neglect reporting hotline in school buildings. (FE) This bill requires each school board, operator of an independent charter school, and governing body of a private school participating in a parental choice program or the Special Needs Scholarship Program to post in a conspicuous location in a public area of each school building a sign that contains the telephone number for the local county or state agency that is responsible for receiving reports of, and conducting investigations regarding, child abuse or neglect. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB14 Pelvic exams on unconscious patients and creating an administrative rule related to hospital requirements for pelvic exams on unconscious patients. This bill requires hospitals to ensure written informed consent is obtained from a patient before a pelvic exam is performed solely for educational purposes on the patient while the patient is under general anesthesia or otherwise unconscious. The bill also creates a Department of Health Services rule providing that hospitals must maintain written policies and procedures requiring written informed consent to be obtained from a patient before a pelvic exam is performed solely for educational purposes on the patient while the patient is under general anesthesia or otherwise unconscious. Passed
SB35 Law enforcement and firefighter annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) Under current law, certain persons who receive a retirement or disability annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System and who are hired by an employer that participates in the WRS must suspend that annuity and may not receive a WRS annuity payment until the employee is no longer in a WRS-covered position. This suspension applies to a person who 1) has reached his or her normal retirement date; 2) is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer or provides employee services to a WRS-participating employer; and 3) is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds. This bill creates an exception to this suspension for an annuitant who retired from employment with a participating employer and who is subsequently rehired or provides employee services after retirement if 1) the annuitant is a retired law enforcement officer or firefighter; 2) at the time the annuitant initially retires from covered employment with a participating employer, the annuitant does not have an LRB-0063/1 MIM:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 35 agreement with any participating employer to return to employment; and 3) the annuitant elects to not become a participating employee at the time the annuitant is rehired or enters into a contract after retirement. In other words, the bill allows an annuitant who was a law enforcement officer or firefighter to return to work with an employer that participates in the WRS and elect to not become a participating employee for purposes of the WRS but instead continue to receive an annuity from the WRS. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB11 Pelvic exams on unconscious patients and creating an administrative rule related to hospital requirements for pelvic exams on unconscious patients. This bill requires hospitals to ensure written informed consent is obtained from a patient before a pelvic exam is performed solely for educational purposes on the patient while the patient is under general anesthesia or otherwise unconscious. The bill also creates a Department of Health Services rule providing that hospitals must maintain written policies and procedures requiring written informed consent to be obtained from a patient before a pelvic exam is performed solely for educational purposes on the patient while the patient is under general anesthesia or otherwise unconscious. In Committee
AB158 Changing the conditions of liability for worker’s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff. (FE) This bill makes changes to the conditions of liability for worker[s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff members, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff members who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under current law, if a law enforcement officer or full-time firefighter is diagnosed with PTSD by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist, and the mental injury that resulted in that diagnosis is not accompanied by a physical injury, that law enforcement officer or firefighter can bring a claim for worker[s compensation benefits if the conditions of liability are proven by the preponderance of the evidence and the mental injury is not the result of a good faith employment action by the person[s employer. Also under current law, liability for such treatment for a mental injury is limited to no more than 32 weeks after the injury is first reported. Under current law, an injured emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, volunteer firefighter, correctional officer, emergency dispatcher, coroner, coroner staff member, medical examiner, or medical examiner staff member who does not have an accompanying physical injury must demonstrate a diagnosis based on unusual stress of greater dimensions than the day-to-day emotional strain and tension experienced by all employees as required under School District No. 1 v. DILHR, 62 Wis. 2d 370, 215 N.W.2d 373 (1974) in order to receive worker[s compensation benefits for PTSD. Under the bill, such an injured emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, volunteer firefighter, correctional officer, emergency dispatcher, coroner, coroner staff member, medical examiner, or medical examiner staff member is not required to demonstrate a diagnosis based on that standard, and instead must demonstrate a diagnosis based on the same standard as law enforcement officers and firefighters. Finally, under the bill, an emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, volunteer firefighter, correctional officer, emergency dispatcher, coroner, coroner staff member, medical examiner, or medical examiner staff member is restricted to compensation for a mental injury that is not accompanied by a physical injury and that results in a diagnosis of PTSD three times in his or her lifetime irrespective of a change of employer or employment in the same manner as law enforcement officers and firefighters. Because this bill relates to public employee retirement or pensions, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB168 Changing the conditions of liability for worker’s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff. (FE) This bill makes changes to the conditions of liability for worker[s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff members, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff members who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under current law, if a law enforcement officer or full-time firefighter is diagnosed with PTSD by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist, and the mental injury that resulted in that diagnosis is not accompanied by a physical injury, that LRB-0062/1 MIM:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 168 law enforcement officer or firefighter can bring a claim for worker[s compensation benefits if the conditions of liability are proven by the preponderance of the evidence and the mental injury is not the result of a good faith employment action by the person[s employer. Also under current law, liability for such treatment for a mental injury is limited to no more than 32 weeks after the injury is first reported. Under current law, an injured emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, volunteer firefighter, correctional officer, emergency dispatcher, coroner, coroner staff member, medical examiner, or medical examiner staff member who does not have an accompanying physical injury must demonstrate a diagnosis based on unusual stress of greater dimensions than the day-to-day emotional strain and tension experienced by all employees as required under School District No. 1 v. DILHR, 62 Wis. 2d 370, 215 N.W.2d 373 (1974) in order to receive worker[s compensation benefits for PTSD. Under the bill, such an injured emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, volunteer firefighter, correctional officer, emergency dispatcher, coroner, coroner staff member, medical examiner, or medical examiner staff member is not required to demonstrate a diagnosis based on that standard, and instead must demonstrate a diagnosis based on the same standard as law enforcement officers and firefighters. Finally, under the bill, an emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, volunteer firefighter, correctional officer, emergency dispatcher, coroner, coroner staff member, medical examiner, or medical examiner staff member is restricted to compensation for a mental injury that is not accompanied by a physical injury and that results in a diagnosis of PTSD three times in his or her lifetime irrespective of a change of employer or employment in the same manner as law enforcement officers and firefighters. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SJR51 Declaring May as Eye Health Awareness Month. Relating to: declaring May as Eye Health Awareness Month. In Committee
AB247 Local building permit fees for certain improvements of residences of disabled veterans. (FE) This bill requires a political subdivision to reduce the fee it charges for a building permit by 75 percent or $500, whichever reduction is less, if the permit is for improvements to the primary residence of a disabled veteran, the improvements are necessary to accommodate a disability of the disabled veteran, and the residence is owned by the disabled veteran or a caretaker of the disabled veteran. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB153 Expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE) Under current law, the Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health Services, awards grants to counties and tribes that have established qualifying treatment alternatives and diversion (TAD) programs that offer alcohol or drug treatment services as alternatives to prosecution or incarceration in order to reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and reduce prison and jail populations. Under this bill, a program funded by a TAD grant need not focus solely on alcohol and other drug treatment but may provide treatment programs for a person who has any mental illness. LRB-2349/1 MJW:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 153 For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB175 Local building permit fees for certain improvements of residences of disabled veterans. (FE) This bill requires a political subdivision to reduce the fee it charges for a building permit by 75 percent or $500, whichever reduction is less, if the permit is for improvements to the primary residence of a disabled veteran, the improvements are necessary to accommodate a disability of the disabled veteran, and the residence is owned by the disabled veteran or a caretaker of the disabled veteran. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB252 The notice of an investigation of child abuse or neglect or unborn child abuse provided to appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense. (FE) Under current law, if a county department of human services or social services or, in Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with DCF (collectively XagencyY) determines that a caregiver is suspected of committing or threatening abuse or neglect of a child or that a person who is not a caregiver has committed or threatened abuse of a child related to sex trafficking; cannot identify an individual who is suspected of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect of a child; or suspects abuse of an unborn child, the agency must, within 24 hours after receiving the report, initiate a diligent investigation to determine if the child or unborn child is in need of protection or services. Under this bill, if an agency knows or has reason to know that a parent of a child or unborn child with respect to whom the agency has initiated such an investigation is a member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces, or the Wisconsin national guard, the agency must provide notice of that investigation to the appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense CORRECTED COPY within 24 hours. The bill requires the notice to consist only of the name and address of the child or expectant mother and the fact that an investigation has been initiated about that child or unborn child. The bill imposes the same confidentiality requirements on such a notice as current law imposes on all reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB80 Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets. This bill statutorily recognizes specialized dockets for treatment courts and for commercial cases. The bill recognizes in statute treatment courts, which are defined in the bill to include adult drug treatment court, juvenile drug treatment court, operating while intoxicated treatment court, mental health treatment court, family dependency treatment court, veterans treatment court, hybrid treatment court, and tribal healing to wellness court. The bill also statutorily recognizes a specialized docket for commercial cases. Under the bill, the chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, taking into consideration recommendations from the relevant chief judges of the judicial administrative districts, must select circuit court judges who will be assigned to the commercial court docket upon each judge[s agreement to serve. The bill provides that a judge who presides over cases on the commercial court docket is not prohibited from working on any other assigned docket. Under the bill, certain commercial case types must be assigned to the commercial court docket, including cases involving all of the following: governance or internal affairs of business organizations; 2) tortious or statutorily prohibited business activity, unfair competition, or antitrust claims; 3) the sale, consolidation, or merger of a business organization or the conversion, share LRB-2002/1 SWB:emw 1) the 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 80 exchange, or sale of substantially all of the assets of a business organization; 4) the issuance, sale, or transfer of securities; 5) intellectual property rights; 6) the relationship between a franchisor and franchisee or similar distribution relationship; 7) certain claims or disputes involving the Uniform Commercial Code, when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000; 8) receiverships in excess of $250,000; 9) confirmation of arbitration awards and compelling or enforcing arbitration awards when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000; and 10) real estate construction disputes when the amount in controversy exceeds $250,000. The bill provides that certain types of cases are ineligible for assignment to the commercial court docket, including small claims cases, cases involving a governmental entity or political subdivision seeking to enforce a statutory or regulatory restriction or prohibition, or disputes between landlords and tenants. The commercial court docket created under the bill is a commercial case docket that generally involves disputes between commercial entities rather than individuals and does not include actions typically involving individuals such as personal injury suits, products liability, malpractice, or other tort claims or landlord and tenant disputes or similar claims. Under the bill, parties may jointly move for discretionary assignment of a case to the commercial court docket if the case is one that is not identified under the mandatory criteria but is not otherwise ineligible for assignment. The bill provides that a decision granting or denying a motion for a discretionary assignment of a case to the commercial court docket is final and nonappealable. The bill also allows that parties to a case that is filed in a judicial administrative district that does not have a dedicated commercial court docket may, in certain circumstances, jointly petition for transfer of the case to a commercial court docket. Under the bill, no party may withdraw a request for transfer to the commercial court docket after a judicial assignment of the case has been made. In Committee
SB171 Requiring child sexual abuse prevention education. (FE) Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, this bill requires each school board to provide a child sexual abuse prevention instructional program to pupils in grades four-year-old kindergarten to 12. Under the bill, each school board must include various topics in its child sexual abuse prevention instructional program, including 1) age-appropriated facts about sexual abuse; 2) how to communicate incidents of sexual abuse to trustworthy adults; 3) how to set and respect personal boundaries; and 4) information about giving and receiving consent. Annually before offering the child sexual abuse prevention instructional program to a pupil, the bill requires that each school board provide a pupil[s parent or guardian with information related to the instructional program, including approximately when it will be provided to the pupil, an explanation of how to opt out of the instructional program, an outline of the instructional program for the pupil[s specific grade, and facts and clear explanations related to specific child sexual abuse topics. Lastly, under the bill, a pupil[s parent or guardian may opt the pupil out of the instructional program by filing a written request with the pupil[s teacher or principal. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2531/1 FFK:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 171 In Committee
AB164 Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and federal Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants. (FE) This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant changes include all of the following: Program name change The bill changes references in the statutes to Xunemployment insuranceY to Xreemployment assistanceY and requires the program and its benefits to be known as reemployment assistance. The bill also requires DWD to have a division known as the Division of Reemployment Assistance and requires the reemployment assistance law to be administered by that division. General qualifying requirements Under current law, a claimant for UI benefits is generally required to 1) register for work, 2) be able to work and available for work, and 3) conduct a work search for each week in order to remain eligible. A claimant is required to conduct at least four work search actions each week, and DWD may require, by rule, that an individual conduct more than four work search actions per week. Finally, if a claimant is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week, the claimant must provide information or job application materials that are requested by DWD and participate in a public employment office workshop or training program or in similar reemployment services required by DWD. The bill does the following: 1. Requires, for the third and subsequent weeks of a claimant[s benefit year, that at least two of the required weekly work search actions be direct contacts with potential employers. 2. Requires a claimant who resides in this state, for each week other than an initial week, to submit and keep posted on the DWD[s job center website a current resume. 3. Requires, when a claimant is claiming benefits with less than three weeks of benefits left, that the claimant complete a reemployment counseling session. Additionally, current law allows DWD to use information or job application materials described above to assess a claimant[s efforts, skills, and ability to find or obtain work and to develop a list of potential opportunities for a claimant to obtain suitable work. However, current law provides that a claimant who otherwise satisfies the required weekly work search requirement is not required to apply for any specific positions on the list of potential opportunities in order to satisfy the work search requirement. The bill requires, instead of allows, DWD to provide this assistance. The bill also repeals the language in current law providing that a claimant who otherwise satisfies the weekly work search requirement is not required to apply for specific positions provided by DWD and requires DWD to provide each claimant with at least four potential opportunities each week, one or more of which may be opportunities with a temporary help company. Finally, current law allows DWD to require a claimant to participate in a public employment office workshop or training program. The bill provides that DWD must require a claimant to participate in a public employment office workshop or training program if the claimant is likely to exhaust regular UI benefits. DWD may also require other claimants to participate in a public employment office workshop or training program, but must prioritize claimants more likely to have difficulty obtaining reemployment. Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants Under federal law, the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) operates the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program, whereby grants are awarded to states to provide reemployment services to claimants. Participation in the RESEA program is voluntary and requires that a state submit a state plan to USDOL that outlines how the state intends to conduct a program of reemployment services and eligibility assessments. The bill requires that DWD act to continue to participate in the RESEA program and requires DWD to provide certain RESEA services to all UI claimants. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. Crossed Over
SB197 Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and federal Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants. (FE) This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant changes include all of the following: Program name change The bill changes references in the statutes to Xunemployment insuranceY to Xreemployment assistanceY and requires the program and its benefits to be known as reemployment assistance. The bill also requires DWD to have a division known as the Division of Reemployment Assistance and requires the reemployment assistance law to be administered by that division. General qualifying requirements Under current law, a claimant for UI benefits is generally required to 1) register for work, 2) be able to work and available for work, and 3) conduct a work search for each week in order to remain eligible. A claimant is required to conduct at least four work search actions each week, and DWD may require, by rule, that an individual conduct more than four work search actions per week. Finally, if a claimant is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week, the claimant must provide information or job application materials that are requested by DWD and participate in a public employment office workshop or training program or in similar reemployment services required by DWD. The bill does the following: 1. Requires, for the third and subsequent weeks of a claimant[s benefit year, that at least two of the required weekly work search actions be direct contacts with potential employers. 2. Requires a claimant who resides in this state, for each week other than an initial week, to submit and keep posted on the DWD[s job center website a current resume. 3. Requires, when a claimant is claiming benefits with less than three weeks of benefits left, that the claimant complete a reemployment counseling session. Additionally, current law allows DWD to use information or job application materials described above to assess a claimant[s efforts, skills, and ability to find or obtain work and to develop a list of potential opportunities for a claimant to obtain suitable work. However, current law provides that a claimant who otherwise satisfies the required weekly work search requirement is not required to apply for any specific positions on the list of potential opportunities in order to satisfy the work search requirement. The bill requires, instead of allows, DWD to provide this assistance. The bill also repeals the language in current law providing that a claimant who otherwise satisfies the weekly work search requirement is not required to apply for specific positions provided by DWD and requires DWD to provide each claimant with at least four potential opportunities each week, one or more of which may be opportunities with a temporary help company. Finally, current law allows DWD to require a claimant to participate in a LRB-2752/1 MED:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 197 public employment office workshop or training program. The bill provides that DWD must require a claimant to participate in a public employment office workshop or training program if the claimant is likely to exhaust regular UI benefits. DWD may also require other claimants to participate in a public employment office workshop or training program, but must prioritize claimants more likely to have difficulty obtaining reemployment. Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants Under federal law, the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) operates the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program, whereby grants are awarded to states to provide reemployment services to claimants. Participation in the RESEA program is voluntary and requires that a state submit a state plan to USDOL that outlines how the state intends to conduct a program of reemployment services and eligibility assessments. The bill requires that DWD act to continue to participate in the RESEA program and requires DWD to provide certain RESEA services to all UI claimants. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB58 Referendum questions for certain referenda that affect property taxes. (FE) Under current law, a county, city, village, town, school district, or technical college district may exceed its property tax levy limit if the electors of that political subdivision or district approve the increase at a referendum. The ballot question must indicate the dollar amount of the increase in the levy limit. Under this bill, the ballot question must also provide a good faith estimate of the annual dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the political subdivision or district that would result from passage of the referendum. Also under current law, in certain cases when local governmental units authorize the issuance of bonds, the local governmental unit must adopt a resolution stating the purpose of the bonding and the maximum amounts of borrowing. The local governmental unit, in certain cases, is required or authorized to seek approval of the bonding authorization at a referendum. Among other things, the referendum question must contain a statement of the purpose for which LRB-1978/1 EVM:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 58 bonds are to be issued and the maximum amount of the bonds to be issued. Under the bill, the question must also provide all of the following: 1. The estimated interest rate and amount of the interest accruing on the bonds. 2. Any fees that will be incurred if the bonds are defeased. 3. A good faith estimate of the dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the local governmental unit that would result from passage of the referendum. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB8 Repair and replacement of implements of husbandry under warranty. This bill creates requirements, commonly known as a “lemon law,” for the repair and replacement of an implement of husbandry that has a condition or defect (nonconformity) that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the implement of husbandry and that is covered by an express warranty. Under the bill, if an implement of husbandry does not conform to an applicable express warranty, and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, the lessor, or any of the manufacturer’s authorized dealers and makes the implement of husbandry available for repair, the manufacturer, lessor, or authorized dealer must repair the nonconformity. If the same nonconformity has been subject to repair at least four times and the nonconformity continues, or if the implement of husbandry is out of service for an aggregate of at least 30 days because of warranty nonconformities, the consumer is entitled to a replacement implement of husbandry or a full refund. LRB-0046/1 ZDW:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 8 In Committee
AB236 The rights of sexual assault crime victims. Under current law, crime victims are provided certain rights under Wisconsin[s Bill of Rights for Victims and Witnesses, which generally relates to ensuring that all crime victims and witnesses are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity throughout the criminal justice process. This bill adds to the bill of rights for crime victims to provide that if a victim of sexual assault has provided a sexual assault kit as evidence of the crime, he or she has all of the following rights: 1. To have his or her kit tested in accordance with statutory timelines. 2. Upon request, to be informed of the location, testing date, and testing results of the sexual assault kit. 3. Upon request, to be informed whether a deoxyribonucleic acid analysis has been performed on the kit and, if an analysis has, whether or not a deoxyribonucleic acid profile has been developed and whether a comparison of the profile to profiles of known persons has identified a person. 4. Upon request, to be informed of the estimated destruction date of the sexual assault kit. 5. To be informed of any change in the status of his or her case, including if the case has been closed or reopened. In Committee
AB229 The law enforcement officers’ bill of rights. Current law contains a law enforcement officers[ bill of rights that protects certain law enforcement officers[ rights relating to their engagement or lack of engagement in political activity, the manner in which they may be subject to interrogation, and their candidacy for public office and provides that a law enforcement officer may not be discharged; disciplined; demoted or denied promotion, transfer, or reassignment; or otherwise discriminated against in regard to employment for exercising such rights. Under current law, this bill of rights applies only to law enforcement officers employed by a city, village, town, or county. This bill applies the law enforcement officers[ bill of rights to any person employed by the state or by a city, village, town, or county for the purpose of detecting and preventing crime and enforcing laws or ordinances, who is authorized to make arrests for violations of the laws or ordinances that he or she is employed to enforce. In Committee
SJR41 Celebrating 50 years of strength and resilience of the Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, and Vietnamese people. Relating to: celebrating 50 years of strength and resilience of the Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, and Vietnamese people. In Committee
SB234 Posting the child abuse and neglect reporting hotline in school buildings. (FE) This bill requires each school board, operator of an independent charter school, and governing body of a private school participating in a parental choice program or the Special Needs Scholarship Program to post in a conspicuous location in a public area of each school building a sign that contains the telephone number for the local county or state agency that is responsible for receiving reports of, and conducting investigations regarding, child abuse or neglect. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB138 Prostitution crime surcharge and making an appropriation. (FE) Under current law, the court must impose certain surcharges on a defendant who has been found guilty of a criminal offense. The surcharges are in addition to any applicable fines, costs, and fees. For instance, the court must impose a crime victim and witness assistance surcharge in an amount of $67 for each conviction of a misdemeanor count and in an amount of $92 for each conviction of a felony count. The surcharge amounts collected reimburse counties for services provided to victims and witnesses of crimes. This bill creates a $5,000 surcharge to be imposed on persons who are convicted of patronizing or soliciting prostitutes, pandering, keeping a place of prostitution, soliciting a child for prostitution, or patronizing a child. Under the bill, the surcharge amounts collected are used for treatment and services for sex- trafficking victims and for criminal investigative operations and law enforcement relating to Internet crimes against children. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2013/1 CMH:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 138 In Committee
SB114 Sales and use tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products. (FE) This bill creates a sales and use tax exemption for the sale of diapers and feminine hygiene products. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB63 Ratification of the Driver License Compact. (FE) This bill enters Wisconsin into the Driver License Compact, which establishes standards for the treatment and exchange of driver licensing and conviction information and other data pertinent to the licensing process. The DLC requires all participating states to recognize certain kinds of violations relating mostly to operating motor vehicles and the administrative actions taken in response to those violations, such as suspension or revocation of a person[s operating privilege by the appropriate state agency (DLC code violations). Under the DLC, when a person who is licensed in one state that is a party to the DLC commits a DLC code violation in another party state, the licensing state takes administrative action in response to the violation, based on information provided by the state in which the violation occurred. Any administrative action by a party state is recognized by all other party states. The DLC also generally provides that records concerning a licensed driver are maintained only by the licensing state. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1854/1 EVM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 63 In Committee
AB72 Ratification of the Driver License Compact. (FE) This bill enters Wisconsin into the Driver License Compact, which establishes standards for the treatment and exchange of driver licensing and conviction information and other data pertinent to the licensing process. The DLC requires all participating states to recognize certain kinds of violations relating mostly to operating motor vehicles and the administrative actions taken in response to those violations, such as suspension or revocation of a person[s operating privilege by the appropriate state agency (DLC code violations). Under the DLC, when a person who is licensed in one state that is a party to the DLC commits a DLC code violation in another party state, the licensing state takes administrative action in response to the violation, based on information provided by the state in which the violation occurred. Any administrative action by a party state is recognized by all other party states. The DLC also generally provides that records concerning a licensed driver are maintained only by the licensing state. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB93 The distribution and labeling of fertilizers and soil or plant additives produced from manure. (FE) This bill makes the following changes to requirements that apply to fertilizers and soil or plant additives that are produced from converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives: 1. The bill allows a person to distribute a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives and that has a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is less than 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer. Current law requires a fertilizer distributed in this state to be guaranteed to contain a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium that is at least 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer, unless either 1) the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection promulgates a rule exempting the fertilizer; or 2) DATCP grants a permit authorizing the distribution of the fertilizer as a nonagricultural or special- use fertilizer. 2. The bill also exempts a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure into compost from being required to contain a minimum amount of certain plant nutrients. Additionally, under the bill, a label, invoice, or statement accompanying fertilizer produced from converting manure into compost is allowed to represent the amount of plant nutrients or other beneficial substances contained in the fertilizer if the truthfulness of the representation is substantiated by a typical analysis or other scientifically validated analytical method. 3. Under the bill, DATCP may not require a controlled experimental field test to substantiate the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost. Under current law, DATCP may require the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive to be substantiated by controlled experimental studies using the soil or plant additive. 4. The bill allows the truthfulness of a statement on a permit application or label of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost to be substantiated by a typical analysis. Current law requires the label of a soil or plant additive to make a guarantee about the minimum amount of the substances that it contains. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB84 Prostitution crime surcharge and making an appropriation. (FE) Under current law, the court must impose certain surcharges on a defendant who has been found guilty of a criminal offense. The surcharges are in addition to any applicable fines, costs, and fees. For instance, the court must impose a crime victim and witness assistance surcharge in an amount of $67 for each conviction of a misdemeanor count and in an amount of $92 for each conviction of a felony count. The surcharge amounts collected reimburse counties for services provided to victims and witnesses of crimes. This bill creates a $5,000 surcharge to be imposed on persons who are convicted of patronizing or soliciting prostitutes, pandering, keeping a place of prostitution, soliciting a child for prostitution, or patronizing a child. Under the bill, the surcharge amounts collected are used for treatment and services for sex- trafficking victims and for criminal investigative operations and law enforcement relating to Internet crimes against children. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB128 Requiring first responders to be trained to administer epinephrine delivery systems. (FE) This bill requires first responders to be trained in how to recognize signs and symptoms of severe allergic reactions, standards and procedures for the storage and administration of an epinephrine delivery system, and emergency follow-up procedures after an epinephrine delivery system is administered and requires first responders to have an epinephrine delivery system available to the first responder for use at all times while on duty. First responders include conservation wardens, correctional officers, emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. The Department of Health Services is required to identify organizations that conduct trainings that cover all the subjects that first responders are required to be trained in under the bill. Finally, the bill allows DHS to distribute epinephrine delivery systems to first responders who are trained in all subjects described under the bill or to employers of first responders who are trained in all subjects described under the bill to be used by those first responders. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AJR25 Proclaiming April 24, 2025, to be Holocaust Remembrance Day and April 27, 2025, to May 4, 2025, as Holocaust Days of Remembrance in Wisconsin. Relating to: proclaiming April 24, 2025, to be Holocaust Remembrance Day and April 27, 2025, to May 4, 2025, as Holocaust Days of Remembrance in Wisconsin. In Committee
SB156 Requiring first responders to be trained to administer epinephrine delivery systems. (FE) This bill requires first responders to be trained in how to recognize signs and symptoms of severe allergic reactions, standards and procedures for the storage and administration of an epinephrine delivery system, and emergency follow-up procedures after an epinephrine delivery system is administered and requires first responders to have an epinephrine delivery system available to the first responder for use at all times while on duty. First responders include conservation wardens, correctional officers, emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. The Department of Health Services is required to identify organizations that conduct trainings that cover all the subjects that first responders are required to be trained in under the bill. Finally, the bill allows DHS to distribute epinephrine delivery systems to first responders who are trained in all subjects described under the bill or to employers of first responders who are trained in all subjects described under the bill to be used by those first responders. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1317/1 JPC:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 156 In Committee
SB227 The law enforcement officers’ bill of rights. Current law contains a law enforcement officers[ bill of rights that protects certain law enforcement officers[ rights relating to their engagement or lack of engagement in political activity, the manner in which they may be subject to interrogation, and their candidacy for public office and provides that a law enforcement officer may not be discharged; disciplined; demoted or denied promotion, transfer, or reassignment; or otherwise discriminated against in regard to employment for exercising such rights. Under current law, this bill of rights applies only to law enforcement officers employed by a city, village, town, or county. This bill applies the law enforcement officers[ bill of rights to any person employed by the state or by a city, village, town, or county for the purpose of detecting and preventing crime and enforcing laws or ordinances, who is authorized to make arrests for violations of the laws or ordinances that he or she is employed to enforce. In Committee
SB224 The rights of sexual assault crime victims. Under current law, crime victims are provided certain rights under Wisconsin[s Bill of Rights for Victims and Witnesses, which generally relates to ensuring that all crime victims and witnesses are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity throughout the criminal justice process. This bill adds to the bill of rights for crime victims to provide that if a victim of sexual assault has provided a sexual assault kit as evidence of the crime, he or she has all of the following rights: 1. To have his or her kit tested in accordance with statutory timelines. 2. Upon request, to be informed of the location, testing date, and testing results of the sexual assault kit. 3. Upon request, to be informed whether a deoxyribonucleic acid analysis has been performed on the kit and, if an analysis has, whether or not a deoxyribonucleic acid profile has been developed and whether a comparison of the profile to profiles of known persons has identified a person. 4. Upon request, to be informed of the estimated destruction date of the sexual assault kit. 5. To be informed of any change in the status of his or her case, including if the case has been closed or reopened. LRB-0060/1 MJW:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 224 In Committee
SJR27 Proclaiming April 24, 2025, to be Holocaust Remembrance Day and April 27, 2025, to May 4, 2025, as Holocaust Days of Remembrance in Wisconsin. Relating to: proclaiming April 24, 2025, to be Holocaust Remembrance Day and April 27, 2025, to May 4, 2025, as Holocaust Days of Remembrance in Wisconsin. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
SJR24 Proclaiming April 26, 2025, as Shared Parenting Day in Wisconsin. Relating to: proclaiming April 26, 2025, as Shared Parenting Day in Wisconsin. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
AB184 Coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions and benefit limits under health plans. This bill generally sets certain requirements and limitations on health insurance coverage in the event the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act no longer preempts state law on the topic. Currently, the Affordable Care Act generally allows premium rates to be based only on individual or family coverage, rating area, age, and tobacco use; requires group and individual health insurance policies to accept every employer and individual that applies for coverage, known as guaranteed issue, and renew health insurance coverage at the option of the sponsor or individual; and prohibits health insurance policies from imposing preexisting condition exclusions. If those requirements and limitations of the Affordable Care Act become no longer enforceable or no longer preempt state law, all of the following apply under the bill: 1. Every individual health benefit plan must accept every individual in this state who applies for coverage and every group health benefit plan must accept every employer in this state that applies for coverage, regardless of whether any individual or employee has a preexisting condition. A health benefit plan may restrict enrollment in coverage to open or special enrollment periods, and the commissioner of insurance must ensure a statewide 45-day open enrollment period allowing individuals, including individuals who do not have coverage, to enroll in coverage. Health benefit plans must provide special enrollment periods for certain qualifying events described in federal law. 2. A health benefit plan offered on the individual or small employer market or a self-insured governmental health plan may not vary premium rates for a specific plan on any basis except age, tobacco use, area in the state, and whether the plan covers an individual or a family. 3. A health benefit plan or a self-insured governmental health plan may not impose a preexisting condition exclusion. A preexisting condition exclusion is defined in the bill as a limitation or exclusion of benefits relating to a condition based on the fact that the condition was present before the date of enrollment for the coverage, whether or not any medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received before the date of enrollment for coverage. 4. A health benefit plan or a self-insured governmental health plan is prohibited from imposing an annual or lifetime limit on the dollar value of benefits under the plan. The Affordable Care Act exempts certain plans from complying with the act[s provisions. Similarly, any health benefit plan that is exempt from a provision of the Affordable Care Act is exempt from complying with the corresponding provision of this bill. This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats. In Committee
SJR28 Reaffirming Wisconsin’s commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan; reaffirming Wisconsin’s support for the Taiwan Relations Act; supporting Taiwan’s signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States; and continuing support for increasing Taiwan’s international profile. Relating to: reaffirming Wisconsin[s commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan; reaffirming Wisconsin[s support for the Taiwan Relations Act; supporting Taiwan[s signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States; and continuing support for increasing Taiwan[s international profile. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
SB174 Coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions and benefit limits under health plans. This bill generally sets certain requirements and limitations on health insurance coverage in the event the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act no longer preempts state law on the topic. Currently, the Affordable Care Act generally allows premium rates to be based only on individual or family coverage, rating area, age, and tobacco use; requires group and individual health insurance policies to accept every employer and individual that applies for coverage, known as guaranteed issue, and renew health insurance coverage at the option of the sponsor or individual; and prohibits health insurance policies from imposing preexisting condition exclusions. If those requirements and limitations of the Affordable Care Act become no longer enforceable or no longer preempt state law, all of the following apply under the bill: 1. Every individual health benefit plan must accept every individual in this state who applies for coverage and every group health benefit plan must accept every employer in this state that applies for coverage, regardless of whether any LRB-1868/1 JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 174 individual or employee has a preexisting condition. A health benefit plan may restrict enrollment in coverage to open or special enrollment periods, and the commissioner of insurance must ensure a statewide 45-day open enrollment period allowing individuals, including individuals who do not have coverage, to enroll in coverage. Health benefit plans must provide special enrollment periods for certain qualifying events described in federal law. 2. A health benefit plan offered on the individual or small employer market or a self-insured governmental health plan may not vary premium rates for a specific plan on any basis except age, tobacco use, area in the state, and whether the plan covers an individual or a family. 3. A health benefit plan or a self-insured governmental health plan may not impose a preexisting condition exclusion. A preexisting condition exclusion is defined in the bill as a limitation or exclusion of benefits relating to a condition based on the fact that the condition was present before the date of enrollment for the coverage, whether or not any medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received before the date of enrollment for coverage. 4. A health benefit plan or a self-insured governmental health plan is prohibited from imposing an annual or lifetime limit on the dollar value of benefits under the plan. The Affordable Care Act exempts certain plans from complying with the act[s provisions. Similarly, any health benefit plan that is exempt from a provision of the Affordable Care Act is exempt from complying with the corresponding provision of this bill. This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats. In Committee
SJR16 Recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin. Relating to: recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
AB135 The right to repair motor vehicles and providing a penalty. (FE) This bill prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from employing certain barriers that impair the ability of the motor vehicle owners and the persons that repair motor vehicles from accessing motor vehicles[ vehicle-generated data, critical repair information, or tools in order to repair the motor vehicles; that affect motor vehicle owners[ ability to use a vehicle towing provider or service provider of their choice; or that affect motor vehicle owners[ abilities to diagnose, repair, and maintain their vehicle in the same manner as would the motor vehicle manufacturer. The bill also prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from employing certain barriers that affect the ability of aftermarket parts manufacturers, aftermarket parts remanufacturers, motor vehicle equipment manufacturers, motor vehicle repair facilities, distributors, or service providers to produce or offer compatible aftermarket parts. Additionally, the bill requires motor vehicle manufacturers to provide to motor vehicle owners and certain other entities access to certain data and tools related to the repair of the motor vehicles it manufactures. The bill also prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from making certain mandates in regards to what parts, tools, or equipment must be used on its vehicles. A manufacturer that violates a provision of the bill is subject to a forfeiture of $10,000 per violation. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB30 Prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state. This bill generally prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state. In the bill, Xforeign adversaryY means a foreign government or nongovernment person determined by the federal secretary of commerce to have engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or security and safety of U.S. persons. Current law generally prohibits a nonresident alien or a corporation that is not created under federal law or the laws of any state (foreign person) from acquiring, owning, or holding more than 640 acres of land in this state. However, that prohibition does not apply to any of the following activities: 1. An exploration mining lease and land used for certain mining and associated activities. 2. Certain manufacturing activities. 3. Certain mercantile activities. 4. A lease for exploration or production of oil, gas, coal, shale, and related hydrocarbons, including by-products of the production, and land used in connection with the exploration or production. Those exceptions have been interpreted to be Xextremely broad, embracing almost every conceivable business activity [other than a]ctivities relating to agriculture and forestry.Y See Opinion of Wis. Att[y Gen., OAG 11-14, ?5, available at https://www.doj.state.wi.us. In other words, under current law, a foreign person may acquire, own, and hold unlimited amounts of land for most nonagricultural and nonforestry purposes, but a foreign person may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of land for agricultural or forestry purposes. The bill retains the current law restriction on foreign person ownership of agricultural and forestry land and adds a provision that prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring any land for agricultural or forestry purposes. In Committee
AJR30 Congratulating the University of Wisconsin–Madison women’s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey National Championship. Relating to: congratulating the University of Wisconsin]Madison women[s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women[s Hockey National Championship. In Committee
SB206 Voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases. (FE) Under current law, a residential lease is void and unenforceable if it contains certain provisions (voidable provisions). Examples of voidable provisions include provisions that: 1) allow landlords to refuse to renew a lease because a tenant has contacted an entity for law enforcement, health, or safety services; 2) waive a landlord[s obligation to mitigate damages; 3) impose liability on a tenant for personal injury arising from causes clearly beyond the tenant[s control, and; 4) allow landlords to terminate a tenancy for a crime committed in relation to the rental property when the tenant[s lease did not include a statutorily required notice of domestic abuse protections. This bill provides that if court of competent jurisdiction finds that a residential lease includes a voidable provision, a tenant may elect to: 1) void the lease and have their tenancy converted into a periodic tenancy, or; 2) sever the voidable provision from their lease and continue under the remainder of the lease. In addition, in April 2024, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals published a decision, Koble Invs. v Marquardt, 2024 WI App 26, regarding certain landlord and CORRECTED COPY LRB-2555/1 JAM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 206 tenant matters. As of February 28, 2025, the case was on appeal to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, with parties[ first briefings due to the court in March 2025. Among the holdings in Koble, the court of appeals determined that a particular landlord was acting as a Xdebt collectorY and that landlord[s tenant was a XcustomerY as those terms are defined under Wisconsin Consumer Act. The court of appeals also held that because the landlord violated a provision of the Wisconsin Consumer Act, the tenant[s attorney was entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs. Under this bill, the Wisconsin Consumer Act does not apply to residential leases or mobile home leases. In the same case, the court of appeals held that the tenant[s lease was void and unenforceable under landlord and tenant law, and that, under another law enforcing fair methods of competition, the tenant could recover twice the amount of the tenant[s pecuniary loss, together with reasonable attorney fees and court costs. The bill provides that under landlord and tenant law, a person injured by a voidable provision can recover twice the amount of the pecuniary loss, together with reasonable attorney fees and court costs, and provides that such pecuniary loss does not include any rent paid by the tenant. The bill also limits the remedies a person may seek when a rental agreement includes a voidable provision to only those remedies provided in the bill. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AJR24 Reaffirming Wisconsin’s commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan; reaffirming Wisconsin’s support for the Taiwan Relations Act; supporting Taiwan’s signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States; and continuing support for increasing Taiwan’s international profile. Relating to: reaffirming Wisconsin[s commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan; reaffirming Wisconsin[s support for the Taiwan Relations Act; supporting Taiwan[s signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States; and continuing support for increasing Taiwan[s international profile. In Committee
AJR22 Proclaiming April 26, 2025, as Shared Parenting Day in Wisconsin. Relating to: proclaiming April 26, 2025, as Shared Parenting Day in Wisconsin. In Committee
SB129 The right to repair motor vehicles and providing a penalty. (FE) This bill prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from employing certain barriers that impair the ability of the motor vehicle owners and the persons that repair motor vehicles from accessing motor vehicles[ vehicle-generated data, critical repair information, or tools in order to repair the motor vehicles; that affect motor vehicle owners[ ability to use a vehicle towing provider or service provider of their choice; or that affect motor vehicle owners[ abilities to diagnose, repair, and maintain their vehicle in the same manner as would the motor vehicle manufacturer. The bill also prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from employing certain barriers that affect the ability of aftermarket parts manufacturers, aftermarket parts remanufacturers, motor vehicle equipment manufacturers, motor vehicle repair facilities, distributors, or service providers to produce or offer compatible aftermarket parts. Additionally, the bill requires motor vehicle manufacturers to provide to motor vehicle owners and certain other entities access to certain data and tools related to the repair of the motor vehicles it manufactures. The bill also prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from making certain mandates in regards to what parts, tools, or equipment must be used on its vehicles. A manufacturer that violates a provision of the bill is subject to a forfeiture of $10,000 per violation. LRB-2114/1 JAM:skw&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 129 For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB89 Theft crimes and providing a penalty. (FE) Under current law, the penalty for the crime of property theft varies by the value of the property taken. The penalty ranges from a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property is not more than $2,500 to a Class F felony if the value of the property exceeds $100,000. Similarly, the penalty for the crime of retail theft varies by the value of the merchandise or service that is taken. The penalty ranges from a Class A misdemeanor if the value is not more than $500 to a Class G felony if the value exceeds $10,000. This bill specifies that, if, in a six-month period, a defendant commits more than one violation of property theft or more than one violation of retail theft, the value of items taken at each violation may be aggregated and the crimes may be prosecuted as one property theft crime or one retail theft crime. The penalty for the crime would be determined by the aggregated value of the items taken. 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. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. Crossed Over
AB86 Imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE) Under current law, a person who is convicted of the crime of trafficking a child, or who knowingly benefits from the crime of trafficking a child, is guilty of a Class C felony. This bill increases the penalty to a Class A felony if the crime involved at least three victims who were children at the time the crime was committed. A Class A felony carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Under current law, the court must impose a bifurcated sentence on a person who is being sentenced for a felony that was committed on or after December 31, 1999. A bifurcated sentence is a sentence that comprises a term of confinement in prison followed by a term of extended supervision in the community. Under current law, a court that sentences a person who has been convicted of a Class A felony committed on or after December 31, 1999, must determine one of the following: 1) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision after serving a 20-year term of confinement in prison; 2) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision on a certain date that is after the person serves a 20-year term of confinement in prison; or 3) the person is not eligible for release to extended supervision. Under this bill, a person is not eligible for release to extended supervision if the person is convicted of a Class A felony violation of trafficking a child. 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. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. Crossed Over
SB91 Imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE) Under current law, a person who is convicted of the crime of trafficking a child, or who knowingly benefits from the crime of trafficking a child, is guilty of a Class C felony. This bill increases the penalty to a Class A felony if the crime involved at least three victims who were children at the time the crime was committed. A Class A felony carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Under current law, the court must impose a bifurcated sentence on a person who is being sentenced for a felony that was committed on or after December 31, 1999. A bifurcated sentence is a sentence that comprises a term of confinement in prison followed by a term of extended supervision in the community. Under current law, a court that sentences a person who has been convicted of a Class A felony committed on or after December 31, 1999, must determine one of the following: 1) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision after serving a 20-year LRB-2201/1 CMH:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 91 term of confinement in prison; 2) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision on a certain date that is after the person serves a 20-year term of confinement in prison; or 3) the person is not eligible for release to extended supervision. Under this bill, a person is not eligible for release to extended supervision if the person is convicted of a Class A felony violation of trafficking a child. 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. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB92 Theft crimes and providing a penalty. (FE) Under current law, the penalty for the crime of property theft varies by the value of the property taken. The penalty ranges from a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property is not more than $2,500 to a Class F felony if the value of the property exceeds $100,000. Similarly, the penalty for the crime of retail theft varies by the value of the merchandise or service that is taken. The penalty ranges from a Class A misdemeanor if the value is not more than $500 to a Class G felony if the value exceeds $10,000. This bill specifies that, if, in a six-month period, a defendant commits more than one violation of property theft or more than one violation of retail theft, the value of items taken at each violation may be aggregated and the crimes may be prosecuted as one property theft crime or one retail theft crime. The penalty for the crime would be determined by the aggregated value of the items taken. 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. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2282/1 CMH:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 92 In Committee
SB6 Impoundment of vehicles used in certain traffic offenses. Under this bill, in addition to the penalties available under current law for the following offenses, the vehicle used in the offense may be immediately impounded and remain impounded for 90 days or, for a violation occurring on a highway under the jurisdiction of a political subdivision, a shorter period established by the political subdivision: 1. Operating a vehicle without a license, with certain exceptions, or with a revoked operating privilege. 2. Speeding at a rate higher than 25 miles per hour above the speed limit. 3. Fleeing from a law enforcement officer. 4. Racing on a highway. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB59 Tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college. (FE) This bill modifies the residency requirement for the tuition and fee remission program for certain veterans and their spouses and children enrolled in University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges. Under current law, if certain criteria are met, veterans and their spouses and 17- to 25-year-old children are eligible for full remission of tuition and fees at UW System schools and technical colleges for up to eight semesters or 128 credits, whichever is longer. Under the veterans fee remission program, the veteran must be a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or be a resident of LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 59 this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Under the fee remission program for the spouse or child of a veteran who suffered service-connected death or disability, the veteran must have been a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or one of the following must apply: 1) if the veteran, while a resident of this state, died on active duty, died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years while an adult, or 2) if the veteran received at least a 30 percent service-connected disability rating, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. In addition, if a veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for tuition and fee remission only if the spouse or child has resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the spouse[s or child[s enrollment in a UW System school or technical college. This bill eliminates the five-year durational residency requirement for veterans and their spouses and children under the tuition and fee remission program under circumstances in which the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service. Under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran is still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the veteran is a resident of this state immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Also under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse and children are still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the spouse or child resided in this state immediately before the spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college and if the veteran, as described in 1), above, resided in this state at any time while an adult or the veteran, as described in 2), above, resided in this state immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. If the applicable requirements for fee remission are met, the veteran or the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for fee remission regardless of whether the veteran or veteran[s spouse or child would otherwise qualify as a resident student for tuition or fee purposes. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB122 Alternative open enrollment application procedures for residency change based on military orders. Under the full-time open enrollment program (OEP), a pupil may attend a public school in a school district other than the pupil[s resident school district (nonresident school district). Under current law, the standard OEP application procedure requires a pupil[s parent to apply to a nonresident school district during the spring semester immediately preceding the school year in which the pupil wishes to attend the nonresident school district. Current law also provides an alternative application procedure that allows a pupil[s parent to apply to a nonresident school district at any time during the school year, if certain circumstances apply. One of those circumstances is that the place of residence of the pupil and the pupil[s parent or guardian has changed as the result of military orders. Under current law, an alternative application based on this circumstance must be received by no later than 30 days after the date on which the applicable military orders were issued. This bill extends this deadline to 90 days after the applicable military orders were issued and expressly states that military orders include orders from a reserve component of the U.S armed force and the national guard of any state. In Committee
AB1 Changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. (FE) Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction is required to annually publish a school and school district accountability report, commonly known as school and school district report cards, for the previous school year. To measure school performance and school district improvement for purposes of the report cards, particularly measures related to pupil achievement in reading and math, DPI uses data derived from pupil performance on assessments administered in the previous school year, including assessments commonly referred to as the Wisconsin Student Assessment System, which includes the Wisconsin Forward Exam, PreACT, the ACT with Writing, and Dynamic Learning Maps. Under the bill, beginning with report cards published for the school year in which the bill becomes law, for the index system to identify school and school district performance and improvement, also known as the accountability rating categories, DPI must use the same cut scores, score ranges, and corresponding qualitative descriptions that DPI used for report cards published in the 2019-20 school year. In addition, beginning with the WSAS administered in the school year in which the bill becomes law, DPI must do the following: 1. For the Wisconsin Forward exam in English Language Arts and Mathematics, align cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories to the cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories set by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. 2. For the PreACT and ACT with Writing in English, Reading, and Mathematics, use the same cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories that DPI used for the same assessments administered in the 2021-22 school year. The bill specifically requires DPI to use the terms “below basic,” “basic,” “proficient,” and “advanced” for pupil performance categories on these assessments. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. Vetoed
AB31 Repair and replacement of implements of husbandry under warranty. This bill creates requirements, commonly known as a Xlemon law,Y for the repair and replacement of an implement of husbandry that has a condition or defect (nonconformity) that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the implement of husbandry and that is covered by an express warranty. Under the bill, if an implement of husbandry does not conform to an applicable express warranty, and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, the lessor, or any of the manufacturer[s authorized dealers and makes the implement of husbandry available for repair, the manufacturer, lessor, or authorized dealer must repair the nonconformity. If the same nonconformity has been subject to repair at least four times and the nonconformity continues, or if the implement of husbandry is out of service for an aggregate of at least 30 days because of warranty nonconformities, the consumer is entitled to a replacement implement of husbandry or a full refund. In Committee
SB104 Providing safe drinking water in public and private schools. (FE) By no later than approximately 15 months after the date this bill becomes law, the governing body of each public and private school in this state must develop a drinking water management plan for the private or public school. Under the bill, each drinking water management plan must 1) specify the locations of filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets maintained to deliver water for human consumption, of water outlets maintained for purposes other than for human consumption, and of water outlets that are shut off or permanently inoperable; 2) provide at least one filtered bottle-filling station for every 100 occupants of the school; 3) provide for the installation of a filtered faucet only when the installation of a filtered bottle-filling station is not feasible and a water outlet for human consumption is necessary; and 4) provide a schedule for water sampling and testing at each filtered bottle-filling station and filtered faucet in the school for lead, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and a schedule for replacing filter cartridges used in filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets. Under the bill, if water testing under a drinking water management plan indicates lead at a concentration between one part per billion and five parts per billion, the governing body of a public or private school must take certain actions, LRB-1713/1 FFK:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 104 including checking water filters, ensuring that the filtered bottle-filling station or faucet is properly installed, and retesting the filtered water. If water testing under a drinking water management plan indicates lead at a concentration that is more than five parts per billion or the presence of PFOA or PFOS at a level that exceeds a state or federal standard, the governing body of a public or private school must immediately shut off the water outlet, post a sign stating that the water outlet is shut off due to the high concentration of lead, PFOA, or PFOS, whichever applies, replace the water filters, and retest the water. If the subsequent water testing continues to indicate lead, PFOA, or PFOS that exceeds the relevant threshold, the governing body of the public or private school must 1) within 30 days, send a copy of the test results and information provided by the Department of Natural Resources about childhood exposure to lead or PFOA and PFOS, whichever is applicable, to parents and guardians of pupils who attend the school and to the Department of Public Instruction and 2) develop a remediation plan in consultation with DPI. Under the bill, all water testing must be conducted at a laboratory certified for lead and copper testing using the method approved by the federal environmental protection agency. By August 1, 2027, the bill requires the governing body of each public and private school to install filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets in accordance with the school[s drinking water management plan, and to shut off all water outlets that provide water for human consumption that are not filtered bottle- filling stations or filtered faucets. Beginning approximately 15 months after the bill becomes law, the bill prohibits the installation of a drinking fountain that is not a filtered bottle-filling station in a public or private school. The bill requires DPI to assist governing bodies of public and private schools to comply with the requirements created in the bill. Specifically, the bill requires DPI to develop a drinking water management plan template, to make annual training available related to water sampling and testing protocols and other activities relevant to complying with the requirements created in the bill, and to provide various information related to filtered bottle-filling stations, filtered faucets, and filter cartridges. Finally, the bill authorizes DPI to award grants to governing bodies of public and private schools to assist with the costs of complying with the requirements in the bill. The bill does not provide funding for these grants but does require DPI to submit a request for supplemental funding to the Joint Committee on Finance. