SB 146 Wisconsin Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty.

SB 146 prohibits individuals convicted of a violent felony from legally changing their name. It amends existing law to clarify that the prohibition applies specifically to violent crimes classified as felonies, not all violent offenses. This directly affects people with violent felony convictions who seek to change their legal name. The bill establishes a clear legal barrier to name changes for this group, with penalties for violations.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

May 2025

Assembly Passage

Jan 2026

Vetoed

Mar 2026

Introduced Mar 21, 2025 Vetoed Mar 20, 2026

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What changed between versions

Bill Text → Text as Enrolled · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill prohibits individuals convicted of violent crimes from changing their names, expanding the existing restriction that previously only applied to registered sex offenders. The new law defines 'violent crime' to include serious offenses like homicide, battery, kidnapping, stalking, human trafficking, and sexual assault, and establishes a Class H felony penalty for violations.

Scope change

The scope of the name change prohibition was significantly expanded from only applying to registered sex offenders to applying to anyone convicted of a violent crime.

ELIGIBILITY

Prohibits name changes for anyone convicted of a violent crime, whereas the previous law only restricted registered sex offenders.

DEFINITION

Defines 'violent crime' to include homicide, battery, kidnapping, stalking, human trafficking, and sexual assault.

ENFORCEMENT

Establishes a Class H felony penalty for violating the prohibition on name changes.

REQUIREMENT

Updated multiple existing statutes to include exceptions for name changes prohibited under the new violent crime restriction.

Floor votes · Assembly Jan 13, 2026

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

Mar 20, 2026

Vetoed

Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-20-2026

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 54, Noes 45

lower

Jan 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Placed on calendar 1-13-2026 by Committee on Rules

lower

May 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15

upper

May 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Amendment 1 adopted

upper

May 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3

upper

May 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 1

upper

May 2, 2025

Introduced

Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Introduced

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

upper

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors