Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 861: Relating to: the civil causes of action for human trafficking and trafficking a child.

AB 861 extends the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits related to child trafficking. It allows victims to file lawsuits for damages before reaching age 35, instead of the previous deadline. The bill specifically creates new legal provisions (895.439(2) and 893.586) to clarify this timeline for child trafficking cases. It does not change criminal penalties but ensures victims have more time to pursue civil claims, regardless of whether criminal charges were filed. The law directly affects minors who were trafficked and now have until their 35th birthday to seek legal remedies.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Barbara Dittrich (R) Dan Knodl (R) Dave Murphy (R) Rick Gundrum (R) David Steffen (R)

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 872: Relating to: the Energy Innovation Grant Program and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 872 creates a new Energy Innovation Grant Program to fund projects advancing clean energy technologies. It allocates $10 million annually for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years, directly supporting the Office of Energy Innovation within the Public Service Commission. The program allows the agency to distribute grants for innovative energy solutions, with no specific project types or recipient criteria detailed in the bill. This is a funding measure with no voting record yet, as the bill was introduced on January 16, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 865: Relating to: the use of live animals in medical training and providing a penalty.

AB 865 prohibits medical training programs in the state from using live animals to teach human medical treatment when equivalent alternatives exist, such as simulators, cadavers, or virtual models. It applies directly to medical schools, residency programs, and institutions training doctors, residents, and students. The law requires institutions to switch to these alternatives if they are available in the state, and imposes a $1,000 fine per live animal used in violation. This creates a concrete policy change requiring medical training to adopt non-animal methods where feasible.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 849: Relating to: the civil causes of action for human trafficking and trafficking a child.

This bill creates new civil legal paths for victims of human trafficking and child trafficking. It extends the deadline for filing lawsuits related to trafficking a child to age 35, allowing victims to seek civil remedies even if no criminal case was prosecuted. The bill also establishes that victims can pursue actual damages, punitive damages up to triple the actual amount, and attorney fees in these cases. It directly affects individuals harmed by trafficking who wish to pursue civil action against perpetrators.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 844: Relating to: creating a stretch energy code. (FE)

AB 844 allows cities, counties, villages, and towns to adopt stricter energy efficiency standards for new buildings than the state's baseline code, provided they follow a state-developed "stretch energy code." Local governments can choose to implement either residential or commercial components of this code, which must exceed current state minimums. The state must create the stretch energy code by December 2026 through a working group including energy experts, climate nonprofits, and municipalities with climate plans. This directly affects local building regulations without changing the state's baseline requirements.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 852: Relating to: the reimbursement rate for special education costs and school age parents programs and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 852 adjusts the state's reimbursement rate for special education and school-age parent programs costs. For the 2025-26 school year, eligible costs will be reimbursed at 42% of total costs; starting in 2026-27, this rate increases to 45%. The bill directly affects school districts and programs that provide special education services and school-age parent programs under specific statutes. This change modifies how state funds are distributed to cover these eligible costs, without altering the total appropriation amount.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 857: Relating to: climate change scholarships and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 857 creates a climate change scholarship program funding $5 million annually for Wisconsin students enrolled in climate-related academic programs at eligible colleges and universities (including UW System, technical colleges, tribal colleges, or private nonprofits). It requires scholarships to be split equally between merit-based and need-based awards, with a $5,000 annual limit per student. The program is funded through a dedicated appropriation in the state budget, administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board. Students with unresolved child support liens may be excluded unless they provide approved payment plans.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 831: Relating to: operation of autonomous vehicles on highways and providing a penalty.

SB 831 creates an Autonomous Driving Safety Board within the Department of Transportation to regulate autonomous vehicle operations on state highways. The bill requires operators to obtain a board-approved permit, involving an application, public hearing, and two-thirds board vote for approval before operating, while prohibiting use on interstate highways. It sets a strict blood alcohol limit of 0.02 for anyone operating an autonomous vehicle and imposes a $1,000 penalty for operating without a valid permit. Permit holders must register vehicles, provide insurance coverage, submit annual safety reports, and share protocols for emergency services interaction.

Topics ✓ Transportation

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 855: Relating to: funding for certain research positions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 855 allocates $200,000 annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to fund two full-time research positions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison focused on agriculture and climate change. These positions must use existing vacant research slots, increase the total research staff count, and be assigned to UW-Madison's Division of Extension. The bill modifies the state budget to provide this funding without creating new positions or changing existing law. It directly affects UW-Madison's research staffing structure and extension programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 867: Relating to: on-bill financing of energy improvements and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

AB 867 creates a new program allowing public utilities to finance energy improvements (like solar panels or insulation) at residential properties. Utilities would cover the upfront costs and recover them over time by adding a small, regular charge to the homeowner's utility bill. The Public Service Commission must develop rules to govern this program. This directly affects homeowners seeking energy upgrades and the utilities offering this financing option.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 827: Relating to: creating a stretch energy code. (FE)

SB 827 creates a framework allowing counties, cities, villages, and towns to adopt stricter energy efficiency standards for buildings than the state's current baseline code. It establishes a state working group to develop a "stretch energy code" by December 2026, with separate residential and commercial requirements exceeding existing minimums. Local governments can then choose to adopt these stricter standards through local ordinances. The bill does not set specific energy requirements but enables future adoption of higher-efficiency building standards.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 846: Relating to: citizenship as a requirement to be employed as a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer.

SB 846 would require all law enforcement officers and tribal law enforcement officers in the state to be U.S. citizens. The bill amends statutes to state that no person may be employed in these roles without U.S. citizenship. This policy change directly affects current and future hires for all municipal, county, and tribal law enforcement positions. The legislation creates a new statutory requirement for citizenship as a condition of employment, with no exceptions specified in the bill text. The bill is currently under review in the Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs.

Bill results