Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 724: Relating to: Department of Corrections reporting of complaints in state correctional institutions and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 724 requires the Department of Corrections to create a public, interactive website that updates complaint data from state correctional institutions every 72 hours. The system must display the total annual complaints per facility and show all complaint details broken down by category (without personal information about inmates or staff). The bill appropriates $70,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 to establish the system and $30,000 for 2026-27 to operate it. This affects state correctional institutions (which must submit data) and the public (which gains access to the searchable complaint information).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public transparency of correctional complaint data, enhancing oversight and accountability in state prisons per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 734: Relating to: climate control in state correctional institutions and county jails and houses of correction and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 734 establishes specific temperature standards for state correctional institutions and county jails, requiring indoor temperatures to stay between 68°F and 76°F at all times in housing units. It mandates facilities to record temperatures in common areas and random cells during extreme weather (below 10°F or above 90°F) and submit annual reports to the legislature. The bill appropriates $65 million for 2026-27 to install and operate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, with phased implementation: one-third of facilities by 2029, another third by 2031, and the final third by 2035. This directly affects all state prisons and county jails/houses of correction in Wisconsin, requiring them to meet new climate control requirements and report compliance data.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates $65M for HVAC systems in correctional facilities, directly increasing state budget allocation for public infrastructure maintenance.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds HVAC systems to establish humane temperature standards in correctional facilities, advancing inmate welfare and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Corrections

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 729: Relating to: inmate access to transparent windows and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 729 requires all state correctional institutions and county jails to install transparent windows in inmate cells by October 2030 that are at least 1.5 square feet and provide 92% visibility to the outdoors. It mandates that every inmate must have access to view outdoors through such windows for at least 3 hours daily (unless in lockdown or solitary), achievable via time outdoors, in-cell viewing, or shared facility windows. The bill directly affects all state prisons and county jails in the state, requiring physical modifications to cell structures. Funding of $500,000 for 2025-26 and $3 million for 2026-27 is allocated specifically for window installation under this law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates transparent windows in cells to improve inmate mental health and rehabilitation access, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 755: Relating to: the treatment of a pregnant or postpartum person in prison or jail. (FE)

SB 755 requires correctional facilities to provide specific healthcare and support services to incarcerated people who are pregnant or within six weeks postpartum. It bans unnecessary physical restraints during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period, mandating staff training on these requirements. Facilities must offer pregnancy testing, STI/HIV screening, continuing medication, educational materials on parenting, and access to doula or lactation support services. They must also provide mental health assessments, breastfeeding supplies, and opportunities to express milk to maintain milk supply. These requirements apply to all state correctional facilities under the law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates healthcare, bans restraints for pregnant incarcerated people, and requires staff training - aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights and improving correctional conditions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates pregnancy testing, STI/HIV screening, doula/lactation support, and bans restraints for incarcerated pregnant/postpartum individuals, expanding healthcare access and protecting rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 714: Relating to: bathing periods for inmates of state correctional institutions and county jails or houses of correction. (FE)

SB 714 establishes minimum bathing standards for inmates in state correctional facilities and county jails or houses of correction. It requires each facility to provide at least four bathing periods per week, with each period including a minimum of 10 minutes of heated running water and 15 minutes of total time. The bill directly affects all inmates in these facilities by setting concrete, measurable requirements for hygiene access. It creates a new statute (302.072) to implement these standards, applying equally to both state and county custody settings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes minimum hygiene standards for inmates in correctional facilities, promoting humane treatment and aligning with criminal justice reform principles focused on inmate welfare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 147: Relating to: interpreter action by telephone or live audiovisual means in civil or criminal proceedings.

SB 147 allows courts to permit interpreters to participate in civil and criminal trials via telephone or video, rather than requiring in-person attendance. This directly affects parties in court cases who need language assistance, including non-English speakers and their legal representatives. The key provision requires the court to grant permission only upon a party's request and with the consent of all other parties involved. The bill amends existing court procedures to formally enable this remote interpretation option.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables remote interpreters in criminal trials, ensuring language access for defendants and protecting due process rights in court proceedings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 20: Relating to: allowing certain married persons to claim the earned income tax credit when filing a separate return. (FE)

SB 20 allows married individuals who live apart from their spouse due to domestic abuse (as defined by state law) to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) when filing a separate state tax return. It provides a state tax credit equal to 4%, 11%, or 34% of the federal EITC amount - depending on whether the filer has one, two, or three or more qualifying children living with them. The bill applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and modifies existing tax code to permit this credit for eligible individuals who cannot file jointly. This policy change directly supports domestic abuse survivors facing financial barriers while filing separately.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands EITC access for domestic abuse survivors, providing tax relief to lower-income filers through state credit matching federal EITC percentages.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables tax benefits for domestic abuse victims, supporting economic independence and reducing barriers to escaping abuse - aligns with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands access to EITC - a key worker benefit - for domestic abuse victims, strengthening financial support for low-income workers under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Domestic Violence

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signed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 413: Relating to: immunity from prosecution for certain crimes based on assisting a victim of sexual assault, extending the time limit for prosecution of second-degree sexual assault, and the standard for terminating residential residency when tenant is the victim of sexual assault.

SB 413 provides legal immunity for individuals who assist sexual assault victims by calling 911, reporting the assault, or seeking help at a medical facility. It extends the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault prosecutions from 10 to 20 years for specific offenses under state law. The bill also allows tenants who are sexual assault victims to immediately terminate their lease by providing an injunction order, without liability for future rent, and requires landlords to change locks upon request. Additionally, it mandates 20-year storage of sexual assault kits to give victims more time to report incidents. These changes directly affect sexual assault victims, tenants in rental housing, and individuals seeking to assist victims without fear of drug-related charges.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends statute of limitations for sexual assault prosecutions and provides victim protections, advancing criminal justice reform by strengthening victim support and accountability.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allows sexual assault victims to terminate leases immediately without rent liability, strengthening tenant protections for a specific vulnerable group.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Renters

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 308: Relating to: a grant to assist in the purchase and renovation of an existing facility in the city of Chippewa Falls to provide a 50-bed treatment center to men with substance use disorders. (FE)

SB 308 allocates $1 million in state funding to Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan to purchase and renovate an existing facility in Chippewa Falls. The grant will create a 50-bed treatment center specifically for men with substance use disorders who need recovery services. The bill directs the Department of Administration to award this grant in the 2025-26 fiscal year. It directly affects men in Chippewa Falls seeking substance use treatment by providing a dedicated facility. The key mechanism is the state grant covering facility acquisition and renovation costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1M state grant for public health treatment center, directly increasing budgetary support for essential services per funding indicators.92% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds 50-bed treatment center for men with substance use disorders, advancing rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $1M grant for 50-bed substance use treatment center, directly funding mental health healthcare services for men with disorders.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Oct 31, 2025

AB 75: Relating to: Department of Justice collection and reporting of certain criminal case data. (FE)

AB 75 (now Wisconsin Act 45) requires the Wisconsin Department of Justice to collect and report criminal case data using an interactive dashboard that excludes personally identifiable information about defendants. The bill amends existing requirements by replacing terms like "charging recommendation" with "arrest charge" and mandates the dashboard be available by January 1, 2026. It directly affects the Department of Justice’s data collection processes and ensures transparency while protecting defendant privacy. The law was enacted after Governor approval on October 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires transparent data reporting to enhance accountability and reform, aligning with transparency-focused criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence