Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1092: Relating to: a cap on rate increases for retail electric service.

This bill would limit how much electric utility rates can increase for retail customers, capping annual rate hikes at 5 percent. It directly affects Wisconsin retail electric service providers and their customers by establishing a statutory ceiling on rate increases. The legislation creates a new provision in state statutes that would prevent the public service commission from approving rate increases exceeding this threshold. The bill would take effect on January 1, 2029, after repealing an existing provision that is scheduled to be removed on that date.

Topics ✓ Energy

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1154: Relating to: the definition of political action committee for campaign finance purposes.

This bill updates the legal definition of a political action committee for campaign finance purposes in the state statutes. It specifies that a group qualifies as a PAC if it spends more than $1,000 in a 12-month period on express advocacy, referendum support or opposition, or contributions to candidates, legislative committees, or political parties. The definition explicitly excludes fundraising and administrative expenses from the spending calculation. This change affects how organizations are classified and regulated under campaign finance laws without altering existing spending limits or reporting requirements.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1135: Relating to: revocation of probation, parole, or extended supervision and sanctions for violation of a condition or rule or probation, parole, or extended supervision. (FE)

This bill outlines specific circumstances under which parole or extended supervision can be revoked and individuals returned to prison. It directly affects people currently on parole or extended supervision in Wisconsin by defining when their release can be ended. The key provision establishes that officials cannot return a person to prison for any violation unless certain serious conditions are met, such as committing three or more violations that endanger others, violating a no-contact order, failing to register as a sex offender when required, or committing a new crime while on release. Additionally, the bill requires that victims be notified when parole or extended supervision is revoked if the victim can be located.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1103: Relating to: special enrollment period for pregnancy.

This bill creates a special enrollment period for pregnant individuals in Wisconsin health insurance plans, allowing them to sign up for coverage at any time during their pregnancy rather than waiting for an open enrollment window. It directly affects health benefit plans, self-insured plans, and nonprofit cooperative health plans that operate under state insurance regulations. The key provision requires plans to cover pregnant individuals and their dependents starting from the first day of the month in which medical verification of pregnancy is received, with plans also required to notify enrollees about this option when first offered coverage. The bill applies to policies and plans beginning on January 1 of the year following its effective date, with special provisions for collective bargaining agreements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1098: Relating to: local regulation of landlords and tenants.

This bill would allow local governments in Wisconsin to create rules governing how landlords and tenants handle lease renewals and property showings. It enables cities, villages, towns, and counties to require landlords to make good faith offers to renew leases unless there is a valid reason not to, and to set standards for determining what counts as valid reasons. The legislation also permits local ordinances to regulate when landlords can show properties to new tenants and to establish penalties for violations, including requiring relocation assistance for affected tenants. Additionally, the bill ensures that these local rules cannot be overridden by individual lease agreements.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1176: Relating to: general equalization aids, the reimbursement rate for special education costs, excluding special education reimbursement from certain per pupil payments, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill adjusts how Wisconsin calculates and distributes state funding for special education costs and general school aid. It modifies the reimbursement rate for special education expenses, allowing the state to distribute up to 100 percent of eligible costs rather than a lower fixed percentage. The legislation also increases the general school aid appropriation for the 2026-27 fiscal year by approximately $446 million to support public school districts. These changes directly affect school districts and the state Department of Public Instruction by altering how funds are allocated and calculated for educational programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1104: Relating to: a sales and use tax exemption for breastfeeding equipment. (FE)

This bill creates a sales and use tax exemption for breast pumps, breast pump kits, and specific collection and storage supplies used during breastfeeding. It defines breast pumps to include the device and its power components, and specifies which supplies qualify for the exemption while excluding items like nursing bras, cleaning supplies, and non-specific bottles. The exemption applies to purchases made within the state and removes the requirement for sellers to obtain exemption certificates for these items. The tax exemption is set to expire on June 30, 2027, and the law takes effect on the first day of the third month after publication.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1157: Relating to: reporting a contributor’s place of employment.

This bill requires political committees and candidates to report the name and address of the principal place of employment for individual contributors who donate more than $100 in a calendar year, down from the previous $200 threshold. The change applies to contributions made to candidate committees, political parties, legislative campaign committees, political action committees, independent expenditure committees, recipient committees, referendum committees, and recall committees. By lowering the reporting threshold, the bill expands the number of donors whose employment information must be publicly disclosed in campaign finance records. The legislation directly affects political organizations and committees that collect and report contribution data to state election authorities.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1165: Relating to: creating an Office of Civil Legal Aid to be overseen by a Civil Legal Aid Board, providing a right to the appointment of counsel at state expense for residential tenants in eviction actions, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill creates a new Office of Civil Legal Aid overseen by a nine-member Civil Legal Aid Board, which would be appointed by the state supreme court and include at least five attorneys. The legislation guarantees that residential tenants facing eviction have the right to be represented by a state-appointed lawyer, unless they voluntarily give up that right. Landlords would be required to include a notice in their rental agreements and eviction notices informing tenants of this right and explaining how to request legal representation. The bill also establishes procedures for the board to manage attorney appointments, handle budget approvals, and enter into agreements with legal organizations to support the program.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1156: Relating to: contributions by corporations, cooperative associations, labor organizations, and federally recognized American Indian Tribes.

This bill would allow corporations, cooperatives, labor organizations, and federally recognized American Indian Tribes to contribute up to $12,000 per year to political segregated funds, while maintaining a ban on contributions to other types of political committees. The law applies to both foreign and domestic entities and specifically permits these groups to support candidates through segregated funds, which are different from independent expenditure or referendum committees. The provision is designed to clarify and codify existing rules about political contributions from these specific types of organizations.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1155: Relating to: coordination of mass communications.

This bill amends Wisconsin election laws to clarify how mass communications are defined and regulated in relation to political campaign spending. It creates new definitions for "mass distribution," "mass electronic communication," and "mass telephoning," each requiring 500 or more substantially identical messages, while excluding bona fide polls from these definitions. The legislation updates rules on when independent groups must report coordinated spending by clarifying that coordination occurs when a candidate or their party has control over or engages in substantial discussions about the content, timing, or other details of the communication. Additionally, it prohibits certain mass communications that reference clearly identified candidates during the 60-day period before an election if they are coordinated with the candidate or their party in violation of contribution limits.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1230: Relating to: qualified applicants for buyer identification cards. (FE)

This bill defines who qualifies as a "qualified applicant" for buyer identification cards, which are used to purchase motor vehicles without paying sales tax. It expands the list of eligible individuals to include licensed dealers, wholesalers, salvage dealers from other jurisdictions, school districts, and their employees. The changes are administrative and clarify existing categories without altering tax rates or creating new programs. The bill was introduced in the 2026 legislature but failed to pass during committee review.

Bill results