Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 689: Relating to: extension of tax incremental district lifespan for purposes of housing stock improvement. (FE)

SB 689 allows cities to extend the lifespan of tax incremental districts (TIDs) used for housing projects by up to three years after initial development costs are paid. Cities must obtain joint review board approval for extensions longer than one year. This change applies to existing TIDs focused on improving housing stock, giving cities more time to complete development projects using tax increment funds. The bill modifies statutes to clarify extension rules while maintaining oversight requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 739: Relating to: exemptions from food product licensing requirements for sale of pickled fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and other shelf-stable food products prepared in a person’s home and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

SB 739 exempts home producers from commercial food licensing requirements when selling pickled fruits/vegetables and baked goods (nonpotentially hazardous foods that don’t require refrigeration). Home producers must register with the state, label products with their name, "made in private home," and ingredients, and limit annual sales to $40,000. Producers with over $10,000 in sales must display a "homemade" sign, maintain insurance, and hold a food safety certificate. The bill establishes new registration rules, labeling standards, and requires inspections for certain producers.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 761: Relating to: eliminating and modifying certain provisions enacted under 2023 Act 12 regarding the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County. (FE)

SB 761 eliminates and modifies specific provisions from 2023 Act 12 affecting Milwaukee's city government. It repeals requirements that the fire and police commission board must include members from the same political party (removing a 3-member cap for 7-member boards) and removes the need for the mayor to appoint members from employee association lists. The bill also changes the appointment process, allowing the mayor to appoint board members without common council confirmation for existing members, while requiring new members to complete training. Additionally, it modifies a tax provision related to rail transportation projects in Milwaukee, excluding the "Lakefront Line" route.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 733: Relating to: calculation of fuel costs for an electric public utility’s fuel cost plan.

SB 733 amends Wisconsin statute to change how electric utilities calculate fuel costs in their approved fuel cost plans. It requires utilities to account for both fuel purchase costs and revenue from selling electricity generation capacity that meets Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) requirements. This applies specifically to fuel cost under-collections or over-collections outside the utility’s allowed annual margin. The bill creates a new definition for "Midcontinent independent system operation" and ties fuel cost calculations directly to MISO standards.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 711: Relating to: funding for the Family Foundations home visitation program and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 711 increases funding for the Family Foundations home visitation program by $1.2 million in fiscal year 2026-27. This appropriation directly supports the Department of Children and Families' program under section 48.983, which provides home visits to families with young children. The bill modifies the existing budget allocation without changing program eligibility or requirements. It was introduced in December 2025 with multiple co-authors and is currently under review by the Committee on State Affairs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 779: Relating to: increasing jurisdictional amounts in small claims actions. (FE)

AB 779 increases the dollar limits for cases heard in Wisconsin's small claims courts. It raises the maximum amount for consumer credit transactions (from $25,000 to $50,000), property recovery cases (from $10,000 to $25,000), personal injury/tort claims (from $5,000 to $25,000), and other civil cases (from $10,000 to $25,000). The bill also establishes automatic adjustments to these limits every five years based on inflation, using the U.S. consumer price index. This change directly affects individuals and small businesses filing claims in small claims court, allowing them to seek higher compensation without moving to a more complex court system.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 760: Relating to: actions in small claims for third-party complaints, personal injury claims, and actions based in tort. (FE)

AB 760 raises the monetary threshold for certain small claims court cases from $5,000 to $10,000. It directly affects individuals filing third-party complaints, personal injury claims, or tort actions with claims of $10,000 or less. The bill changes the statute to allow these specific claim types to be handled in small claims court instead of regular civil court when the amount sought is $10,000 or less. This policy change simplifies access to a faster, less formal court process for qualifying cases.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 786: Relating to: food allergen training and certificates of food protection practices, rules addressing food allergens, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

SB 786 requires food businesses, including home-canned food sellers, to clearly label major food allergens (like milk, eggs, nuts, or soy) in ingredient lists. It mandates that food workers complete department-approved training on allergen awareness, covering topics like allergy symptoms, cross-contact prevention, and communication with customers. The bill grants the Department of Agriculture rule-making authority to establish standards for allergen labeling, food handling, and training requirements. These changes apply to new applications for food safety certificates starting on the bill's effective date.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 790: Relating to: actions in small claims for third-party complaints, personal injury claims, and actions based in tort. (FE)

SB 790 raises the monetary threshold for certain small claims court cases from $5,000 to $10,000. It specifically applies to third-party complaints, personal injury claims, and tort actions filed in small claims court. This change means more cases involving these claim types will qualify for the simplified small claims process instead of moving to higher-value civil court. The bill affects individuals and businesses filing such claims under the new $10,000 limit, directly changing which court handles these cases. It becomes effective for actions filed on its effective date.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 784: Relating to: warrior-style training of law enforcement officers. (FE)

SB 784 bans state law enforcement agencies from providing, arranging, or reimbursing "warrior-style training" for officers. This type of training is defined as instruction that dehumanizes people, encourages aggressive conduct, or de-emphasizes human life or constitutional rights, potentially increasing the likelihood of deadly force use. The bill prohibits state agencies from contracting with organizations offering such training and denies certification or reimbursement for any training involving warrior-style methods. However, it explicitly allows training in aikido (a specific martial art) to continue without restriction.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 721: Relating to: income tax credits for beginning farmers and owners of farm assets and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 721 creates a new income tax credit for beginning farmers and owners of farm assets in Wisconsin. Beginning farmers who lease or purchase agricultural assets (like land, equipment, or livestock) and asset owners who lease those assets to them can claim a credit equal to 5% of the lease or sales price paid each year. The credit is capped at $75,000 annually and only applies to the first three years of a lease. To qualify, claimants must provide eligibility certification and meet residency requirements, with partnerships and LLCs passing credit amounts to individual members.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 709: Relating to: alternative methods of providing pupil transportation services. (FE)

AB 709 amends Wisconsin state law to clarify rules for school transportation services, primarily affecting schools, school bus contractors, and emergency transportation providers. It allows school boards to request temporary emergency transportation for 15+ students when regular service isn't available, requiring written approval from the state transportation secretary. The bill also updates insurance requirements: vehicles carrying 9-14 students (not owned/leased by schools) must carry $10,000 property damage and $25,000 per person bodily injury coverage. These changes standardize emergency procedures and ensure minimum insurance coverage for non-school-operated transportation.

Bill results