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB129 Providing safe drinking water in public and private schools. (FE) By no later than approximately 15 months after the date this bill becomes law, the governing body of each public and private school in this state must develop a drinking water management plan for the private or public school. Under the bill, each drinking water management plan must 1) specify the locations of filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets maintained to deliver water for human consumption, of water outlets maintained for purposes other than for human consumption, and of water outlets that are shut off or permanently inoperable; 2) provide at least one filtered bottle-filling station for every 100 occupants of the school; 3) provide for the installation of a filtered faucet only when the installation of a filtered bottle-filling station is not feasible and a water outlet for human consumption is necessary; and 4) provide a schedule for water sampling and testing at each filtered bottle-filling station and filtered faucet in the school for lead, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and a schedule for replacing filter cartridges used in filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets. Under the bill, if water testing under a drinking water management plan indicates lead at a concentration between one part per billion and five parts per billion, the governing body of a public or private school must take certain actions, including checking water filters, ensuring that the filtered bottle-filling station or faucet is properly installed, and retesting the filtered water. If water testing under a drinking water management plan indicates lead at a concentration that is more than five parts per billion or the presence of PFOA or PFOS at a level that exceeds a state or federal standard, the governing body of a public or private school must immediately shut off the water outlet, post a sign stating that the water outlet is shut off due to the high concentration of lead, PFOA, or PFOS, whichever applies, replace the water filters, and retest the water. If the subsequent water testing continues to indicate lead, PFOA, or PFOS that exceeds the relevant threshold, the governing body of the public or private school must 1) within 30 days, send a copy of the test results and information provided by the Department of Natural Resources about childhood exposure to lead or PFOA and PFOS, whichever is applicable, to parents and guardians of pupils who attend the school and to the Department of Public Instruction and 2) develop a remediation plan in consultation with DPI. Under the bill, all water testing must be conducted at a laboratory certified for lead and copper testing using the method approved by the federal environmental protection agency. By August 1, 2027, the bill requires the governing body of each public and private school to install filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets in accordance with the school[s drinking water management plan, and to shut off all water outlets that provide water for human consumption that are not filtered bottle- filling stations or filtered faucets. Beginning approximately 15 months after the bill becomes law, the bill prohibits the installation of a drinking fountain that is not a filtered bottle-filling station in a public or private school. The bill requires DPI to assist governing bodies of public and private schools to comply with the requirements created in the bill. Specifically, the bill requires DPI to develop a drinking water management plan template, to make annual training available related to water sampling and testing protocols and other activities relevant to complying with the requirements created in the bill, and to provide various information related to filtered bottle-filling stations, filtered faucets, and filter cartridges. Finally, the bill authorizes DPI to award grants to governing bodies of public and private schools to assist with the costs of complying with the requirements in the bill. The bill does not provide funding for these grants but does require DPI to submit a request for supplemental funding to the Joint Committee on Finance. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SJR6 Honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. Relating to: honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
AB102 Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants. This bill requires each University of Wisconsin institution and technical college that operates or sponsors an intercollegiate or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport as one of the following based on the sex of the participating students: 1) males or men; or 2) females or women. The bill defines XsexY as the sex determined by a physician at birth and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires a UW institution or technical college to prohibit 1) a male student from participating on an athletic team or in a sport designated for females, and 2) a male student from using locker rooms designated for females. Crossed Over
AB100 Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants. This bill requires each school board, independent charter school, and private school participating in a parental choice program (educational institution) that operates or sponsors an interscholastic, intramural, or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport based on the sex of the participating pupils. The bill defines XsexY as the sex determined at birth by a physician and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires an educational institution to prohibit a male pupil from 1) participating on an athletic team or in an athletic sport designated for females and 2) using a locker room designated for females. Finally, the bill requires the educational institution to notify pupils and parents if an educational institution intends to change a designation for an athletic team or sport. CORRECTED COPY Crossed Over
AB103 School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns. By July 1, 2026, this bill requires school boards to adopt 1) a policy related to the conditions under which a school board will change a pupil[s legal name or legal name and pronouns in official school records (legal name and pronoun records policy) and 2) a policy related to the conditions under which a school board will allow school staff to regularly use or refer to a minor pupil by a name other the pupil[s legal name or by pronouns other than the pronouns provided at the time the pupil first enrolled in the school district (name and pronoun usage policy). The bill requires that a school board include certain provisions in its legal name and pronoun records policy. Under the bill, a school board[s legal name and pronoun record policy must include 1) that the initial determination is made by the principal of the school the pupil attends, 2) that the principal may only approve the change if the documentation of a legal name change is provided or, if such documentation is not provided, an affidavit is provided stating, among other things, that the pupil legally changed the pupil[s name and that it was not for a fraudulent purpose or to interfere with the rights of others, 3) for a minor pupil, a requirement that the school board make a reasonable attempt to provide each of the minor pupil[s parents and legal guardians with an opportunity to provide information in favor of or against approving the requested change; and 4) a process to appeal a principal[s decision to deny a request to the school board. The bill also specifies provisions that a school board must include in its name and pronoun usage policy. Under the bill, a school board[s name and pronoun usage policy must 1) state that a minor pupil[s parent or legal guardian determines the names and pronouns school staff are allowed use to refer to the minor pupil during school hours and 2) prohibit school staff from referring to a minor pupil by a name or pronoun that does not align with the pupil[s biological sex without written authorization from the pupil[s parent or guardian. A name and pronoun usage policy does not need to require written authorization for school staff to use a shortened version of a minor pupil[s legal first or middle name to refer to the pupil. Finally, the bill explicitly states that nothing in the bill may be construed to limit the rights of pupils, parents, or guardians under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the federal law the protects pupil records. Crossed Over
AB105 The distribution of certain material on the Internet. This bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing material harmful to minors on the Internet on a website that contains a substantial portion of such material, unless the business entity performs a reasonable age verification method to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the website. XMaterial harmful to minorsY is defined in the bill to include material 1) that is designed to appeal to prurient interests, 2) that principally consists of descriptions or depictions of actual or simulated sexual acts or body parts including pubic areas, genitals, buttocks, and female nipples, and 3) that lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors. In the bill, a Xreasonable age verification methodY includes various methods whereby the business entity may verify that an individual seeking to access the material is not a minor. Under the bill, persons that perform reasonable age verification methods may not knowingly retain identifying information of the individual attempting to access the website after the individual[s access has been granted or denied. The bill also requires a business entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of such material to prevent persons from accessing the website from an internet protocol address or internet protocol address range that is linked to or known to be a virtual private network system or provider. In addition, this bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing obscene material or an obscene depiction of a purported child on the Internet. XObscene materialY is defined to mean a writing, picture, film, or other recording that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to the prurient interest if taken as a whole, describes or shows sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational, or scientific value if taken as a whole. XObscene depiction of a purported childY is defined to mean a visual representation that appears to depict an actual child in the form of a photograph, film, motion picture, or digital or computer-generated image or picture, that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to prurient interests if taken as a whole, describes or shows sexually explicit conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational, or scientific value if taken as a whole. A person that violates the provisions of the bill may be subject to civil liability for damages and the payment of court costs and reasonable attorney fees. Sovereign immunity may not be raised as an affirmative defense to a civil action brought alleging a violation of a provision of the bill. Crossed Over
AJR9 Honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. Relating to: honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. In Committee
AB41 Local regulation of vegetable gardens. This bill prohibits a political subdivision from requiring a permit for or prohibiting the cultivation of a vegetable or flower garden on residential property not owned by the political subdivision. In Committee
SB90 The sales and use tax exemption for electricity and natural gas sold for residential use. (FE) Under current law, electricity and natural gas sold during the months of November, December, January, February, March, and April for residential use is exempt from the sales and use tax. This bill exempts from the sales and use tax electricity and natural gas sold for residential use regardless of when it is sold. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB52 Copies of and inspection or disclosure of information contained in certain vital records. (FE) Current state vital records law contains provisions addressing the issuance and copying of and inspection or disclosure of information contained in vital records and in certain circumstances, distinguishes between records for events before and after October 1, 1907. This bill changes the distinguishing date in those circumstances from the fixed date in 1907 to instead allow expanded authority to inspect or disclose information contained in or copy a vital record if the event that is the subject of the record took place at least 100 years ago. More specifically, the authority to issue, copy, or allow inspection or disclosure of information contained in a vital record specified under current law based on whether the event that is the subject of the record occurred before or after October 1, 1907, would, under the bill, instead be triggered by whether the event took place before or on or after January 1 of the year that is 100 years prior to the date of the request or, in the case of certain photocopies, the date of the issuance of the uncertified copy of the vital record—a date that will automatically advance as time progresses. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-0348/1 SWB:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 52 In Committee
SJR19 Honoring the life and public service of Representative Jonathan Brostoff. Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative Jonathan Brostoff. In Committee
SB130 The distribution of certain material on the Internet. This bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing material harmful to minors on the Internet on a website that contains a substantial portion of such material, unless the business entity performs a reasonable age verification method to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the website. XMaterial harmful to minorsY is defined in the bill to include material 1) that is designed to appeal to prurient interests, 2) that principally consists of descriptions or depictions of actual or simulated sexual acts or body parts including pubic areas, genitals, buttocks, and female nipples, and 3) that lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors. In the bill, a Xreasonable age verification methodY includes various methods whereby the business entity may verify that an individual seeking to access the material is not a minor. Under the bill, persons that perform reasonable age verification methods may not knowingly retain identifying information of the individual attempting to access the website after the individual[s access has been granted or denied. The bill also requires a business entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of such material to prevent persons from accessing the LRB-2322/1 JAM:... 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 130 website from an internet protocol address or internet protocol address range that is linked to or known to be a virtual private network system or provider. In addition, this bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing obscene material or an obscene depiction of a purported child on the Internet. XObscene materialY is defined to mean a writing, picture, film, or other recording that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to the prurient interest if taken as a whole, describes or shows sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational, or scientific value if taken as a whole. XObscene depiction of a purported childY is defined to mean a visual representation that appears to depict an actual child in the form of a photograph, film, motion picture, or digital or computer-generated image or picture, that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to prurient interests if taken as a whole, describes or shows sexually explicit conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational, or scientific value if taken as a whole. A person that violates the provisions of the bill may be subject to civil liability for damages and the payment of court costs and reasonable attorney fees. Sovereign immunity may not be raised as an affirmative defense to a civil action brought alleging a violation of a provision of the bill. In Committee
