Relating to: authorizing additional circuit court and criminal justice system positions. (FE)
AB 514 authorizes new circuit court branches and additional judicial staff in Kenosha, Brown, and Menominee/Shawano counties to address growing caseloads. Specifically, it adds a ninth branch in Kenosha County (effective August 2028), a ninth branch in Brown County (effective August 2027) and a tenth branch (effective August 2028), and a third branch in Menominee/Shawano Counties (effective August 2027). The bill also authorizes new circuit judge and court reporter positions for these branches, plus 30.5 additional assistant district attorney positions across 24 counties. These changes are funded through existing state court appropriations and will take effect on the specified dates.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Jan 2026
Assembly Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Oct 15, 2025
Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Assembly by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
26
Key actions
5
Committee
3
Amendments
5
Mar 23, 2026
Amended
Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Steffen
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 8, Noes 0
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 6, Noes 2
lower
Dec 5, 2025
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Steffen
lower
Oct 15, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Steffen, Kurtz, Allen, Behnke, Dittrich, Donovan, Franklin, Goeben, Gundrum, B. Jacobson, Kitchens, Kreibich, Melotik, Murphy, Mursau, Neylon, O'Connor and Knodl;
cosponsored by Senator Wimberger
lower
18 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Adam Neylon
RRepublican
P
Barbara Dittrich
RRepublican
P
Ben Franklin
RRepublican
P
Bob Donovan
RRepublican
P
Brent Jacobson
RRepublican
P
Dan Knodl
RRepublican
P
Dave Murphy
RRepublican
P
David Steffen
RRepublican
P
Elijah Behnke
RRepublican
P
Jeff Mursau
RRepublican
P
Jerry O'Connor
RRepublican
P
Joel Kitchens
RRepublican
P
Joy Goeben
RRepublican
P
Paul Melotik
RRepublican
P
Rick Gundrum
RRepublican
P
Rob Kreibich
RRepublican
P
Scott Allen
RRepublican
P
Tony Kurtz
RRepublican
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