Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 79: Relating to: prosecuting or adjudicating delinquent a person under the age of 18 for committing an act of prostitution.

AB 79 prevents the prosecution of minors under 18 for prostitution offenses when a court determines it serves the minor's best interests and protects public safety. Instead, the court may use diversion programs like consent decrees or deferred prosecution agreements under existing laws. The bill amends statutes to remove prosecution as an option for juveniles in these cases while maintaining DNA collection and expungement requirements for other serious juvenile offenses. This change directly affects minors charged with prostitution under section 944.30 (1m) by prioritizing rehabilitation over criminal prosecution.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Barbara Dittrich (R) Maureen McCarville (D) Alex Joers (D) Francesca Hong (D) Tara Johnson (D)

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 55: Relating to: possession of a firearm on school grounds by school employees and fees for licenses to carry a concealed weapon. (FE)

AB 55 modifies firearm possession rules on school grounds for licensed school employees and adjusts concealed carry license fees. It repeals restrictions preventing school employees from carrying concealed weapons and creates an exemption: licensed teachers may carry on school grounds if their school (public, charter, private, or tribal) has adopted a policy permitting it. The bill also sets a new $37 fee for initial concealed carry licenses (covering administrative costs) and a $12 renewal fee. These changes directly affect licensed school staff seeking to carry firearms on campus under approved school policies.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 122: Relating to: alternative open enrollment application procedures for residency change based on military orders.

AB 122 extends the deadline for military-connected families to apply for school residency changes under open enrollment. It changes the requirement from submitting applications within 30 days of military orders to 90 days after the orders are issued. This applies specifically to students whose families relocate due to active-duty military orders from any U.S. armed force, reserve component, state defense force, or National Guard. The bill directly affects military families seeking school enrollment in new districts following a permanent relocation ordered by military command. The change aims to provide more time for families to complete necessary paperwork during relocation transitions.

Topics ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 170: Relating to: prohibiting the Department of Justice from using the legal services of nongovernmental employees. (FE)

AB 170 prohibits the Department of Justice from using legal services from non-governmental employees (such as private lawyers or contractors) for investigating or prosecuting civil or criminal cases. The only exception allows legal interns paid no more than $10,000 annually, even if they are not state or federal employees. This directly affects how the Department of Justice hires legal support for case work. The bill creates a new statute (165.252) to enforce this restriction, with no other exemptions beyond the intern provision. It was introduced in April 2025 and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 55: Relating to: prohibiting the Department of Justice from using the legal services of nongovernmental employees. (FE)

SB 55 prohibits the state Department of Justice from using legal services provided by non-governmental employees (such as private attorneys or outside contractors) for civil or criminal investigations or prosecutions. The bill allows limited use of legal interns who are not state or federal employees, but only if they are paid $10,000 or less annually by their internship program. This rule directly affects the Department of Justice’s contracting practices and sets a specific pay cap for intern involvement in legal work. The bill would take effect upon enactment, changing how the agency hires legal support.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 6: Relating to: impoundment of vehicles used in certain traffic offenses.

SB 6 modifies vehicle impoundment rules for traffic offenses by requiring law enforcement to check if an impounded vehicle was reported stolen before returning it to the owner. If stolen, the vehicle must be returned without fees, and if unclaimed for over 90 days, it may be disposed of like an abandoned vehicle. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies handling impoundments and vehicle owners whose vehicles were used in traffic offenses. Key provisions mandate theft verification, waive fees for stolen vehicles, and clarify disposal procedures after 90 days. This changes administrative processes but does not alter the underlying traffic offenses or penalties.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 143: Relating to: allowing an unlicensed person to use a motor vehicle and providing a penalty.

AB 143 modifies vehicle law to clarify that vehicle owners or renters can be held liable for allowing unlicensed drivers to operate a vehicle, regardless of whether they knew the driver lacked a license. It adds new provisions (343.45(2m) and 343.46(2m)) stating that authorization or rental rules apply without requiring knowledge of the operator's license status. Violations carry fines: up to $1,000 for a first offense and up to $10,000 for repeat offenses. The bill directly affects vehicle owners, renters, and businesses that rent vehicles, as they face penalties if unlicensed operators use their vehicles. It does not change licensing requirements for drivers but shifts liability to those who permit unlicensed operation.

Topics ✓ Transportation

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 142: Relating to: algorithmic software for residential housing, and providing a penalty.

SB 142 bans the use of algorithmic software by landlords to set rental rates or occupancy levels in residential housing. It prohibits selling, licensing, or providing such software (defined as tools using private competitor data on rent/occupancy to inform pricing decisions) to landlords, with exceptions for aggregated rental data publications and affordable housing tools. The law imposes penalties of up to $1,000 per violation per unit, allowing tenants to sue for actual damages or $1,000 per violation, and enables state enforcement through the attorney general. It directly affects landlords, property management companies, and software providers that develop or sell such tools.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 91: Relating to: imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 91 upgrades penalties for child trafficking by imposing mandatory life imprisonment without parole when the crime involves three or more child victims. It applies to individuals who recruit, transport, or exploit children for commercial sex acts (as defined by existing law), as well as those who benefit financially from such trafficking. The bill amends statutes to classify these offenses as Class A felonies with no possibility of parole or extended supervision. This change directly affects convicted traffickers and their enablers, ensuring life sentences for repeat or large-scale cases involving multiple minors.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 142: Relating to: algorithmic software for residential housing, and providing a penalty.

AB 142 prohibits landlords and software providers from using algorithmic software to set rents or occupancy rates based on private competitor data (like unpublicized rent or occupancy details). It directly affects residential landlords, property management companies, and software vendors selling such tools. The bill bans both selling/licensing the software and using it for rent decisions, with penalties of up to $1,000 per violation per rental unit. Tenants may also sue for damages or injunctive relief, while exemptions cover aggregated rental data publications and affordable housing tools.

Topics ✓ Housing ✗ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 147: Relating to: the right to repair agricultural equipment, and providing a penalty. (FE)

Assembly Bill 147 establishes a "right to repair" for agricultural equipment, directly affecting manufacturers, owners, and independent repair providers of farm machinery like tractors and combines. The bill mandates that manufacturers must make available documentation, diagnostic data, embedded software, replacement parts, and repair tools. These resources must be provided to equipment owners and independent repair providers upon request. This access must be offered under "fair terms" and "fair costs," which includes providing digital documentation and embedded software for free, without requiring specific authorizations or affiliations.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 148: Relating to: the right to repair agricultural equipment, and providing a penalty. (FE)

Senate Bill 148 establishes a "right to repair" for agricultural equipment. It requires manufacturers of farm machinery, such as tractors and combines, to make available repair information, parts, and tools to equipment owners and independent repair shops. Manufacturers must provide diagnostic documentation, embedded software, and replacement parts at fair costs and under fair terms. This aims to allow farmers and unaffiliated technicians to diagnose, maintain, and repair their own equipment.

Bill results