Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 873: Relating to: funding for crime victim services and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 873 increases annual funding for crime victim services by $17,101,350 for both fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, totaling $34.2 million over two years. It specifically allocates $4,025,800 to convert 17 existing full-time positions (FED) to permanent positions (GPR) within the Department of Justice. This funding directly supports state-run crime victim services programs that assist individuals impacted by crime. The bill makes no changes to eligibility or service scope - only increases the budget for existing programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 850: Relating to: authorized activities under a no-sale event venue permit issued by the Division of Alcohol Beverages in the Department of Revenue.

SB 850 updates Wisconsin's rules for "no-sale event venue permits," which allow event spaces to host gatherings where attendees consume alcohol without it being sold (e.g., private parties). The bill permits event renters to bring their own alcohol for guests to consume without charge, and allows caterers with specific licenses to provide alcohol if the renter first purchases it face-to-face at the caterer’s retail location. It also sets clear limits: no more than 36 events per year, with no more than one event per month and each event lasting up to 36 hours. This directly affects property owners applying for these permits, event renters, and caterers holding Class B licenses.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 863: Relating to: authorized activities under a no-sale event venue permit issued by the Division of Alcohol Beverages in the Department of Revenue.

AB 863 modifies Wisconsin's rules for "no-sale event venue permits," which allow venues to host events where alcohol is consumed without sales. The bill sets clear limits: venues can host up to 36 events per year (max one day monthly, each event ≤36 hours), and permits require applicants to surrender existing retail alcohol licenses. Key provisions permit guests to bring their own beer and wine for free, allow caterers with specific licenses to provide alcohol without charge, and restrict service to licensed personnel. These changes clarify how venues can operate under existing alcohol laws without issuing sales permits. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 899: Relating to: the membership of the Pharmacy Examining Board.

AB 899 amends the Pharmacy Examining Board's membership structure by adding two new positions for registered pharmacy technicians under Chapter 450. The bill specifies that the board, currently composed of five licensed pharmacists and two public members, will now include these two technician representatives. The new members will be appointed for staggered four-year terms, with initial appointments set to expire in 2028 and 2030. This change directly affects pharmacy technicians seeking board representation and updates the board's composition to better reflect pharmacy practice roles.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 872: Relating to: nuisance actions against racing facilities.

SB 872 prevents certain nuisance lawsuits against racing facilities by limiting who can file such claims. It blocks lawsuits started by property owners who bought land within 5 miles of a racetrack *after* the track was already built or operating. The law applies even if the racetrack later changes (e.g., size or technology), as long as those changes followed existing rules. This directly affects nearby property owners and protects racing facilities from specific nuisance claims based on property ownership timing.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 901: Relating to: net metering for rooftop solar energy systems.

AB 901 establishes rules for net metering of rooftop solar energy systems in Wisconsin. It directly affects homeowners and businesses with solar installations by setting capacity limits (30 kW for residential, 500 kW for commercial) and requiring advanced metering for grid interconnection. The bill mandates that electric providers credit customers 100% of the retail electricity rate for excess power sent to the grid, with credits expiring March 31 annually and transferring to new property owners upon sale. It also allows providers to reduce credits to 90% if solar adoption exceeds 10% in their service area, while maintaining minimum billing standards for solar customers.

Topics ✓ Energy

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 897: Relating to: elimination of a jury trial in a child in need of protection or services (CHIPS) proceeding and substitution of judge in a proceeding for the termination of parental rights.

AB 897 removes the right to a jury trial in Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) proceedings for non-Indian children. It also restricts requests to substitute judges in parental rights termination cases to only the parent and petitioner, limiting such requests to one per case and requiring them within 10 days of a new judge's assignment. The bill affects parents and children in these specific child welfare cases, directly changing court procedures for CHIPS petitions and termination hearings. These changes apply only to cases filed after the bill's effective date, with Indian children’s cases remaining exempt under federal law.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 898: Relating to: registration of births by surrogate mother.

AB 898 modifies birth registration rules for children born through surrogacy. It requires that birth records include the surrogate mother's information while omitting the father's details. The bill also mandates that courts can only establish parental rights for these children through adoption proceedings - unless at least one petitioner seeking parental rights is biologically related to the child. This affects how surrogacy-related birth records are processed and how courts determine parental rights.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 902: Relating to: prohibiting the quarantine of certain animals based on exposure to chronic wasting disease.

AB 902 prohibits state agencies from quarantining certain animals solely due to exposure to chronic wasting disease (CWD) if the animals belong to species that neither carry nor are susceptible to CWD. It directly affects livestock owners, particularly those raising farm-raised fallow deer (Dama dama), by preventing unnecessary quarantines for these animals after exposure incidents. The bill creates new rules (sections 95.23(5) and 95.55(6)(c)) that block quarantine orders based only on exposure, while allowing other CWD-related measures for at-risk species. This policy change specifically targets non-susceptible animals, ensuring quarantine is not applied unnecessarily.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 893: Relating to: termination of parental rights under the safe haven law. (FE)

SB 893 modifies procedures for terminating parental rights when a child's custody is relinquished under Wisconsin's safe haven law (s. 48.195). It requires the district attorney or designated official to file a petition to terminate parental rights within 30-60 days after a court finds probable cause that a parent relinquished custody. The bill specifically applies to cases where parents voluntarily gave up custody through the safe haven process, not general termination cases. It does not change the safe haven law itself but establishes a clear timeline for follow-up legal action to finalize parental rights termination.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 892: Relating to: net metering for rooftop solar energy systems.

SB 892 establishes rules for connecting rooftop solar energy systems to the electric grid. It sets capacity limits: residential systems cannot exceed 30 kilowatts, and commercial systems cannot exceed 500 kilowatts. The bill requires electric providers to offer net metering, crediting customers at 100% of the retail electricity rate for excess power sent to the grid, with credits expiring annually on March 31. If solar adoption in a provider’s area surpasses 10%, credits drop to 90% of the retail rate, though providers may offer more favorable terms. This directly affects homeowners and businesses installing rooftop solar.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 890: Relating to: eligibility for farmland preservation tax credits. (FE)

SB 890 modifies eligibility for farmland preservation tax credits by disallowing credits for acres with non-accessory photovoltaic solar energy systems installed during the taxable year. Specifically, it prevents tax credits on qualifying farmland where such solar systems (defined as not being accessory uses, like rooftop installations) are present. The bill creates new provisions to track both total qualifying acres and acres affected by these solar systems. This change directly impacts farmers seeking farmland preservation tax credits who have installed larger-scale solar installations on their land, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Environment

Bill results