AB 105 Wisconsin Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: the distribution of certain material on the Internet.

AB 105 requires business entities (like websites or platforms) distributing material harmful to minors to verify users' ages using approved methods before granting access. It applies specifically to sites containing a "substantial portion" (over one-third) of such material, defined as content with sexual depictions, prurient appeal, or lacking literary/artistic value for minors. The bill exempts bona fide news organizations and internet service providers from these requirements. Violations could result in civil lawsuits seeking damages, while the bill also bans publishing obscene material involving children or obscene content online.

Issues: ✗ Technology

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Nov 2025

Assembly Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Vetoed

Apr 2026

Introduced Mar 10, 2025 Vetoed Apr 3, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Text → Text as Enrolled · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill text was reformatted from a standard legislative draft to the final 'Text as Enrolled' version, which includes the official enactment language. Substantively, the final version adds specific technical requirements for age verification (requiring government ID or commercial systems) and introduces new civil enforcement mechanisms, including the ability for the state to seek injunctions and civil forfeitures of up to $10,000 per violation.

Scope change

The scope of enforcement was expanded to include civil actions brought by the state to stop violations and recover fines, whereas the draft only mentioned private civil liability.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific methods for age verification, requiring the use of government-issued digitized IDs or commercial systems that use public/private transactional data.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new provisions allowing the state to investigate violations, seek court injunctions to stop them, and recover civil forfeitures between $100 and $10,000 per violation.

Clarified that a prior criminal conviction is irrelevant to the civil penalties available under the new law.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Substantial portion,' specifying it means more than one-third of the total material on a website.

TECHNICAL

Converted the text from a draft bill format with line numbers and committee references to the official enrolled statute format.

Floor votes · Assembly Mar 20, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 3, 2026

Vetoed

Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-3-2026

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Introduced

LRB correction (Assembly Amendment 1)

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate Amendment 2 concurred in

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Received from Senate amended and concurred in as amended (Senate amendment 2 adopted)

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read a third time and concurred in as amended

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Amendment 2 adopted

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Amended

Senate Amendment 1 withdrawn and returned to author

upper

Jan 7, 2026

Introduced

Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senator Wanggaard

upper

Dec 3, 2025

Introduced

Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

upper

Nov 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Ayes 3, Noes 2

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read a third time and passed, Ayes 69, Noes 22, Paired 2

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Introduced

Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Goeben

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Placed on calendar 3-20-2025 by Committee on Rules

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee on Rules

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report passage recommended by Committee on State Affairs, Ayes 8, Noes 2

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Introduced

Introduced by Representatives Goeben, B. Jacobson, Penterman, Kreibich, Dittrich, Allen, Knodl, Wichgers, Murphy, Brill, Mursau, Behnke and Piwowarczyk; cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard, Jacque, Feyen and Nass

lower

13 primary · 0 co-sponsors