Wisconsin Bills | MyRepTracker

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 38: Relating to: an income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. (FE)

AB 38 clarifies that cash tips received by employees from customers are taxable income under state law. It creates a new definition (71.05(1)(j)) specifying that "tips" include cash tips paid directly by customers, and amends multiple tax calculation sections to explicitly include "tips" in income categories for nonresident and part-year resident taxpayers. The bill updates formulas to ensure tips are counted when calculating taxable income for apportionment purposes, affecting tipped employees (like servers) and nonresidents earning tips in the state. This change ensures cash tips are treated consistently with other wages for tax purposes, without creating new exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 224: Relating to: the rights of sexual assault crime victims.

SB 224 (2026 Legislature) improves communication rights for sexual assault victims who provide forensic evidence kits. The bill requires law enforcement to test kits within a specified timeline and provide victims with clear information about kit status, DNA testing results, and destruction dates upon request. It also mandates that victims be notified of any changes to their case status, including if it's closed or reopened. These provisions directly affect sexual assault victims who submit kits during forensic examinations, ensuring they receive timely updates about their case. The bill focuses on transparency and victim notification without altering legal penalties or funding.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 436: Relating to: requiring animal testing facilities and breeders to offer certain dogs and cats for adoption to releasing agencies and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 436 requires animal testing facilities and breeders to offer dogs and cats for adoption to shelters or rescue groups before euthanizing them, if the animals don't pose health/safety risks. Facilities must provide a 3-week window for adoption offers and submit annual reports tracking adoption numbers, animals used in testing, and shelter partners. This directly affects animal testing facilities (including research labs) and breeders who sell animals to such facilities. Violations carry a $5,000 penalty per animal, with no state liability for compliance actions.

passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 528: Relating to: certain airport improvement contracts. (FE)

SB 528 modifies how airports funded partly with federal money can contract for construction. It allows the state transportation secretary to use "construction manager at risk" contracts (where the contractor guarantees a maximum price) for eligible airport projects, without selecting solely based on lowest price. This applies specifically to "qualified projects" like airport structures or improvements, when federal rules permit it. The bill creates an exception to standard state procurement laws for these federally funded airport contracts.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 467: Relating to: local wheel tax referenda. (FE)

SB 467 requires municipalities and counties to hold voter referendums before imposing or continuing local annual registration fees on motor vehicles kept within their boundaries. The bill mandates that new fees must be approved by a majority of voters in a regular election, with the referendum question specifying the fee amount. For existing fees implemented before the law's effective date, a referendum must be held within 18 months, allowing voters to decide whether to continue the fee. This directly affects local governments seeking to collect such fees and vehicle owners in those jurisdictions.

passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 227: Relating to: the law enforcement officers’ bill of rights.

SB 227 repeals Section 164.05 of the statutes, which previously established a "law enforcement officers’ bill of rights" in the state code. This bill removes the existing statutory provision without creating new rights or procedures for law enforcement officers. It directly affects the legal framework governing officers' rights by eliminating the specific section referenced in the repeal. As a procedural bill, it does not alter policy or impact any other laws, merely deleting the cited statute from the code.

passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 394: Relating to: damage or graffiti to certain historical property and providing a penalty.

SB 394 amends Wisconsin statutes to clarify which historical properties are protected from damage or graffiti and to establish penalties for violations. It specifies that protected property includes structures, plaques, statues, paintings, or monuments of historical significance that are maintained by the state, county, or municipality, or located on publicly owned land. The bill expands the definition of protected property by explicitly including such monuments listed on a historical registry or deemed historically significant. This change ensures that vandals face legal consequences for damaging government-maintained historical sites, such as monuments in public parks or historic buildings.

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 664: Relating to: serving margarine as a substitute for butter in certain circumstances.

This bill prohibits serving margarine as a butter substitute in public restaurants unless specifically requested by the customer. It also bans using margarine instead of butter for students in schools unless ordered by the student or their parent/guardian, with limited health exceptions requiring a healthcare provider's direction. State institutions (like hospitals or prisons) can only substitute margarine for butter with superintendent approval for specific health reasons. The law aims to ensure butter substitutions are intentional and health-appropriate in these settings.

passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 377: Relating to: identification of the Brooklyn Area Veterans Memorial on state highway maps. (FE)

SB 377 adds the Brooklyn Area Veterans Memorial in Brooklyn, Green County, to state highway maps as a designated location. This procedural bill updates map references to formally identify the memorial's location on state transportation maps. It directly affects state highway map publications but does not change any policies, benefits, or obligations for residents or veterans. The change applies to maps published after the bill's effective date.

passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 553: Relating to: limitations on the definition of abortion.

SB 553 clarifies that certain medical procedures performed to save a pregnant woman's life do not count as "abortion" under state law. The bill creates specific definitions for terms like "anembryonic pregnancy," "ectopic pregnancy," and "molar pregnancy," and explicitly states that abortion does not include procedures like emergency cesarean sections, removal of a dead fetus, or treatment for these specific conditions when doctors make reasonable efforts to preserve both the mother's and unborn child's life. This directly affects healthcare providers who perform these emergency procedures and pregnant patients facing medical crises. The law updates multiple statutes to ensure these scenarios are excluded from the legal definition of abortion.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 101: Relating to: declaring November as Veteran Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Month in Wisconsin.

SJR 101 is a symbolic resolution declaring November 2025 as Veteran Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Month in Wisconsin. It highlights Wisconsin's veteran suicide statistics (134 deaths in 2023, accounting for 15% of state adult suicides) and aims to raise awareness about mental health challenges veterans face during civilian transitions. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but encourages the state to recognize veterans' service and promote existing resources like the Veterans Crisis Line. It directly affects Wisconsin veterans by drawing attention to their mental health needs through official state recognition.

Topics ✓ Veterans

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 612: Relating to: the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship 2000 program, a major land acquisitions program, and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 612 reauthorizes funding for the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship 2000 program and establishes specific funding streams for land conservation. It directs $5 million annually to department property development, $4 million for nonprofit land acquisition grants, $1 million for habitat restoration, and $2 million for local conservation assistance. The bill specifies that these funds come from the conservation fund and forestry activity revenues, with strict annual spending limits for the stewardship program (capping at $86 million in some years). It does not create new policy but reorganizes existing funding mechanisms to support state and local land conservation efforts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment