Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 634: Relating to: the age for marriage and eliminating spousal exceptions for certain sex crimes against children.

SB 634 eliminates a legal exception that previously allowed spouses to avoid prosecution for sexual crimes against minor spouses. It amends statutes (948.09 and 948.093) to remove language stating that sexual assault laws do not apply when the victim is the defendant’s spouse, making it a crime for a spouse to engage in sexual activity with a minor regardless of marriage age. This change directly affects minors who married as children and their spouses, ensuring such acts can now be prosecuted under standard sexual assault laws. The bill also adds a new provision (767.185) allowing minors under 18 to file for divorce.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves spousal exception allowing prosecution of spouses for sex crimes against minors, strengthening legal protections for child victims under criminal law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 64: Relating to: injuring or killing a police or fire animal and providing a penalty.

SB 64 increases penalties for harming police or fire department animals used in official duties. It creates three escalating offenses: intentional injury causing harm is a Class A misdemeanor, intentional injury causing death is a Class H G felony, and intentional injury causing death is a Class I H felony. The law specifically targets individuals who knowingly harm working animals (like police dogs or fire department horses) while aware of their official role. This directly affects anyone who intentionally harms these animals during their service, with penalties based on the severity of the outcome (injury or death). The bill does not cover accidental harm or animals not performing official duties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSB 64 strengthens sentencing for harming police/fire animals, directly advancing criminal justice enforcement through increased penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 626: Relating to: police authority to disable drones threatening public safety and providing a penalty.

This bill prohibits drone operation over correctional facilities (prisons and jails) without specific authorization from facility leadership. It imposes a $5,000 fine for unauthorized flights and creates a Class H felony charge for using weaponized drones (equipped with tasers, firearms, or explosives) that threaten public safety. Law enforcement officers are authorized to detect, disable, or destroy such drones using lawful methods (like jamming or physical capture) if they reasonably believe immediate action is needed to prevent harm. The law also requires officers to seize drone-recorded footage during violations and shields them from liability for damaging intercepted drones.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances security at correctional facilities (a criminal justice component) by penalizing unauthorized drone flights and authorizing law enforcement to disable threats, protecting public safety and facility integrity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 630: Relating to: tracking a person who is registered as a sex offender but unable to provide an address.

AB 630 requires sex offenders on parole or extended supervision who cannot provide a stable address to notify the state department within 24 hours of losing that ability. If they cannot provide an address, the state department must use passive positioning tracking (like GPS) to monitor their location. This applies specifically to individuals under supervision who are unable to meet standard address reporting requirements under existing law. The bill updates registration rules to ensure continuous oversight when address information is unavailable.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnsures continuous monitoring of sex offenders unable to provide address via GPS, reducing recidivism risk by preventing evasion of supervision.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 667: Relating to: prohibiting a law enforcement agency from accessing personal data in exchange for payment without a warrant.

AB 667 prohibits law enforcement agencies from paying third parties or government entities for access to an individual's personal data without a warrant. The bill defines "personal data" broadly to include names, location, financial records, health information, browsing history, and device identifiers. It allows exceptions only when a warrant is obtained, during emergencies involving immediate danger, if data is already public, or with the individual's explicit consent. This law directly affects law enforcement agencies and data-sharing companies by restricting how personal information can be acquired for investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits warrantless law enforcement data access, enhancing privacy protections and police accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits warrantless law enforcement access to personal data including browsing history and device identifiers, strengthening digital privacy protections per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy Tags Privacy

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vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 431: Relating to: discrimination based on arrest record under the fair employment law.

This bill amends Wisconsin's fair employment law to prevent employers and licensing agencies from refusing employment or licenses solely because an applicant has a pending criminal charge. It allows such refusal only if the pending charge is substantially related to the specific job or licensed activity (e.g., refusing a security position for a theft charge). The law explicitly prohibits discrimination based on arrest record alone, requiring a direct job-related connection before denying employment or licensing. This directly affects job seekers and licensed professionals facing pending criminal charges who may have been automatically disqualified under previous rules. The change clarifies that pending charges cannot be the sole basis for denial without demonstrating relevance to the position.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents employment discrimination based on arrest records, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism and protecting civil rights.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents employment discrimination based on arrest record alone, requiring job-related justification. Strengthens fair employment protections for workers under Labor & Employment topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 656: Relating to: the age for marriage and eliminating spousal exceptions for certain sex crimes against children.

AB 656 eliminates a legal exception that previously protected spouses from prosecution for sex crimes against child spouses. It amends statutes 948.09 (sexual intercourse with a child age 16+) and 948.093 (underage sexual activity) to remove the provision stating these laws "do not apply if the child is the defendant’s spouse." This change directly affects individuals in marriages where one spouse was a minor at the time of marriage, making spousal relationships no longer a defense for sex crimes against children. The bill also updates marriage-related provisions, including allowing minors under 18 to file for divorce (767.185) and clarifying consent requirements for minors seeking marriage licenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill eliminates spousal exception for sex crimes against child spouses, closing legal loophole and strengthening protections for minors in criminal justice reform.90% confidence

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signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 188: Relating to: reduction of penalty surcharge when certain fines or forfeitures reduced. (FE)

SB 188 changes how penalty surcharges are calculated when court fines or forfeitures are reduced. It requires that if a fine is suspended or reduced (in whole or part), the 26% penalty surcharge must be reduced proportionally. This applies to most fines for state law violations or local ordinances, but excludes nonmoving traffic violations, seatbelt offenses, and certain financial responsibility violations. The bill ensures that reduced fines directly lower the surcharge amount, affecting individuals paying fines and courts collecting these fees.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces financial burden on defendants by requiring proportional surcharge reduction when fines are lowered, aligning with criminal justice reform principles of fairness and reduced recidivism risk.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 380: Relating to: suspension without pay in cases of judicial misconduct or pending final determination in proceedings involving alleged judicial misconduct or permanent disability.

AB 380 requires judges facing allegations of misconduct or permanent disability to be suspended without pay during disciplinary proceedings. It amends statutes to mandate that both final suspensions imposed by the Supreme Court for misconduct and temporary suspensions pending investigations must be without pay. The bill directly affects judges under investigation by the Judicial Commission or facing formal complaints. This policy change clarifies that judges cannot receive salary during these disciplinary processes, applying to all cases involving alleged misconduct or disability.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates judicial misconduct suspensions without pay, enhancing court accountability within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 583: Relating to: resolution of claims against the state for wrongful imprisonment of innocent persons, exempting from taxation certain amounts an individual receives from the claims board or legislature, health benefits and other assistance for wrongfully imprisoned persons, and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 583 helps people wrongfully imprisoned in Wisconsin by providing them with tax-exempt compensation, health coverage, and transition support. It exempts state compensation payments for wrongful imprisonment from state income tax, covers health insurance premiums (with shared costs), and requires a 5-day transition plan for released individuals to access housing, job help, and healthcare. The bill creates new funding mechanisms (like appropriations under 20.515) to pay for these benefits and mandates state agencies to coordinate with counties on post-release support. It directly affects individuals who receive state compensation under wrongful imprisonment claims (s. 775.05) and the state budget.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts wrongful imprisonment compensation from state income tax, providing tax relief for affected individuals and creating new appropriations for related benefits.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides tax-exempt compensation, health coverage, and transition support for wrongfully imprisoned individuals, directly advancing criminal justice reform by rectifying systemic errors and aiding reintegration.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly provides tax-exempt health coverage, covers premiums, and mandates healthcare access via 5-day transition plans for wrongfully imprisoned individuals, expanding benefits.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates housing access in 5-day transition plan for wrongfully imprisoned persons, directly supporting housing access for vulnerable individuals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Income Tax State Budget Insurance

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