This bill amends Wisconsin statutes to clarify how retiring power plants fueled by nonrenewable energy sources are classified for environmental control cost calculations. It explicitly includes the unrecovered value of retired property and associated demolition costs when utilities determine financial obligations for environmental compliance. The changes apply to energy utilities managing facilities that use nonrenewable combustible energy resources and aim to ensure these costs are properly accounted for in regulatory asset valuations. The legislation does not mandate retirement of any plants but adjusts how existing financial reporting rules treat decommissioning expenses.
This bill establishes a funding mechanism for municipalities to receive payments from the state for services they provide to state facilities and University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority properties. It requires state agencies to make full payments at established rates for municipal services such as water, sewer, electrical, and waste disposal, with funds drawn from state appropriations for facility operations. The legislation also mandates that the state department assess program costs to cover these payments and prorate funding if the annual appropriation is insufficient. This bill directly affects municipalities providing services to state facilities and the state agencies that operate those facilities, with provisions taking effect in 2026.
AB 1061 legalizes recreational cannabis possession and establishes a regulatory framework for cannabis production, sales, and medical use in Wisconsin. It directly affects individuals with past marijuana-related convictions (by creating a review unit to expunge these records), cannabis businesses (through new licensing and regulations), and state agencies (by creating a Division of Cannabis Regulation under the Department of Agriculture). Key provisions include allocating $30 million annually for regulatory operations, establishing medical cannabis registry fees, creating a $5 million fund for conviction reviews, and repealing outdated marijuana criminal penalties. The bill also introduces new taxes on cannabis sales to fund these programs and public health research.
AB 822 modifies Wisconsin's local roads improvement program for town road projects. It exempts projects under $65,000 from requiring registered engineer certification, sets a minimum 10-year design life for funded improvements (requiring professional review for shorter assessments), and prevents counties from contracting with towns for road work they've already estimated. The bill creates new deadlines for towns to submit applications to county facilitators and establishes committees to review funding requests. These changes directly affect towns seeking road funding, counties managing projects, and county highway commissioners handling contracts.
AB 180 requires the state Department of Health Services to request a federal waiver from the USDA to prohibit the use of FoodShare benefits (the state's name for SNAP) for purchasing candy or sugary drinks. The bill mandates that if the waiver is granted, candy and sugary drinks would be excluded from eligible items; if denied, the state must reapply annually. This applies directly to FoodShare recipients who currently can use benefits for these items. The bill creates a procedural requirement for the state to seek this change but does not immediately ban the purchases.
This bill would allow Wisconsin local governments to create rules requiring landlords to offer tenants a good faith renewal of their leases unless there is a valid reason not to do so. It also permits municipalities to set standards for lease renewals, limit when landlords can show properties to new tenants, and establish penalties for violations that could include relocation assistance. The bill would make these local rules mandatory and prevent landlords from waiving them in lease agreements. However, the bill failed to pass in the Senate on March 23, 2026, so it is not currently in effect.
This bill proposes to amend the legal definition of a "tenant at will" in the state's statutes. It would clarify that a tenant at will is someone who occupies a property with the landlord's permission but does not have a valid lease and does not make periodic rent payments. The bill also specifies that individuals holding property under a purchase contract or employment agreement are excluded from this definition. This change would affect how landlords and tenants are classified in housing situations without formal leases.
This bill designates manoomin as the official state native grain of Wisconsin by adding a new section to the state statutes. It requires the Wisconsin Blue Book to include information about manoomin alongside other official state symbols like the state song and tree. The legislation does not change any laws or regulations but serves as a symbolic designation to recognize the cultural significance of this grain.
This bill honors the life and public service of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a civil rights activist and politician who passed away in February 2026. It formally recognizes his contributions to the American civil rights movement, his work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and his role as a presidential candidate who built a diverse coalition of underserved Americans. The resolution expresses the Wisconsin Legislature's condolences to his family and community while acknowledging his legacy of advocacy for racial equity, economic justice, and voting rights.
This bill would require the Wisconsin state courts to remove defendants' names from public eviction records when an eviction case is dismissed. It creates a new rule that mandates redaction of names from the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Internet site for dismissed eviction actions, while keeping names visible for cases where eviction writs are granted for at least 10 years. The change applies to eviction cases dismissed on or after the bill's effective date. This legislation directly affects tenants involved in dismissed eviction proceedings and modifies how public court records are managed for those specific cases.
This bill honors the life and legacy of Anne Arnesen, a longtime advocate for children and families who passed away on January 14, 2026. It formally recognizes her contributions as a community leader, school board member, and activist who led the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families for 22 years. The resolution does not change laws or policies but serves as a commemorative acknowledgment of her public service and dedication to social justice in Wisconsin.
This Wisconsin bill modifies small claims court procedures for eviction cases by adjusting timeframes for legal notices and service of process. It shortens the required notice period for eviction summons from 8 days to 5 days and reduces the maximum return date from 30 days to 25 days. The legislation also mandates the use of certified mail with return receipt for serving eviction-related documents and requires courts to complete possession trials within 30 days after the defendant appears. These changes apply specifically to residential eviction actions and actions seeking relief from extrajudicial evictions in Wisconsin small claims courts.
