Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 273: Relating to: camera monitor systems as an alternative to mirrors for commercial motor vehicles.

SB 273 allows commercial motor vehicles to use federally approved camera monitor systems instead of traditional mirrors, as permitted under federal regulations. The bill directly affects commercial trucking operators and drivers by providing an alternative to standard mirror requirements (49 CFR 393.80(a)). It requires camera systems to be exempted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or approved under federal safety standards. This change modifies state law to align with federal approval processes for such technology.

Topics ✓ Transportation

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 510: Relating to: requiring certain persons holding a state elective office to serve as an election official.

SB 510 requires state elected officials (including governors, legislators, and statewide officeholders) to serve as election officials during elections. Specifically, they must serve for at least 8 hours on election day during their first full term and every three years thereafter, unless medically unable (with physician certification). Officials must complete required training but cannot be paid for this service, and their appointment does not count toward municipal staffing limits. The bill applies to all nonjudicial elected state officials holding office, excluding elections where they are candidates. This mandate aims to involve elected leaders directly in election administration.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 538: Relating to: requiring certain persons holding a state elective office to serve as an election official.

AB 538 requires state elected officials (such as governors, state senators, and representatives) to serve as election officials during their first full term and every three years thereafter. These officials must work at least eight hours on election day at a polling location, attend required training, and provide no compensation for this service. Officials with medical limitations may be exempt if they submit a physician's sworn statement verifying their inability to serve. The bill ensures their appointment doesn't count toward municipal staffing limits for elections. This applies to all general elections where they are not candidates on the ballot.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 523: Relating to: poll list numbers marked on certain absentee ballots.

SB 523 requires election boards to mark the poll list number of each absentee voter on the back of their ballot after verifying eligibility and ballot endorsement. This procedural change directly affects local election boards handling absentee ballots and ensures consistent tracking of voter participation. The bill specifies that boards must mark the number without unfolding or examining the ballot, following verification steps outlined in existing election statutes. It does not alter voting eligibility or ballot content, only the administrative process for recording absentee votes. The requirement applies to all absentee ballots except those cast under specific circumstances noted in statute.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 544: Relating to: a statewide retail food establishment food grading system, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 544 establishes a statewide food safety grading system for retail food establishments (like restaurants and grocery stores), requiring annual unannounced inspections based on a 100-point scale. Businesses must display their current grade (A, B, C, or "Grade Pending") at all public entrances within 48 hours, with penalties of $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for subsequent violations within 12 months of non-compliance. The system categorizes violations by public health risk, assigns negative points, and determines grades (e.g., A for 90-100 points), with "Grade Pending" triggering immediate corrective actions and reinspection. The department must maintain a public online database showing inspection results, grades, and assigned points for all businesses.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 163: Relating to: income change notifications for child support or maintenance orders.

This bill requires parents paying child support or maintenance to notify the county child support agency within 10 business days of income changes (like new jobs, bonuses, or substantial income shifts), and parents receiving support to report remarriage. It clarifies that such notifications alone won’t change existing support orders - they require a formal request for adjustment. The bill also adds privacy protections, allowing parents to redact sensitive information (like Social Security numbers or addresses) from shared documents. Finally, it updates rules for reviewing maintenance payments when a recipient remarries, requiring courts to vacate orders upon proof of remarriage.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 365: Relating to: fleet registration of certain motor vehicles. (FE)

SB 365 amends vehicle registration rules to require certain commercial vehicles with dual weight class decals to display them on both the front and rear license plates, as directed by the department. This affects commercial fleet operators whose vehicles require two separate weight class decals. The bill specifies that these decals must be placed on both front and rear plates, rather than just the rear, to improve visibility for law enforcement and other drivers. The change applies to vehicles registered under specific weight classification rules already in place. The bill passed committee unanimously and is now pending final passage.

Topics ✓ Transportation

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 97: Relating to: recognizing September 25, 2025, as First Amendment Day for all people of Wisconsin.

SJR 97 designates September 25, 2025, as First Amendment Day for all Wisconsin residents to commemorate the anniversary of the U.S. Congress proposing the Bill of Rights in 1789. This symbolic resolution has no legal effect and does not create new laws or obligations. It aims to honor the First Amendment's protections of free speech, assembly, and press, as highlighted in the resolution's preamble. The bill serves as a commemorative gesture, not a policy change.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AJR 105: Relating to: recognizing September 25, 2025, as First Amendment Day for all people of Wisconsin.

AJR 105 is a commemorative resolution proposing to recognize September 25, 2025, as "First Amendment Day" in Wisconsin. It honors the First Amendment's protections of free speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition rights, referencing its historical role in movements like civil rights and women's suffrage. As a symbolic resolution, it has no legal effect or policy changes - it does not create new laws or alter existing rights. The resolution was introduced by multiple legislators and referred to committee for further consideration.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 441: Relating to: identity requirements for officers who arrest or detain individuals and providing a penalty.

AB 441 requires law enforcement officers to clearly identify themselves during arrests or detentions. Specifically, officers must state their name, display their badge number and agency insignia (with specified visibility standards), and state the legal authority for the action. The bill prohibits concealing identity except for medical masks, tactical gear, or during imminent danger. Violating these rules is a Class D felony, though courts cannot impose jail time. This directly affects officers employed by state or local law enforcement agencies during enforcement actions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 444: Relating to: identity requirements for officers who arrest or detain individuals and providing a penalty.

SB 444 requires law enforcement officers to clearly identify themselves during arrests or detentions by verbally stating their role, displaying their surname and badge number with high-contrast visibility, and showing agency insignia in specific sizes. It mandates officers to provide the legal authority for the detention and prohibits face covering except for health/safety reasons or tactical teams. Violating these requirements is a Class D felony, though courts cannot impose jail time. The bill directly affects all officers employed by law enforcement agencies and individuals subject to arrests or detentions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 506: Relating to: the state civil service system. (FE)

SB 506 modifies state civil service rules to clarify and streamline veteran hiring preferences. It removes age restrictions for veterans applying for civil service positions and updates how preference points are applied to veterans and their spouses during hiring processes. Key changes include revising sections to ensure veterans and spouses receive preference points without adding them to certification lists prematurely, while maintaining that their grades plus points must equal or exceed the lowest grade on the list. The bill directly affects veterans seeking state civil service jobs and state hiring boards managing eligibility lists. These revisions aim to simplify compliance with existing veteran preference laws under statutes like 230.16 (7).

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Bill results