Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AJR 53: Relating to: commemorating the Bay View labor strike and tragedy.

AJR 53 designates May 5th each year as an annual observance to commemorate the 1886 Bay View labor strike in Milwaukee, where state militia fired on peaceful striking workers, killing seven and injuring four. The resolution formally recognizes the historical significance of this event, which involved workers protesting for an eight-hour workday and was met with violent suppression. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any specific group, but instead directs the state to honor this pivotal moment in labor history through an annual observance.

Karen Kirsch (D) Alex Joers (D) Francesca Hong (D) Tara Johnson (D) Mike Bare (D)

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 291: Relating to: native prairie and forage plants.

AB 291 requires all state agencies to prioritize using native prairie and forage plants in their projects to support native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. This law directly affects state agencies, including departments and boards, by mandating they favor native plant species over non-native alternatives where appropriate. The Department of Natural Resources must provide requested information to help agencies implement this requirement. The bill creates a new statute section defining state agencies and establishing this preference without altering existing environmental protections.

Topics ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 292: Relating to: local regulation of pesticides to protect pollinators.

SB 292 creates a new statutory provision (94.701 (3) (b) 9) that requires local governments to regulate pesticides specifically to protect pollinators - defined as insects that pollinate flowers - and their habitats. The bill directly affects local pesticide regulations, requiring communities to consider pollinator safety when adopting rules. It establishes a clear legal framework for local action but does not specify particular pesticide restrictions or enforcement methods. This is a procedural bill defining regulatory scope, not a detailed policy measure.

Topics ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 293: Relating to: native prairie and forage plants.

SB 293 requires all state agencies to prioritize using native prairie and forage plants in their projects to support native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. It creates a new statute (20.935) defining "state agency" broadly and mandating that agencies use these native plants where appropriate. The Department of Natural Resources must provide requested information to help agencies implement this requirement. The bill directly affects every state agency that manages land or projects, with no financial or regulatory changes beyond the preference for native plants.

Topics ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 319: Relating to: designating the rusty patched bumble bee as the state native insect.

SB 319 designates the rusty patched bumble bee (*Bombus affinis*) as Wisconsin's official state native insect. The bill amends state statutes to add this designation to the list of official state symbols included in the Wisconsin Blue Book. This is a ceremonial change with no regulatory impact, affecting only the state's official documentation. It does not alter conservation policies or impose new requirements on any individuals or entities.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 61: Relating to: designating June 2025 as Pollinator Awareness Month in Wisconsin.

SJR 61 designates June 2025 as Pollinator Awareness Month in Wisconsin. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise public awareness about the importance of pollinators like bees and butterflies to agriculture and ecosystems. It highlights Wisconsin's existing efforts, such as "No Mow May" initiatives, which have demonstrated positive impacts on bee populations. The resolution encourages community engagement in pollinator-friendly practices, such as planting native species and reducing pesticide use, without imposing new requirements on residents or organizations.

Topics ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 298: Relating to: ban on the use of certain insecticides by the Department of Natural Resources.

SB 298 prohibits Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources from using neonicotinoid insecticides on state lands acquired and maintained under section 23.09(2)(d). This directly affects the department's land management practices on public parks, preserves, and conservation areas. The ban includes three key exceptions: existing farming agreements entered before the law's effective date, forest insect control on state forests/nurseries, and designated infestation zones under existing forest management rules. The bill creates a clear policy change by restricting a specific pesticide class on most state lands while preserving necessary forestry applications.

Topics ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 57: Relating to: county sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE)

SB 57 reclassifies certain actions by county sheriffs who assist federal immigration authorities as a felony instead of a misdemeanor. It directly affects county sheriffs who provide support for federal immigration enforcement activities. The key provision changes the legal penalty for sheriffs participating in specific immigration-related functions, increasing the potential punishment. This bill modifies existing law to impose stricter criminal penalties for sheriffs engaging in these activities.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 71: Relating to: school district operating referenda.

AB 71 changes how school districts in Wisconsin can seek voter approval to exceed their standard operating budget limits. It requires school boards to adopt a resolution specifying whether excess funds are for recurring (ongoing) or nonrecurring (one-time) purposes, and limits such resolutions to four years. Voters must approve these requests via referendum, with ballots clearly stating the amount for nonrecurring uses. Crucially, if approved for recurring purposes, the excess amount becomes part of the next year's budget base; for nonrecurring purposes, it does not affect future budget limits. This bill directly affects school districts seeking to fund additional programs beyond their regular budget without voter approval.

Topics ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 290: Relating to: local government rules of proceedings and consideration of ordinances or resolutions for which enactment or adoption previously failed. (FE)

SB 290 prevents local governments from using procedural rules to permanently block the reintroduction of ordinances or resolutions that failed to pass previously. It requires village boards, town boards, and city common councils to allow reconsideration of substantially similar proposals after a 2-year waiting period. The bill creates specific statutory provisions (in sections 59.11(4m), 60.20(4), and 61.32(6)) ensuring local governing bodies cannot prohibit such reconsideration within this timeframe. This applies directly to all local government bodies that adopt ordinances or resolutions through formal proceedings.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 127: Relating to: the duty of a pharmacist to dispense lawfully prescribed drugs and devices. (FE)

AB 127 modifies pharmacy laws regarding the dispensing of lawfully prescribed contraceptives. It allows pharmacists to refuse dispensing for reasons of conscience but requires them to immediately transfer the prescription to another pharmacy at the patient’s direction without delay. This directly affects pharmacists in community and hospital settings who dispense contraceptives, ensuring patients can access their prescribed medication without unnecessary delays. The bill specifies that refusals cannot be based on prescription errors, potential fraud, or drug incompatibility, and clarifies that pharmacists must transfer prescriptions rather than deny service.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 303: Relating to: grants for technical colleges to provide mapping data to law enforcement. (FE)

SB 303 creates a grant program to fund technical colleges in developing detailed digital maps of their campus buildings for law enforcement use. These maps must include specific location details like room numbers, floors, and building layouts to help first responders during emergencies, and must work with existing public safety technology without requiring additional software purchases. The Office of School Safety will administer the grants, accepting applications from technical college leaders working with local law enforcement. The bill also requires an annual report tracking grant funding and how the maps are used.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results