Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 6: Relating to: impoundment of vehicles used in certain traffic offenses.

SB 6 modifies vehicle impoundment rules for traffic offenses by requiring law enforcement to check if an impounded vehicle was reported stolen before returning it to the owner. If stolen, the vehicle must be returned without fees, and if unclaimed for over 90 days, it may be disposed of like an abandoned vehicle. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies handling impoundments and vehicle owners whose vehicles were used in traffic offenses. Key provisions mandate theft verification, waive fees for stolen vehicles, and clarify disposal procedures after 90 days. This changes administrative processes but does not alter the underlying traffic offenses or penalties.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 143: Relating to: allowing an unlicensed person to use a motor vehicle and providing a penalty.

AB 143 modifies vehicle law to clarify that vehicle owners or renters can be held liable for allowing unlicensed drivers to operate a vehicle, regardless of whether they knew the driver lacked a license. It adds new provisions (343.45(2m) and 343.46(2m)) stating that authorization or rental rules apply without requiring knowledge of the operator's license status. Violations carry fines: up to $1,000 for a first offense and up to $10,000 for repeat offenses. The bill directly affects vehicle owners, renters, and businesses that rent vehicles, as they face penalties if unlicensed operators use their vehicles. It does not change licensing requirements for drivers but shifts liability to those who permit unlicensed operation.

Topics ✓ Transportation

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 142: Relating to: algorithmic software for residential housing, and providing a penalty.

SB 142 bans the use of algorithmic software by landlords to set rental rates or occupancy levels in residential housing. It prohibits selling, licensing, or providing such software (defined as tools using private competitor data on rent/occupancy to inform pricing decisions) to landlords, with exceptions for aggregated rental data publications and affordable housing tools. The law imposes penalties of up to $1,000 per violation per unit, allowing tenants to sue for actual damages or $1,000 per violation, and enables state enforcement through the attorney general. It directly affects landlords, property management companies, and software providers that develop or sell such tools.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 91: Relating to: imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 91 upgrades penalties for child trafficking by imposing mandatory life imprisonment without parole when the crime involves three or more child victims. It applies to individuals who recruit, transport, or exploit children for commercial sex acts (as defined by existing law), as well as those who benefit financially from such trafficking. The bill amends statutes to classify these offenses as Class A felonies with no possibility of parole or extended supervision. This change directly affects convicted traffickers and their enablers, ensuring life sentences for repeat or large-scale cases involving multiple minors.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 142: Relating to: algorithmic software for residential housing, and providing a penalty.

AB 142 prohibits landlords and software providers from using algorithmic software to set rents or occupancy rates based on private competitor data (like unpublicized rent or occupancy details). It directly affects residential landlords, property management companies, and software vendors selling such tools. The bill bans both selling/licensing the software and using it for rent decisions, with penalties of up to $1,000 per violation per rental unit. Tenants may also sue for damages or injunctive relief, while exemptions cover aggregated rental data publications and affordable housing tools.

Topics ✓ Housing ✗ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 147: Relating to: the right to repair agricultural equipment, and providing a penalty. (FE)

Assembly Bill 147 establishes a "right to repair" for agricultural equipment, directly affecting manufacturers, owners, and independent repair providers of farm machinery like tractors and combines. The bill mandates that manufacturers must make available documentation, diagnostic data, embedded software, replacement parts, and repair tools. These resources must be provided to equipment owners and independent repair providers upon request. This access must be offered under "fair terms" and "fair costs," which includes providing digital documentation and embedded software for free, without requiring specific authorizations or affiliations.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 148: Relating to: the right to repair agricultural equipment, and providing a penalty. (FE)

Senate Bill 148 establishes a "right to repair" for agricultural equipment. It requires manufacturers of farm machinery, such as tractors and combines, to make available repair information, parts, and tools to equipment owners and independent repair shops. Manufacturers must provide diagnostic documentation, embedded software, and replacement parts at fair costs and under fair terms. This aims to allow farmers and unaffiliated technicians to diagnose, maintain, and repair their own equipment.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 129: Relating to: the right to repair motor vehicles and providing a penalty. (FE)

Senate Bill 129 establishes a "right to repair" for motor vehicles, aiming to give owners and independent repair facilities greater access to necessary information and tools. It prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from creating technological or legal barriers that prevent owners and repairers from accessing vehicle-generated data and critical repair information, including diagnostics, software, and parts catalogs. The bill requires manufacturers to provide this data and information directly and wirelessly, and at a fair cost, while also preventing them from mandating specific brands of parts or tools for repairs. This allows owners and independent repair shops to diagnose, service, and maintain vehicles in a manner similar to manufacturers or dealerships.

Topics ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 49: Relating to: repealing an administrative rule of the Department of Natural Resources related to the possession of firearms.

Senate Bill 49 proposes to repeal an administrative rule set by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Specifically, it eliminates NR 20.05 (2) of the administrative code. This rule pertains to the possession of firearms. If enacted, this bill would remove that specific regulation from the DNR's administrative rules.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 47: Relating to: the suspension of a rule of the Elections Commission.

SB 47 proposes to repeal an emergency rule created by the Elections Commission that took effect on July 1, 2024. This emergency rule established specific sections (EL 2.06 and 2.08) within the Wisconsin Administrative Code. These sections relate to the procedures for challenging declarations of candidacy. If enacted, this bill would eliminate those specific challenge procedures.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 46: Relating to: the suspension of a rule of the Elections Commission.

SB 46 proposes to repeal an emergency rule established by the Elections Commission. This rule, which took effect on June 10, 2024, mandated the use of uniform instructions for absentee voting (s. EL 6.05, Wis. Adm. Code). If enacted, SB 46 would eliminate this specific requirement, directly affecting the Elections Commission's administrative procedures for absentee ballots.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 48: Relating to: the suspension of a rule of the Elections Commission.

Senate Bill 48 proposes to repeal an emergency rule previously established by the Elections Commission. This rule, which took effect on July 1, 2024, created specific sections (EL 2.05 and 2.07) within the Wisconsin Administrative Code. These sections outline the procedures for challenging nomination papers, directly affecting how such challenges are handled. If enacted, the bill would eliminate these particular challenge procedures.

Bill results