Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 866: Relating to: sex offender registration for certain crimes.

SB 866 expands Wisconsin's sex offender registration requirements by adding specific crimes to the list of offenses that trigger registration. It requires registration for violations of certain statutes involving minors (like 948.051 or 948.06) when the perpetrator is not the victim's parent. The law applies to crimes committed on or after the bill's effective date, directly affecting individuals convicted of these newly listed offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 865: Relating to: a tax credit for certain sales and use taxes paid on services sold through an amusement device. (FE)

SB 865 creates a new tax credit for businesses that pay sales or use tax on services purchased through amusement devices (like arcade games or video game machines). The credit allows eligible businesses to reduce their Wisconsin income or franchise tax by the amount of county and municipal sales taxes paid on qualifying services sold via these devices, effective for taxable years after December 2024. Partnerships, LLCs, and tax-option corporations cannot claim the credit directly but must allocate it to owners based on their ownership share. Unused credit amounts can be carried forward for up to 20 years to offset future state tax liabilities. This bill directly affects businesses operating amusement devices, such as arcades or game centers, by potentially lowering their state tax burden.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 876: Relating to: an energy efficiency grant program for school districts, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 876 creates a new $10 million annual grant program for Wisconsin school districts to fund energy efficiency projects in school buildings, starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The program prioritizes projects focused on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for schools. The Department of Public Instruction will administer the grants and may develop rules to implement the program. This directly affects public school districts seeking funding for building upgrades to reduce energy costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 879: Relating to: proxy advisory services.

SB 879 requires proxy advisors (firms that advise shareholders on voting) to disclose whether their recommendations against company management are based on a written financial analysis. If recommendations lack this analysis, advisors must clearly state this to shareholders, company boards, and publicly on their website. If analysis is used, advisors must provide it upon request to shareholders and company boards. The bill directly affects proxy advisors, companies in the state, and shareholders receiving voting guidance, aiming to increase transparency in proxy voting recommendations.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 869: Relating to: increasing the Focus on Energy rate and including residential energy storage in Focus on Energy. (FE)

SB 869 increases the required funding for energy efficiency programs from 1.2% to 2.4% of energy utilities' annual operating revenues. It explicitly includes residential energy storage systems (like home battery systems) within eligible energy efficiency programs. The bill defines "energy storage system" as commercially available technology for storing energy, such as batteries. This change directly affects energy utilities, requiring them to allocate more funds toward programs that support residential energy storage adoption. The policy change focuses on expanding access to energy storage solutions for home customers through utility-funded programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 877: Relating to: local governmental consultation related to federal refugee resettlement and assistance. (FE)

SB 877 requires local governments (cities, towns, counties, school districts) to notify and consult with neighboring jurisdictions when federal refugee resettlement is proposed in their area. It mandates written reports to chief elected officials within 7 days of initial contact, followed by 10-day notifications to nearby governments, 30-day meetings to appoint local representatives, and 45-day county-level committee meetings with refugee resettlement organizations. The bill also requires public hearings with 15-day newspaper notices and written recommendations to local governing bodies about refugee placement plans. This directly affects all local governments within 100 miles of proposed refugee resettlement sites, creating a structured consultation process before final decisions are made.

Topics ✓ Immigration

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 886: Relating to: children’s mental health treatment grants and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 886 creates a $2 million pilot program to fund grants for local governments and nonprofits that provide non-medication, non-talk therapy mental health treatments for children. The program allocates up to $50,000 per grant to expand access to research-based alternatives, such as art or play therapy, for children in need. Grants are limited to a two-year duration from the program's effective date, with applications open to cities, towns, counties, or qualifying nonprofits. The bill directly affects community organizations serving children by providing targeted funding for specific treatment approaches.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 876: Relating to: green jobs training program grants, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and making an appropriation.

SB 876 creates a new green jobs training program funded with $1.5 million annually for grants to public or private organizations. These grants support training for workers in clean energy sectors like solar, wind, and renewable resource management, with organizations required to provide matching funds. The bill exempts the program from standard emergency rule procedures, allowing faster implementation, and mandates annual reports tracking participants, job placements, and wage changes. It directly affects workforce development organizations, unemployed/underemployed workers, and employers in emerging green industries. The program is administered by the Department of Workforce Development, with reporting requirements detailing outcomes like job placements and wage increases.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 893: Relating to: grants for regional biodigesters, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 893 creates a $250,000 annual grant program from the environmental fund to support planning for regional biodigesters. These facilities convert organic waste (like food scraps or farm byproducts) into energy, primarily benefiting agricultural and waste management projects. The bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture to administer the grants and develop rules for their use. It does not fund construction but focuses on initial planning phases for new biodigester facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 889: Relating to: creating the Wisconsin Climate Corps program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 889 establishes the Wisconsin Climate Corps program to create climate-focused job opportunities for workers aged 16-30, with at least 50% from underserved communities. The program funds projects like restoring natural lands, weatherizing homes for energy efficiency, and building community gardens, administered by a board overseeing contracts with nonprofit managers. Key requirements include paying workers $15/hour, providing housing stipends ($100/week), and gold-level health insurance. Sponsors (local governments, tribes, or nonprofits) must submit annual reports, and completed projects require permanent plaques identifying them as Wisconsin Climate Corps initiatives. The bill appropriates state funds for grants to approved projects under this framework.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 895: Relating to: sentencing for crimes committed by a person who is under the age of 18.

AB 895 modifies sentencing and parole procedures for individuals under 18 convicted of crimes. It requires courts to consider youth-specific mitigating factors and relevant information when determining eligibility for release to extended supervision or parole. The bill creates new provisions (e.g., § 302.114(5)(cs), § 304.06(1)(bc)) that apply specifically to "youthful offenders" as defined in § 973.014(3)(a). These changes directly affect minors in the state’s criminal justice system by mandating more individualized review of their cases during sentencing and parole decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 896: Relating to: local governmental consultation related to federal refugee resettlement and assistance. (FE)

AB 896 requires local governments (cities, towns, counties, school districts) to coordinate with federal refugee resettlement programs. If federal authorities or a private agency contact a local official about placing refugees, the official must report this within 7 business days to their chief elected official. Within 30 days, the local government must appoint a designee to consult with federal agencies, form a county committee for discussion, and hold a public hearing before making a recommendation on refugee placement. This bill establishes a structured process for local input on federal refugee resettlement plans, affecting all local governments within a 100-mile radius of the initial contact.

Topics ✓ Immigration

Bill results