Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Oct 7, 2024

SB 766: Relating to: storage of a firearm in residence if child is present and providing a penalty.

This bill requires anyone living with a child to store firearms in a locked container or with a trigger lock engaged when the child is present, unless the person is actively using the weapon. It establishes penalties for breaking these rules, classifying a first offense as a misdemeanor and subsequent violations as a felony. Additionally, the bill mandates that law enforcement officers wait at least seven days before making an arrest related to an accidental shooting involving a child, while also allowing district attorneys to consider the impact on the family when deciding whether to file charges.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Oct 3, 2024

AB 718: Relating to: waiting period for purchase of handguns.

This bill modifies the waiting period for purchasing handguns in Wisconsin by extending the time a dealer must wait before completing a sale when a background check is unclear. Under the new rules, if the state justice department cannot immediately determine if a buyer is prohibited from owning a firearm, the dealer must wait up to five working days for a final decision instead of the previous 48-hour limit. The change applies to sales occurring on or after the bill's effective date and is designed to ensure more thorough background checks for potential gun buyers.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Oct 3, 2024

AB 1051: Relating to: creating an office of gun violence prevention in the Department of Justice and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill creates a new Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Department of Justice, led by a director appointed by the Attorney General. It establishes state policy recognizing gun violence as a public health crisis and requires the office to develop strategies that address root causes like poverty, racism, and trauma while involving community partners and health experts. The legislation mandates that the office submit a written action plan to the legislature every two years detailing how it will use a public health approach to improve safety in high-risk communities. Additionally, the bill appropriates state funds to increase the authorized staff positions needed to direct this new office.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Oct 3, 2024

AB 1221: Relating to: violence prevention grants and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a violence prevention grant program funded by taxes on vapor products. The money would be distributed to local health departments and tribal health centers, which could then award grants to organizations for violence prevention initiatives. A key provision explicitly prohibits these health entities from giving the funds to law enforcement agencies or any groups working through them. The legislation also authorizes an additional $150,000 in state funding to support the administrative staff needed to manage this grant program.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Oct 3, 2024

AB 765: Relating to: storage of a firearm in residence if child is present and providing a penalty.

This bill requires anyone living with or expecting a child to store firearms in a securely locked container or with a trigger lock engaged to prevent accidental access. It establishes penalties for non-compliance, starting with a misdemeanor for a first offense and escalating to a felony for repeat violations. Additionally, the law mandates that law enforcement officers wait at least seven days before arresting parents or guardians whose children were injured or killed in an accidental shooting, allowing district attorneys to consider the impact of the tragedy on the family during the decision to file charges.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 22, 2024

AB 963: Relating to: main street bounceback grants and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a $25 million fund to provide financial assistance to businesses in Wisconsin that want to open new locations or expand into vacant commercial spaces. The program allows the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to award grants to eligible for-profit businesses, while explicitly excluding nonprofit organizations from receiving funding. Eligibility rules for the grants are designed to be similar to those used in a previous 2023 initiative, giving the corporation flexibility to set specific application procedures. Although the bill was introduced to support local commerce recovery, it ultimately failed to pass during the 2024 legislative session.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 22, 2024

AB 446: Relating to: designating the monarch butterfly as the state butterfly.

This bill designates the monarch butterfly as the official state butterfly of Wisconsin. It achieves this by adding a new section to the state statutes that explicitly names the monarch in this role and updating the Wisconsin Blue Book to include butterflies alongside other official state symbols. While the legislation was introduced in the 2024 session, it did not pass into law during that legislative cycle.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate May 21, 2024

SB 443: Relating to: designating the monarch butterfly as the state butterfly.

This bill proposes to officially designate the monarch butterfly as the state butterfly of Wisconsin. It achieves this by adding a new section to the state statutes that explicitly names the monarch butterfly and amending the Wisconsin Blue Book to include information about state butterflies alongside other official symbols. The legislation does not create new regulations or funding but serves as a symbolic recognition of the insect's status within the state.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate May 21, 2024

SB 1110: Relating to: study of guaranteed employment grant program and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill directs the Department of Workforce Development to study the feasibility of creating a grant program that funds guaranteed jobs in the care economy, such as healthcare, child care, and public infrastructure. The proposed program would provide grants to public and nonprofit entities to offer positions lasting at least 100 days at a rate of $20 per hour, with eligibility restricted to specific groups including young adults, people with disabilities, low-income households, long-term unemployed individuals, and formerly incarcerated people. The study must analyze the number of jobs needed, associated costs, training strategies, and pathways to full-time employment, with results reported to the governor and legislature within 18 months. To support this research, the bill appropriates an additional $250,000 from the state's fiscal year 2023-24 budget for the Department of Workforce Development.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 17, 2024

AB 1219: Relating to: study of guaranteed employment grant program and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill directs the Department of Workforce Development to study the feasibility of creating a grant program that funds guaranteed jobs in the care economy, such as healthcare, education, and social services. The proposed program would provide grants to public and nonprofit entities to offer at least 100 days of work at $20 per hour, with priority given to specific groups including youth, people with disabilities, low-income households, long-term unemployed individuals, and formerly incarcerated people. The study must analyze the number of positions needed, associated costs, training strategies, and pathways to full-time employment, with results to be reported to state officials within 18 months. To support this research, the bill appropriates an additional $250,000 for the fiscal year 2023-24.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 528: Relating to: top-five primaries and instant runoff voting for the offices of U.S. senator and U.S. representative in Congress. (FE)

This bill proposes changing how voters select candidates for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives by implementing ranked-choice voting in the general election and allowing voters to rank up to five candidates. Under the new system, ballots would permit voters to list their preferences in order, with the winner determined through an instant runoff process if no single candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes. The legislation also modifies primary election rules to allow voters to cast ballots for candidates from multiple political parties in certain consolidated voting scenarios. Additionally, the bill requires election officials to post clear signs warning voters that votes for candidates from different parties will not be counted unless a specific party preference is selected.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 15, 2024

AB 563: Relating to: top-five primaries and instant runoff voting for the offices of U.S. senator and U.S. representative in Congress. (FE)

This bill proposes changing how Wisconsin voters select candidates for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives seats by implementing a top-five primary system followed by instant runoff voting. Under the new rules, voters in the primary election would be able to rank up to five candidates of their choice in order of preference, rather than selecting a single candidate from a specific party. If no candidate receives a majority of the first-choice votes in the general election, the system would automatically rerun the election using the voters' ranked preferences to determine a winner without requiring a second election. The legislation also includes provisions to ensure voters are clearly informed about how to cast votes across different party lines and how write-in candidates are handled within this ranked-choice framework.

Bill results