SB123 Investment securities under the Uniform Commercial Code. This bill makes changes to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), as adopted in this state, related to jurisdiction and creditor claims involving assets held in a customer[s brokerage account that are not held directly in the customer[s name, commonly referred to as securities held in Xstreet nameY in the customer[s account. Under current law, the UCC provides guiding rules for both creditor-debtor relationships involving a security interest in collateral and transactions that involve investment securities. These latter rules govern such matters as proper endorsement of securities being transferred, persons who have authority to make such transfers, and rights of creditors in these securities. These rules frequently distinguish between a security held directly by the owner and represented by a security certificate (certificated security), a security held directly by the owner and represented only by a book entry instead of a security certificate (uncertificated security), and a security not held directly by the owner but instead held directly by LRB-0061/1 ARG:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 123 a broker or bank in an aggregated account in which the owner[s interest is represented by a book entry (security entitlement). Under current law, a person generally acquires a security entitlement if 1) a securities broker-dealer, bank, or securities clearing corporation (securities intermediary) credits a financial asset (security), by book entry, to the person[s securities account; 2) the securities intermediary holds the security for the person; and 3) the security is not held in the person[s name or directly by the person. The person who acquires the security entitlement, as identified in the securities intermediary[s records, is the Xentitlement holder,Y and the security entitlement constitutes the rights and property interest in the security. In addition to holding securities for its customers, certain securities intermediaries, such as broker- dealers, may hold securities for their own account. Generally, under current law, the interests in a security held by a securities intermediary for entitlement holders are not property of the securities intermediary and are not subject to the claims of the securities intermediary[s creditors. The entitlement holders of the security have a prorated property interest in the aggregate holdings of the security. The securities intermediary has a duty to maintain the security in a quantity corresponding to the aggregate of all security entitlements it established for its entitlement holders and may not grant to any creditor a security interest in the security unless agreed to by an entitlement holder. With an exception (discussed below), if a securities intermediary does not have sufficient interests in a security to satisfy its obligations to entitlement holders and to its own creditors, the claims of the entitlement holders have priority over the claims of the creditors. Current law allows an entitlement holder and a securities intermediary to modify their relative rights and obligations. A securities intermediary and an entitlement holder may enter into a creditor-debtor relationship in which the securities intermediary takes a security interest in the security entitlement when the entitlement holder buys the security on credit through the securities intermediary. The security interest secures the obligation to pay for the security, and the entitlement holder may grant its interest in the securities entitlement to the securities intermediary, giving the securities intermediary control. Also, the rights and obligations of a clearing corporation and its participants may be governed by the clearing corporation[s rules, and a security interest may arise automatically during settlement of a transaction involving a certificated security. Current law specifies rules governing priority among conflicting security interests in a security, including that a secured party having control of a security has priority over a secured party that does not have control of the security. A security interest held by a securities intermediary in a security entitlement has priority over a conflicting security interest held by another secured party. If a securities intermediary[s creditor has control over a security held by the securities intermediary and the creditor has a security interest in the security, the creditor[s claim has priority over claims of the securities intermediary[s entitlement holders, LRB-0061/1 ARG:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 123 except that, if the securities intermediary is a clearing corporation, it need not have control over the security. This is an exception to the general rule that a securities intermediary[s entitlement holders have priority in claims to a security over the security intermediary[s creditors. The bill eliminates this exception, providing an entitlement holder with priority in claims to a security even if the entitlement holder has purchased the security on margin and provided the securities intermediary with a security interest in the security. Current law also specifies that the law of the securities intermediary[s jurisdiction (as described below) governs all of the following: 1) acquisition of a security entitlement from the securities intermediary; 2) the rights and duties of the securities intermediary and entitlement holder arising out of a security entitlement; 3) whether the securities intermediary owes any duty to an adverse claimant to a security entitlement; 4) whether an adverse claim can be asserted against a person who acquires a security entitlement from the securities intermediary or a person who purchases a security entitlement from an entitlement holder; and 5) perfection and priority of a security interest in a security entitlement. Specific principles dictate in which state a securities intermediary[s jurisdiction lies, including that an agreement between the securities intermediary and the entitlement holder on the subject will control or, in the absence of an agreement, the securities intermediary[s jurisdiction lies in the state of the office identified on the entitlement holder[s account statement. The bill eliminates all of these jurisdictional provisions and instead provides that the law of the entitlement holder[s jurisdiction governs. In Committee
SB18 Changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. (FE) Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction is required to annually publish a school and school district accountability report, commonly known as school and school district report cards, for the previous school year. To measure school performance and school district improvement for purposes of the report cards, particularly measures related to pupil achievement in reading and math, DPI uses data derived from pupil performance on assessments administered in the previous school year, including assessments commonly referred to as the Wisconsin Student Assessment System, which includes the Wisconsin Forward Exam, PreACT, the ACT with Writing, and Dynamic Learning Maps. Under the bill, beginning with report cards published for the school year in which the bill becomes law, for the index system to identify school and school district performance and improvement, also known as the accountability rating categories, DPI must use the same cut scores, score ranges, and corresponding qualitative descriptions that DPI used for report cards published in the 2019-20 LRB-0976/4 FFK:cjs&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 18 school year. In addition, beginning with the WSAS administered in the school year in which the bill becomes law, DPI must do the following: 1. For the Wisconsin Forward exam in English Language Arts and Mathematics, align cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories to the cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories set by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. 2. For the PreACT and ACT with Writing in English, Reading, and Mathematics, use the same cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories that DPI used for the same assessments administered in the 2021-22 school year. The bill specifically requires DPI to use the terms Xbelow basic,Y Xbasic,Y Xproficient,Y and XadvancedY for pupil performance categories on these assessments. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB15 Increased penalties for crimes against adults at risk; restraining orders for adults at risk; freezing assets of a defendant charged with financial exploitation of an adult at risk; sexual assault of an adult at risk; and providing a penalty. SEXUAL ASSAULT OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under this bill, any act of sexual misconduct that is currently a second degree sexual assault is a first degree sexual assault if the victim is an adult at risk. Under current law, if a person engages in any of the specified acts of sexual misconduct, he or she is guilty of a Class C felony. Under the bill, he or she is guilty of a Class B felony if the victim is an adult at risk, regardless of whether or not he or she knew the victim[s status as an adult at risk. FREEZING OF ASSETS Under current law, there is a procedure for a court to freeze or seize assets from a defendant who has been charged with a financial exploitation crime when the victim is an elder person. The procedure allows a court to freeze the funds, assets, or property of the defendant in an amount up to 100 percent of the alleged value of the property involved in the defendant[s pending criminal proceeding for purposes of preserving the property for future payment of restitution to the crime victim. This bill allows the court to apply the same procedure to freeze or seize assets when the crime victim an adult at risk. PHYSICAL ABUSE OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, there is a set of penalties that apply to physical abuse of an elder person, which range from a Class I felony to a Class C felony depending on the severity of the conduct. This bill applies those same penalties to physical abuse of an adult at risk. INCREASED PENALTIES This bill allows a term of imprisonment that is imposed for a criminal conviction to be increased in length if the crime victim was an adult at risk. Under the bill, a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less may be increased to two years; a maximum term of imprisonment of one to 10 years may be increased by up to four years; and a maximum term of imprisonment of more than 10 years may be increased by up to six years. Under the bill, the term of imprisonment may be lengthened irrespective of whether the defendant knew that the crime victim was an adult at risk. RESTRAINING ORDERS FOR AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, a person seeking a domestic violence, individual-at-risk, or harassment restraining order must appear in person in the courtroom at a hearing to obtain a restraining order. This bill allows an adult at risk who is seeking a domestic violence, individual- at-risk, or harassment restraining order to appear in a court hearing by telephone or live audiovisual means. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, LRB-0059/1 MJW:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 15 the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. In Committee
AB133 Investment securities under the Uniform Commercial Code. This bill makes changes to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), as adopted in this state, related to jurisdiction and creditor claims involving assets held in a customer[s brokerage account that are not held directly in the customer[s name, commonly referred to as securities held in Xstreet nameY in the customer[s account. Under current law, the UCC provides guiding rules for both creditor-debtor relationships involving a security interest in collateral and transactions that involve investment securities. These latter rules govern such matters as proper endorsement of securities being transferred, persons who have authority to make such transfers, and rights of creditors in these securities. These rules frequently distinguish between a security held directly by the owner and represented by a security certificate (certificated security), a security held directly by the owner and represented only by a book entry instead of a security certificate (uncertificated security), and a security not held directly by the owner but instead held directly by a broker or bank in an aggregated account in which the owner[s interest is represented by a book entry (security entitlement). Under current law, a person generally acquires a security entitlement if 1) a securities broker-dealer, bank, or securities clearing corporation (securities intermediary) credits a financial asset (security), by book entry, to the person[s securities account; 2) the securities intermediary holds the security for the person; and 3) the security is not held in the person[s name or directly by the person. The person who acquires the security entitlement, as identified in the securities intermediary[s records, is the Xentitlement holder,Y and the security entitlement constitutes the rights and property interest in the security. In addition to holding securities for its customers, certain securities intermediaries, such as broker- dealers, may hold securities for their own account. Generally, under current law, the interests in a security held by a securities intermediary for entitlement holders are not property of the securities intermediary and are not subject to the claims of the securities intermediary[s creditors. The entitlement holders of the security have a prorated property interest in the aggregate holdings of the security. The securities intermediary has a duty to maintain the security in a quantity corresponding to the aggregate of all security entitlements it established for its entitlement holders and may not grant to any creditor a security interest in the security unless agreed to by an entitlement holder. With an exception (discussed below), if a securities intermediary does not have sufficient interests in a security to satisfy its obligations to entitlement holders and to its own creditors, the claims of the entitlement holders have priority over the claims of the creditors. Current law allows an entitlement holder and a securities intermediary to modify their relative rights and obligations. A securities intermediary and an entitlement holder may enter into a creditor-debtor relationship in which the securities intermediary takes a security interest in the security entitlement when the entitlement holder buys the security on credit through the securities intermediary. The security interest secures the obligation to pay for the security, and the entitlement holder may grant its interest in the securities entitlement to the securities intermediary, giving the securities intermediary control. Also, the rights and obligations of a clearing corporation and its participants may be governed by the clearing corporation[s rules, and a security interest may arise automatically during settlement of a transaction involving a certificated security. Current law specifies rules governing priority among conflicting security interests in a security, including that a secured party having control of a security has priority over a secured party that does not have control of the security. A security interest held by a securities intermediary in a security entitlement has priority over a conflicting security interest held by another secured party. If a securities intermediary[s creditor has control over a security held by the securities intermediary and the creditor has a security interest in the security, the creditor[s claim has priority over claims of the securities intermediary[s entitlement holders, except that, if the securities intermediary is a clearing corporation, it need not have control over the security. This is an exception to the general rule that a securities intermediary[s entitlement holders have priority in claims to a security over the security intermediary[s creditors. The bill eliminates this exception, providing an entitlement holder with priority in claims to a security even if the entitlement holder has purchased the security on margin and provided the securities intermediary with a security interest in the security. Current law also specifies that the law of the securities intermediary[s jurisdiction (as described below) governs all of the following: 1) acquisition of a security entitlement from the securities intermediary; 2) the rights and duties of the securities intermediary and entitlement holder arising out of a security entitlement; 3) whether the securities intermediary owes any duty to an adverse claimant to a security entitlement; 4) whether an adverse claim can be asserted against a person who acquires a security entitlement from the securities intermediary or a person who purchases a security entitlement from an entitlement holder; and 5) perfection and priority of a security interest in a security entitlement. Specific principles dictate in which state a securities intermediary[s jurisdiction lies, including that an agreement between the securities intermediary and the entitlement holder on the subject will control or, in the absence of an agreement, the securities intermediary[s jurisdiction lies in the state of the office identified on the entitlement holder[s account statement. The bill eliminates all of these jurisdictional provisions and instead provides that the law of the entitlement holder[s jurisdiction governs. In Committee
SB120 School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns. By July 1, 2026, this bill requires school boards to adopt 1) a policy related to the conditions under which a school board will change a pupil[s legal name or legal name and pronouns in official school records (legal name and pronoun records policy) and 2) a policy related to the conditions under which a school board will allow school staff to regularly use or refer to a minor pupil by a name other the pupil[s legal name or by pronouns other than the pronouns provided at the time the pupil first enrolled in the school district (name and pronoun usage policy). The bill requires that a school board include certain provisions in its legal name and pronoun records policy. Under the bill, a school board[s legal name and pronoun record policy must include 1) that the initial determination is made by the principal of the school the pupil attends, 2) that the principal may only approve the change if the documentation of a legal name change is provided or, if such documentation is not provided, an affidavit is provided stating, among other things, that the pupil legally changed the pupil[s name and that it was not for a fraudulent purpose or to interfere with the rights of others, 3) for a minor pupil, a requirement that the school board make a reasonable attempt to provide each of the minor pupil[s parents and legal guardians with an opportunity to provide information in LRB-2344/1 FFK:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 120 favor of or against approving the requested change; and 4) a process to appeal a principal[s decision to deny a request to the school board. The bill also specifies provisions that a school board must include in its name and pronoun usage policy. Under the bill, a school board[s name and pronoun usage policy must 1) state that a minor pupil[s parent or legal guardian determines the names and pronouns school staff are allowed use to refer to the minor pupil during school hours and 2) prohibit school staff from referring to a minor pupil by a name or pronoun that does not align with the pupil[s biological sex without written authorization from the pupil[s parent or guardian. A name and pronoun usage policy does not need to require written authorization for school staff to use a shortened version of a minor pupil[s legal first or middle name to refer to the pupil. Finally, the bill explicitly states that nothing in the bill may be construed to limit the rights of pupils, parents, or guardians under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the federal law the protects pupil records. In Committee
AB90 Copies of and inspection or disclosure of information contained in certain vital records. (FE) Current state vital records law contains provisions addressing the issuance and copying of and inspection or disclosure of information contained in vital records and in certain circumstances, distinguishes between records for events before and after October 1, 1907. This bill changes the distinguishing date in those circumstances from the fixed date in 1907 to instead allow expanded authority to inspect or disclose information contained in or copy a vital record if the event that is the subject of the record took place at least 100 years ago. More specifically, the authority to issue, copy, or allow inspection or disclosure of information contained in a vital record specified under current law based on whether the event that is the subject of the record occurred before or after October 1, 1907, would, under the bill, instead be triggered by whether the event took place before or on or after January 1 of the year that is 100 years prior to the date of the request or, in the case of certain photocopies, the date of the issuance of the uncertified copy of the vital record—a date that will automatically advance as time progresses. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AJR16 Recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin. Relating to: recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin. In Committee
SJR13 Honoring the life and public service of Assembly Chief Clerk Patrick Fuller. Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Assembly Chief Clerk Patrick Fuller. In Committee
AB60 Referendum questions for certain referenda that affect property taxes. (FE) Under current law, a county, city, village, town, school district, or technical college district may exceed its property tax levy limit if the electors of that political subdivision or district approve the increase at a referendum. The ballot question must indicate the dollar amount of the increase in the levy limit. Under this bill, the ballot question must also provide a good faith estimate of the annual dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the political subdivision or district that would result from passage of the referendum. Also under current law, in certain cases when local governmental units authorize the issuance of bonds, the local governmental unit must adopt a resolution stating the purpose of the bonding and the maximum amounts of borrowing. The local governmental unit, in certain cases, is required or authorized to seek approval of the bonding authorization at a referendum. Among other things, the referendum question must contain a statement of the purpose for which bonds are to be issued and the maximum amount of the bonds to be issued. Under the bill, the question must also provide all of the following: 1. The estimated interest rate and amount of the interest accruing on the bonds. 2. Any fees that will be incurred if the bonds are defeased. 3. A good faith estimate of the dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the local governmental unit that would result from passage of the referendum. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB117 Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants. This bill requires each school board, independent charter school, and private school participating in a parental choice program (educational institution) that operates or sponsors an interscholastic, intramural, or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport based on the sex of the participating pupils. The bill defines XsexY as the sex determined at birth by a physician and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires an educational institution to prohibit a male pupil from 1) participating on an athletic team or in an athletic sport designated for females and 2) using a locker room designated for females. Finally, the bill requires the educational institution to notify pupils and parents if an educational institution intends to change a designation for an athletic team or sport. CORRECTED COPY LRB-1553/2 FFK:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 117 In Committee
SB116 Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants. This bill requires each University of Wisconsin institution and technical college that operates or sponsors an intercollegiate or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport as one of the following based on the sex of the participating students: 1) males or men; or 2) females or women. The bill defines XsexY as the sex determined by a physician at birth and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires a UW institution or technical college to prohibit 1) a male student from participating on an athletic team or in a sport designated for females, and 2) a male student from using locker rooms designated for females. In Committee
AB47 Tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college. (FE) This bill modifies the residency requirement for the tuition and fee remission program for certain veterans and their spouses and children enrolled in University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges. Under current law, if certain criteria are met, veterans and their spouses and 17- to 25-year-old children are eligible for full remission of tuition and fees at UW System schools and technical colleges for up to eight semesters or 128 credits, whichever is longer. Under the veterans fee remission program, the veteran must be a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or be a resident of this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Under the fee remission program for the spouse or child of a veteran who suffered service-connected death or disability, the veteran must have been a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or one of the following must apply: 1) if the veteran, while a resident of this state, died on active duty, died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years while an adult, or 2) if the veteran received at least a 30 percent service-connected disability rating, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. In addition, if a veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for tuition and fee remission only if the spouse or child has resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the spouse[s or child[s enrollment in a UW System school or technical college. This bill eliminates the five-year durational residency requirement for veterans and their spouses and children under the tuition and fee remission program under circumstances in which the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service. Under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran is still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the veteran is a resident of this state immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Also under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse and children are still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the spouse or child resided in this state immediately before the spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college and if the veteran, as described in 1), above, resided in this state at any time while an adult or the veteran, as described in 2), above, resided in this state immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. If the applicable requirements for fee remission are met, the veteran or the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for fee remission regardless of whether the veteran or veteran[s spouse or child would otherwise qualify as a resident student for tuition or fee purposes. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB29 Impoundment of vehicles used in certain traffic offenses. Under this bill, in addition to the penalties available under current law for the following offenses, the vehicle used in the offense may be immediately impounded and remain impounded for 90 days or, for a violation occurring on a highway under the jurisdiction of a political subdivision, a shorter period established by the political subdivision: 1. Operating a vehicle without a license, with certain exceptions, or with a revoked operating privilege. 2. Speeding at a rate higher than 25 miles per hour above the speed limit. 3. Fleeing from a law enforcement officer. 4. Racing on a highway. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB69 The sales and use tax exemption for electricity and natural gas sold for residential use. (FE) Under current law, electricity and natural gas sold during the months of November, December, January, February, March, and April for residential use is exempt from the sales and use tax. This bill exempts from the sales and use tax electricity and natural gas sold for residential use regardless of when it is sold. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
SB79 A disclaimer of parental rights and payments allowed in connection with an adoption. This bill provides a method by which a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father may disclaim his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one who is not an Indian child in writing as an alternative to appearing in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. The bill also allows payments to be made to a licensed out-of-state private child placing agency for services provided in connection with an adoption. Disclaimer of parental rights Subject to certain exceptions, current law generally requires a birth parent to appear in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. This bill adds an exception that allows a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father to avoid appearing in court if he or she files with the court an affidavit disclaiming his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one and if no participant in the court proceeding knows or has reason to know that the child is an Indian child. A minor may use such an affidavit of disclaimer only after the TPR LRB-0053/1 EHS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 79 petition has been filed, he or she has been offered legal counseling, and he or she has been appointed a guardian ad litem and only if the guardian ad litem approves the disclaimer. The affidavit must comply with certain requirements, including that it must be witnessed and notarized and must include a statement that the parent understands the effect of an order to terminate parental rights and that he or she voluntarily disclaims any rights that he or she may have to the child. The bill requires the court to review the affidavit and make findings on whether it meets all of the requirements. Under the bill, the affidavit containing a disclaimer of parental rights may be executed before the birth of the child by the father or alleged or presumed father but not the mother and may be executed by either parent 120 hours or more after the birth until the child[s first birthday; however, the affidavit may not be executed by either parent from birth until 120 hours after the birth or on or after the child[s first birthday. Under the bill, if executed by the father or alleged or presumed father before the child[s birth, the disclaimer is revokable for any reason until 72 hours after execution or 120 hours after the birth, whichever is later. If executed by the mother, the disclaimer is revocable for any reason until 72 hours after execution. If not revoked by the applicable time limit, the disclaimer is irrevocable unless obtained by fraud or duress. Under the bill, no action to invalidate a disclaimer, including an action based on fraud or duress, may be commenced more than three months after the affidavit was executed. If parental rights to a child are terminated based upon such a disclaimer of parental rights, the bill prohibits a court from entering an order granting adoption of the child until three months have passed since the affidavit was executed. The bill requires the agency making the placement of the child for adoption, whether the agency is the Department of Children and Families, the county department of human services or social services, or a licensed child welfare agency, to offer both counseling and legal counseling to the person disclaiming his or her parental rights, at the agency[s expense, prior to execution of the affidavit. The person must acknowledge in the affidavit that he or she has been offered these counseling and legal counseling sessions and whether or not he or she accepted them. Payments relating to adoption This bill allows payments to be made to an out-of-state private child placing agency that is licensed in the state in which it operates for services provided in connection with an adoption and, where applicable, in compliance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, as certified to DCF. Under the bill, a private child placing agency means a private corporation, agency, foundation, institution, or charitable organization, or any private person or attorney, that facilitates, causes, or is involved in the placement of a child from one state to another state. Current law LRB-0053/1 EHS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 79 allows payments for such services only to a child welfare agency licensed in this state. In Committee
AB70 A disclaimer of parental rights and payments allowed in connection with an adoption. This bill provides a method by which a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father may disclaim his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one who is not an Indian child in writing as an alternative to appearing in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. The bill also allows payments to be made to a licensed out-of-state private child placing agency for services provided in connection with an adoption. Disclaimer of parental rights Subject to certain exceptions, current law generally requires a birth parent to appear in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. This bill adds an exception that allows a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father to avoid appearing in court if he or she files with the court an affidavit disclaiming his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one and if no participant in the court proceeding knows or has reason to know that the child is an Indian child. A minor may use such an affidavit of disclaimer only after the TPR petition has been filed, he or she has been offered legal counseling, and he or she has been appointed a guardian ad litem and only if the guardian ad litem approves the disclaimer. The affidavit must comply with certain requirements, including that it must be witnessed and notarized and must include a statement that the parent understands the effect of an order to terminate parental rights and that he or she voluntarily disclaims any rights that he or she may have to the child. The bill requires the court to review the affidavit and make findings on whether it meets all of the requirements. Under the bill, the affidavit containing a disclaimer of parental rights may be executed before the birth of the child by the father or alleged or presumed father but not the mother and may be executed by either parent 120 hours or more after the birth until the child[s first birthday; however, the affidavit may not be executed by either parent from birth until 120 hours after the birth or on or after the child[s first birthday. Under the bill, if executed by the father or alleged or presumed father before the child[s birth, the disclaimer is revokable for any reason until 72 hours after execution or 120 hours after the birth, whichever is later. If executed by the mother, the disclaimer is revocable for any reason until 72 hours after execution. If not revoked by the applicable time limit, the disclaimer is irrevocable unless obtained by fraud or duress. Under the bill, no action to invalidate a disclaimer, including an action based on fraud or duress, may be commenced more than three months after the affidavit was executed. If parental rights to a child are terminated based upon such a disclaimer of parental rights, the bill prohibits a court from entering an order granting adoption of the child until three months have passed since the affidavit was executed. The bill requires the agency making the placement of the child for adoption, whether the agency is the Department of Children and Families, the county department of human services or social services, or a licensed child welfare agency, to offer both counseling and legal counseling to the person disclaiming his or her parental rights, at the agency[s expense, prior to execution of the affidavit. The person must acknowledge in the affidavit that he or she has been offered these counseling and legal counseling sessions and whether or not he or she accepted them. Payments relating to adoption This bill allows payments to be made to an out-of-state private child placing agency that is licensed in the state in which it operates for services provided in connection with an adoption and, where applicable, in compliance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, as certified to DCF. Under the bill, a private child placing agency means a private corporation, agency, foundation, institution, or charitable organization, or any private person or attorney, that facilitates, causes, or is involved in the placement of a child from one state to another state. Current law allows payments for such services only to a child welfare agency licensed in this state. In Committee
SB20 Allowing certain married persons to claim the earned income tax credit when filing a separate return. (FE) Under current law, the Wisconsin earned income tax credit is equal to a percentage of the federal earned income tax credit, and subject to certain exceptions, a married claimant must file a joint return to claim both the Wisconsin EITC and the federal EITC. This bill allows a married claimant to file a separate return to claim the Wisconsin EITC if the claimant lives apart from the claimant[s spouse when filing the return and is unable to file a joint return because of domestic abuse. The bill defines Xdomestic abuseY as 1) intentional infliction of physical pain, injury, or illness; 2) intentional impairment of physical condition; 3) first-, second-, or third-degree sexual assault; or 4) a physical act that may cause reasonable fear of imminent engagement in any of the conduct listed above. Under the bill, the amount of the Wisconsin EITC is equal to the amount that the claimant would be eligible to claim if the claimant were considered unmarried. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-0088/1 KP:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 20 In Committee
AB20 Allowing certain married persons to claim the earned income tax credit when filing a separate return. (FE) Under current law, the Wisconsin earned income tax credit is equal to a percentage of the federal earned income tax credit, and subject to certain exceptions, a married claimant must file a joint return to claim both the Wisconsin EITC and the federal EITC. This bill allows a married claimant to file a separate return to claim the Wisconsin EITC if the claimant lives apart from the claimant[s spouse when filing the return and is unable to file a joint return because of domestic abuse. The bill defines Xdomestic abuseY as 1) intentional infliction of physical pain, injury, or illness; 2) intentional impairment of physical condition; 3) first-, second-, or third-degree sexual assault; or 4) a physical act that may cause reasonable fear of imminent engagement in any of the conduct listed above. Under the bill, the amount of the Wisconsin EITC is equal to the amount that the claimant would be eligible to claim if the claimant were considered unmarried. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. In Committee
AB7 Requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval. Current law prohibits a person from beginning construction of a large electric generating facility (LEGF) unless the Public Service Commission grants a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the proposed facility. An LEGF is defined as a facility with a nominal operating capacity of 100 megawatts or more. In addition, a public utility may not engage in certain construction, expansion, or other projects unless PSC grants a certificate of authority (CA) for the proposed project. The bill defines a Xsolar projectY and Xwind projectY as an area of land on which, respectively, solar photovoltaic panels or devices used for collecting wind energy, along with any associated equipment and facilities, are installed in order to generate electricity and which altogether is designed for nominal operation at a capacity of 15 megawatts or more. Under this bill, before PSC may approve a CA or a CPCN for the construction of a solar project or wind project, the person seeking the certificate must seek approval from each city, village, and town in which the solar project or wind project is to be located. The bill requires a city, village, or town to approve or disapprove a proposed solar project or wind project by adopting a resolution to that effect no later than 90 days after receiving a request for such approval. If the city, village, or town fails to act within that time period, the project is considered approved. The bill allows this deadline to be extended for certain reasons. Current law limits the authority of political subdivisions to regulate solar and wind energy systems, allowing political subdivisions to impose restrictions only if they meet certain conditions. The bill provides that those limitations do not apply to the approval or disapproval of a solar project or a wind project by a city, town, or village. Current law also imposes procedures for political subdivisions that receive applications for approval relating to wind energy systems. Those procedures do not apply to approval or disapproval of a wind project under the bill. Under the bill, PSC may not issue a CPCN or CA for a solar project or wind project unless each city, village, and town in which the project is proposed to be located has adopted a resolution approving the project. In Committee
SB3 Requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval. Current law prohibits a person from beginning construction of a large electric generating facility (LEGF) unless the Public Service Commission grants a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the proposed facility. An LEGF is defined as a facility with a nominal operating capacity of 100 megawatts or more. In addition, a public utility may not engage in certain construction, expansion, or other projects unless PSC grants a certificate of authority (CA) for the proposed project. The bill defines a “solar project” and “wind project” as an area of land on which, respectively, solar photovoltaic panels or devices used for collecting wind energy, along with any associated equipment and facilities, are installed in order to generate electricity and which altogether is designed for nominal operation at a capacity of 15 megawatts or more. Under this bill, before PSC may approve a CA or a CPCN for the construction of a solar project or wind project, the person seeking the certificate must seek approval from each city, village, and town in which the solar project or wind project LRB-0775/1 SWB&EHS:emw&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 3 is to be located. The bill requires a city, village, or town to approve or disapprove a proposed solar project or wind project by adopting a resolution to that effect no later than 90 days after receiving a request for such approval. If the city, village, or town fails to act within that time period, the project is considered approved. The bill allows this deadline to be extended for certain reasons. Current law limits the authority of political subdivisions to regulate solar and wind energy systems, allowing political subdivisions to impose restrictions only if they meet certain conditions. The bill provides that those limitations do not apply to the approval or disapproval of a solar project or a wind project by a city, town, or village. Current law also imposes procedures for political subdivisions that receive applications for approval relating to wind energy systems. Those procedures do not apply to approval or disapproval of a wind project under the bill. Under the bill, PSC may not issue a CPCN or CA for a solar project or wind project unless each city, village, and town in which the project is proposed to be located has adopted a resolution approving the project. In Committee
AJR3 Proclaiming January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin. Relating to: proclaiming January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin. In Committee
AB19 Increased penalties for crimes against adults at risk; restraining orders for adults at risk; freezing assets of a defendant charged with financial exploitation of an adult at risk; sexual assault of an adult at risk; and providing a penalty. SEXUAL ASSAULT OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under this bill, any act of sexual misconduct that is currently a second degree sexual assault is a first degree sexual assault if the victim is an adult at risk. Under current law, if a person engages in any of the specified acts of sexual misconduct, he or she is guilty of a Class C felony. Under the bill, he or she is guilty of a Class B felony if the victim is an adult at risk, regardless of whether or not he or she knew the victim[s status as an adult at risk. FREEZING OF ASSETS Under current law, there is a procedure for a court to freeze or seize assets from a defendant who has been charged with a financial exploitation crime when the victim is an elder person. The procedure allows a court to freeze the funds, assets, or property of the defendant in an amount up to 100 percent of the alleged value of the property involved in the defendant[s pending criminal proceeding for purposes of preserving the property for future payment of restitution to the crime victim. This bill allows the court to apply the same procedure to freeze or seize assets when the crime victim an adult at risk. PHYSICAL ABUSE OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, there is a set of penalties that apply to physical abuse of an elder person, which range from a Class I felony to a Class C felony depending on the severity of the conduct. This bill applies those same penalties to physical abuse of an adult at risk. INCREASED PENALTIES This bill allows a term of imprisonment that is imposed for a criminal conviction to be increased in length if the crime victim was an adult at risk. Under the bill, a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less may be increased to two years; a maximum term of imprisonment of one to 10 years may be increased by up to four years; and a maximum term of imprisonment of more than 10 years may be increased by up to six years. Under the bill, the term of imprisonment may be lengthened irrespective of whether the defendant knew that the crime victim was an adult at risk. RESTRAINING ORDERS FOR AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, a person seeking a domestic violence, individual-at-risk, or harassment restraining order must appear in person in the courtroom at a hearing to obtain a restraining order. This bill allows an adult at risk who is seeking a domestic violence, individual- at-risk, or harassment restraining order to appear in a court hearing by telephone or live audiovisual means. 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. In Committee
SJR3 Proclaiming January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin. Relating to: proclaiming January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin. In Committee
AJR1 Requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). To create section 1m of article III of the constitution; Relating to: requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). In Committee
Bill Bill Name Motion Vote Date Vote
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and passed 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Move to call the question 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Substitute Amendment 2 adopted 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 26 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 adopted 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 25 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 24 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 23 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 22 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 21 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 20 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 19 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 18 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 17 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 16 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 15 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 14 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 13 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 12 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 11 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 10 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected 07/02/2025 Nay
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 9 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 8 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 7 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 6 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 5 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 4 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 3 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected 07/02/2025 Yea
SB45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected 07/02/2025 Yea
SB10 Access to public high schools for military recruiters. Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
SB10 Access to public high schools for military recruiters. Senate: Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
SB41 School safety grants and making an appropriation. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
SB41 School safety grants and making an appropriation. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 2 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
SB41 School safety grants and making an appropriation. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 1 adopted 06/18/2025 Yea
SB41 School safety grants and making an appropriation. (FE) Senate: Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
AB85 Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and concurred in 06/18/2025 Yea
AB87 Restitution orders following a conviction for human trafficking and restoration of the right to vote to a person barred from voting as a result of a felony conviction. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and concurred in 06/18/2025 Yea
SB108 Sharing minors’ safety plans. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
SB108 Sharing minors’ safety plans. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 1 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
SB108 Sharing minors’ safety plans. (FE) Senate: Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
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. Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
SB111 Transportation of minors for emergency detention. Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
SB111 Transportation of minors for emergency detention. Senate: Senate Amendment 2 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
SB111 Transportation of minors for emergency detention. Senate: Senate Amendment 1 adopted 06/18/2025 Yea
SB111 Transportation of minors for emergency detention. Senate: Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
SB106 Psychiatric residential treatment facilities, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
SB106 Psychiatric residential treatment facilities, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. Senate: Senate Amendment 2 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
SB106 Psychiatric residential treatment facilities, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. Senate: Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
AB140 Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Port Washington. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and concurred in 06/18/2025 Yea
SB179 Applying the motor vehicle fuel tax supplier’s administrative allowance to diesel fuel, a motor vehicle fuel tax refund for evaporation losses, and making an appropriation. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
SB184 Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device. Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
SB182 Emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
SB182 Emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 2 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
SB182 Emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE) Senate: Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
SB232 Grants to child advocacy centers. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
AB269 Delivery network couriers and transportation network drivers, Department of Financial Institutions’ approval to offer portable benefit accounts, providing for insurance coverage, modifying administrative rules related to accident and sickness insurance, and granting rule-making authority. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and concurred in 06/18/2025 Yea
SB278 Sunset of the community-oriented policing-house grant program. Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
SB279 Grants to law enforcement agencies for data-sharing platforms. Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
SB283 Public protective services hearing protection assistance. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and passed 06/18/2025 Yea
SB283 Public protective services hearing protection assistance. (FE) Senate: Senate Amendment 2 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
SB283 Public protective services hearing protection assistance. (FE) Senate: Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected 06/18/2025 Yea
SR5 Notifying the assembly and the governor that Timothy La Sage is elected senate sergeant at arms of the 2025-2026 senate. Senate: Adopted 06/18/2025 Yea
SR5 Notifying the assembly and the governor that Timothy La Sage is elected senate sergeant at arms of the 2025-2026 senate. Senate: Refused to refer to committee on Senate Organization 06/18/2025 Nay
SB33 Representations depicting nudity and providing a penalty. Senate: Read a third time and passed 05/15/2025 Yea
SB56 The use of federal capitalization grant funds for lead service line replacement. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and passed 05/15/2025 Yea
SB56 The use of federal capitalization grant funds for lead service line replacement. (FE) Senate: Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate 05/15/2025 Yea
SB56 The use of federal capitalization grant funds for lead service line replacement. (FE) Senate: Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected 05/15/2025 Yea
AB73 Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets. Senate: Read a third time and concurred in 05/15/2025 Yea
AB73 Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets. Senate: Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate 05/15/2025 Yea
SB96 Exempting certain electric vehicle charging stations located at a residence from the electric vehicle charging tax. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and passed 05/15/2025 Yea
SB125 A nuclear power siting study and time limits for taking final action on certain certificate of public convenience and necessity applications. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and passed 05/15/2025 Yea
SB125 A nuclear power siting study and time limits for taking final action on certain certificate of public convenience and necessity applications. (FE) Senate: Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate 05/15/2025 Yea
SB146 Prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty. Senate: Read a third time and passed 05/15/2025 Yea
SJR48 Congratulating Knights of Columbus Council 499 for achieving a century of compassionate commitment to service of the Church, their community, and their fellow man. Senate: Adopted 05/15/2025 Yea
SB23 Extension of eligibility under the Medical Assistance program for postpartum women. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and passed 04/22/2025 Yea
SB24 Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in, and the lifespan of, a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Middleton. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and passed 04/22/2025 Yea
SB66 Registration plate concealment devices and providing a penalty. Senate: Read a third time and passed 04/22/2025 Yea
SB66 Registration plate concealment devices and providing a penalty. Senate: Senate Amendment 1 rejected 04/22/2025 Yea
SB76 Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes. Senate: Read a third time and passed 04/22/2025 Yea
SR3 Notifying the assembly and the governor that Cyrus Anderson is elected senate chief clerk of the 2025-2026 senate. Senate: Adopted 04/22/2025 Yea
SB5 Battery or threat to jurors and providing a penalty. Senate: Read a third time and passed 03/18/2025 Yea
SB4 Agreements for direct primary care. Senate: Read a third time and passed 03/18/2025 Yea
SB4 Agreements for direct primary care. Senate: Senate Amendment 1 rejected 03/18/2025 Yea
AB1 Changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and concurred in 03/18/2025 Yea
SB25 Court-issued criminal complaints in officer-involved deaths. Senate: Read a third time and passed 03/18/2025 Yea
SJR7 Recognizing that the Wisconsin State Legislature supports nuclear power and fusion energy as clean energy sources that are critical to safely meeting Wisconsin’s growing energy demands and declaring the legislature’s commitment to the continuation and expansion of nuclear power and nuclear technologies, the development of nuclear technologies and fusion energy, and employing the leadership and resources necessary to support the development of and investment in nuclear power, fusion energy, and r Senate: Adopted 03/18/2025 Yea
AB96 Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and concurred in 03/18/2025 Yea
AB94 Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and concurred in 03/18/2025 Yea
AB95 Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE) Senate: Read a third time and concurred in 03/18/2025 Yea
SJR2 Requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). Senate: Read a third time and adopted 01/08/2025 Yea
SR1 Notifying the assembly and the governor that the 2025-2026 senate is organized. Senate: Adopted 01/06/2025 Yea
SJR1 The session schedule for the 2025-2026 biennial session period. Senate: Adopted 01/06/2025 Yea
  Committee Position Rank
Detail Wisconsin Senate Agriculture and Revenue Committee 5
Detail Wisconsin Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee 4
Detail Wisconsin Senate Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs Committee Vice Chair 2
Detail Wisconsin Senate Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs Committee Chair 1
State District Chamber Party Status Start Date End Date
WI Wisconsin Senate District 01 Senate Republican In Office 01/07/2019
WI District 2 House Republican Out of Office 01/03/2011 05/06/2024