AB 225 Wisconsin Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: determination of where a defendant resides or does substantial business for purposes of venue.

AB 225 clarifies venue rules for civil cases involving businesses. It states that courts cannot count insurers or other joined parties when deciding if a county is the proper location for a case. For businesses, the bill defines "residence" as the state or country where they were incorporated, and "substantial business" as only occurring in their main county of operation. This directly affects corporations, LLCs, and civil lawsuits where venue is contested, simplifying how courts determine case locations. The law passed in November 2025 and is now in effect.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Assembly Passage

Nov 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Vetoed

Mar 2026

Introduced Apr 23, 2025 Vetoed Mar 27, 2026

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What changed between versions

Bill Text → Text as Enrolled · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill clarifies how courts determine the proper location (venue) for lawsuits involving defendants in Wisconsin. It restricts courts from counting certain related parties when deciding where a case should be heard and defines exactly where a business is considered to 'live' and conduct business for these purposes.

Scope change

The scope of venue determination rules was narrowed to exclude specific types of joined parties and to strictly define business residency based on incorporation and principal place of business.

REQUIREMENT

Courts are now prohibited from considering the location of parties joined to a lawsuit solely to ensure the case is fully resolved or parties who are voluntarily joined.

DEFINITION

A business entity is legally defined as residing only in its state of incorporation or organization and doing substantial business only in the county where its main office is located.

TECHNICAL

Added official publication and enactment date headers to the enrolled text.

Floor votes

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

Mar 27, 2026

Vetoed

Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-27-2026

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read a third time and concurred in

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

upper

Nov 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read a third time and passed

lower

Nov 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Placed on calendar 11-19-2025 by Committee on Rules

lower

Oct 16, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee on Rules

lower

Oct 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report passage recommended by Committee on Insurance, Ayes 7, Noes 2

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced by Representatives Duchow, Allen, Brooks, Kreibich, Maxey and O'Connor; cosponsored by Senators Feyen, Marklein and Quinn

lower

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors