Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1024: Relating to: the regulation of wake-enhanced boating; ordinances restricting wake-enhanced boating; and civil immunity for local regulation of wake-enhanced boating.

SB 1024 establishes statewide minimum safety requirements for wake-enhanced boating (activities like wakesurfing or wakeboarding that intentionally create large wakes). It requires such boating to occur at least 500 feet from shore in water depths of at least 20 feet, while explicitly allowing local governments to adopt stricter rules (e.g., area bans, deeper depth requirements, or time restrictions). The bill also provides legal protection for local officials who enforce these stricter local regulations, shielding them from lawsuits when acting in good faith. This directly affects boaters engaging in wake-enhanced activities and local governments managing waterway regulations.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1057: Relating to: access to prospective tenants’ credit scores and consumer credit reports.

SB 1057 limits landlords' ability to use credit reports when screening tenants. It caps fees for credit checks at $25 (with prior notice) and requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the report. Crucially, it prohibits landlords from demanding access to a tenant's credit score or report, instead mandating that landlords offer an alternative screening method if a tenant declines to share this information. The bill directly affects landlords and prospective tenants in housing applications, shifting the process to prioritize tenant choice while maintaining screening options.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1049: Relating to: residents’ right to purchase and regulations regarding a mobile or manufactured home community, low-interest loans and tax incentives for owners of mobile or manufactured home communities, and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 1049 strengthens residents' rights in mobile or manufactured home communities by requiring owners to provide 12 months' notice before closing and 14 days' notice for sales or foreclosure, while granting residents a 90-day window to form a group (with 51% approval) to purchase the community. The bill also creates tax incentives for owners by excluding income from sales to resident groups from taxable income for years after 2025. Additionally, it establishes new operational standards, including annual inspections, defined maintenance responsibilities (like roads and utilities), and mandatory evacuation plans for emergencies. These changes directly affect mobile home community owners and residents in the state.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1041: Relating to: student loans for postsecondary education, requirements related to student loan servicers, creating an office of the student loan ombudsman in the Department of Financial Institutions, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 1041 creates an Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman within the Department of Financial Institutions to assist student loan borrowers in the state. The office will handle complaints, resolve issues with loan servicers, analyze borrower data, and provide information about borrowers' rights under student education loans. It directly affects student loan borrowers (including residents and those sharing repayment responsibility) and student loan servicers (non-state entities managing loans). Key provisions require the ombudsman to monitor loan servicing practices, collaborate with schools and servicers, and make recommendations to improve borrower protections.

Topics ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 956: Relating to: position authorizations for Internet crimes against children law enforcement. (FE)

SB 956 authorizes three new staff positions within the Department of Justice to strengthen Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) enforcement. It adds 2.0 full-time criminal analyst positions, 1.0 outreach specialist position, and 1.0 digital evidence examiner position. These roles will be funded using existing appropriations designated under section 20.455(2)(a). The bill directly affects the Department of Justice's staffing capacity for ICAC investigations and victim support.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 925: Relating to: automatic voter registration. (FE)

SB 925 creates a system for automatic voter registration by requiring the election commission to match driver's license and ID data from the Department of Transportation with existing voter registration lists. It directs the commission to obtain names, addresses, birth dates, license numbers, and verified citizenship proof from the DMV to identify eligible voters not yet registered. The bill mandates that the commission contact voters to resolve discrepancies, add eligible unregistered individuals to the list, and send multilingual notices informing them of their registration and providing opt-out instructions. Voters can request removal from the list, and the commission must send notices for any removals (except for duplicates or deceased individuals). This law directly affects all state residents who interact with the DMV and meet voter eligibility requirements.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 934: Relating to: notice of change in polling place location. (FE)

SB 934 requires municipalities to obtain governing body approval after a public hearing before discontinuing a polling place location. It also mandates that municipal clerks or election boards send written notice to all affected residents at least 30 days before an election if a polling place is discontinued after the previous election. This bill directly affects local election officials and municipalities managing polling locations. The key changes are: 1) requiring public hearings for proposed discontinuations, and 2) enforcing advance mail notifications to voters. These provisions aim to improve transparency and voter awareness about polling place changes.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 941: Relating to: an enterprise-wide data and efficiency study. (FE)

SB 941 creates a joint legislative committee to conduct a study on how state agencies share data and manage information systems. The committee will hire an independent firm to assess current practices, identify barriers to efficient data sharing, review best practices from other states, and recommend improvements like standardized systems or a dedicated data office. All state agencies must cooperate with this study, which will conclude with a report by December 31, 2026, including specific recommendations for policy or funding changes. This bill directly affects all state agencies that handle data, aiming to improve efficiency through better data management. The study itself is procedural and does not enact new laws.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 923: Relating to: residency requirement for purposes of voting.

SB 923 reduces the residency requirement for voting in Wisconsin from 28 consecutive days to 10 consecutive days before an election. It directly affects voters who move within the state shortly before an election, allowing them to vote in their new district if they meet the 10-day requirement, or at their previous address if they cannot. The bill also creates a special affidavit process for voters with less than 10 days of residency to vote only for president and vice president, while maintaining the 10-day standard for all other elections. Key provisions include updated registration forms and penalties for false statements on residency affidavits. This bill modifies existing voting statutes to shorten the residency period for most voting purposes.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 972: Relating to: recommendations made by the council on early literacy curricula.

SB 972 requires the Council on Early Literacy Curricula to recommend evidence-based literacy curricula and materials for kindergarten through third grade starting in the 2025-26 school year. The Department of Education must submit these recommendations, along with any departmental suggestions, to legislative committees within 14 days. If the legislature’s finance committee does not schedule a review meeting within 14 days, the recommendations automatically take effect for the next school year. This bill directly affects K-3 public schools by shaping the literacy resources they use, while establishing a clear timeline for legislative input or automatic adoption.

Topics ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 954: Relating to: requiring the Department of Justice to conduct a public awareness campaign. (FE)

SB 954 requires the Department of Justice to create and run a public awareness campaign focused on children's online safety. The campaign will educate parents and caregivers about internet risks for children and share practical steps to prevent exposure to harmful content, using digital platforms (websites, social media, newsletters) and print materials. Schools, as defined by statute, can request free copies of the campaign materials upon request. The bill does not create new funding or penalties, but mandates existing agency resources for this specific outreach effort.

Topics ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 953: Relating to: Internet crimes against children administrative subpoenas for the crime of sexual extortion when the crime victim is a child. (FE)

SB 953 defines sexual extortion involving child victims as a violation under existing statute 942.095. It specifically applies when the victim is a child, as defined in statute 948.01(1), clarifying that such cases fall under this legal category. The bill creates a new statutory reference (165.505(1)(bg)3.) to ensure these offenses are properly categorized under current law. This procedural change directly affects law enforcement and prosecutors handling internet crimes against children.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results