Housing (Tenant Rights)

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1058: Relating to: reporting positive rental payment information to credit bureaus.

SB 1058 requires landlords to offer tenants the option to have their on-time rent payments reported to credit bureaus. Landlords must provide written offers (via mail or email) to all tenants by July 1, 2026, detailing the option, any fee (capped at $10/month or actual cost), and how to accept or opt out. Tenants may accept the offer at any time, but must wait six months to restart reporting after opting out. Landlords cannot charge fees for reporting, deduct fees from security deposits, or treat non-payment of the optional fee as lease breach. The bill directly affects renters seeking to build credit and landlords managing reporting systems.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEnables tenants to build credit via on-time rent payments, strengthening tenant financial standing and access to housing90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 7, 2026

AB 916: Relating to: a home repair program and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 916 creates a state-funded home repair program to address habitability issues and improve energy efficiency in affordable housing. It provides grants of up to $25,000 per unit to eligible homeowners (income ≤100% of area median income who own or occupy their homes) and interest-free loans of up to $25,000 to eligible landlords (owning ≤5 properties/15 units of affordable housing). The program prioritizes repairs for homes with health/safety hazards, energy efficiency upgrades, and accessibility improvements for individuals with disabilities or young children. Properties must be between 10 and 40 years old to qualify, and funds are administered by the state authority or contracted counties/nonprofits with strict reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill makes specific appropriation for state-funded home repair program targeting affordable housing, directly funding essential public services per budget & taxes topic.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill prioritizes energy efficiency upgrades in affordable housing via state-funded grants and loans, directly advancing energy efficiency standards in residential infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides state-funded grants/loans for home repairs in affordable housing, prioritizing health/safety hazards and energy efficiency for low-income owners/landlords, directly advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Energy Efficiency Affordable Housing Homeownership Tenant Rights

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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 ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits algorithms using competitor data for rent decisions, protecting tenants from potential unfair pricing and discrimination in housing markets.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits algorithmic software use in housing for rent decisions, restricting tech application to protect data privacy and prevent misuse of competitor data.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 327: Relating to: emotional support animals in housing; falsely claiming that an animal is a service animal; and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 327 ensures landlords cannot deny housing to tenants with emotional support animals based solely on the animal's presence. It requires tenants to provide a letter or prescription from a healthcare provider to verify their need for the animal. The bill also establishes penalties for individuals who falsely claim their pet is a service animal to gain housing access. This directly affects landlords, tenants, and housing providers across the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires healthcare provider verification for emotional support animals, enabling housing access tied to mental health needs and protecting tenant rights under healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents housing discrimination against tenants with emotional support animals by requiring verification and penalizing false claims, strengthening tenant protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 607: Relating to: housing and homelessness; emergency rental assistance program; indigent civil legal services; workforce development; community action agencies; poverty reports; mental health; economic security; reimbursement for nonemergency medical transportation services; urban mass transit aid; lead exposure and abatement services; lead service line replacement; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; granting rule-making authority; and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 607 creates new programs and modifies existing ones to address housing, homelessness, and related services in Wisconsin. It establishes a lead service line replacement program for water systems, creates an annual review process for homelessness services, and funds emergency rental assistance for households earning under 80% of county median income. The bill allocates $43 million for indigent civil legal services, $5 million for emergency rental assistance (2026-27), and $2.5 million for housing grants. These provisions directly affect low-income residents, homeless individuals, and service providers by expanding access to housing support, legal aid, and water infrastructure improvements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $43M for indigent legal services, $5M for emergency rental assistance, and $2.5M for housing programs, explicitly funding public services under budget appropriations.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly includes reimbursement for nonemergency medical transportation services, improving healthcare access and aligning with support indicators.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllocates $5M for emergency rental assistance (2026-27) for households under 80% median income and $43M for indigent civil legal services related to housing, directly advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly funds workforce development programs, directly advancing employment standards and worker skills training per its title and allocation of $43M for related services.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly allocates funds for 'reimbursement for nonemergency medical transportation services' and 'urban mass transit aid', directly advancing transportation services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Homelessness Renters Tenant Rights Workforce Development Public Transit

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 427: Relating to: requirements for the rental of mobile and manufactured homes. (FE)

SB 427 establishes new rules for renting mobile and manufactured homes in communities. It requires annual leases for sites (unless both parties agree to a shorter term), prohibits denying leases based on a home's age, and lists specific, allowed reasons for terminating tenancy (like failure to sign a lease or violating community rules about multiple homes). The bill also mandates 90 days' written notice to all residents before permanently closing a community or site. These changes directly affect mobile home park residents and operators by clarifying lease terms and termination procedures.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits age-based lease denial and mandates 90-day notice for community closures, strengthening tenant protections in mobile home rentals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 628: Relating to: allowing renters to claim the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit. (FE)

AB 628 allows renters who are veterans or surviving spouses to claim the property tax credit previously only available to homeowners. It amends state law to define "rent constituting property taxes" and lets eligible renters deduct their rent payments toward this credit when filing taxes. The credit can offset income tax liability, with unused portions paid directly by the state. This change applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2026, and directly affects qualifying renters in Wisconsin.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands property tax credit to renters (veterans/surviving spouses), providing tax relief via rent deductions against income tax liability, directly advancing tax relief for qualifying groups.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExtends property tax credit to renters (veterans/surviving spouses), reducing housing costs and increasing affordability for vulnerable tenant groups through tax relief.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExtends property tax credit eligibility to veteran renters, expanding financial benefit previously limited to homeowners.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Property Tax Tax Credits Property Taxes Renters Tenant Rights Veteran Housing

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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 ✓ HousingSupports HousingBans algorithmic software that could enable discriminatory or opaque rental pricing, strengthening tenant protections per bill's explicit prohibition of tools using private data for rent/occupancy decisions.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBans algorithmic software using private data for rental pricing, protecting tenants from potential bias/data misuse - aligns with consumer protection regulations in tech policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 202: Relating to: voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases. (FE)

Assembly Bill 202 primarily removes residential rental agreements from the scope of the Wisconsin Consumer Act. It changes how certain problematic provisions in residential leases are handled, allowing tenants to elect to void the entire agreement or sever only the voidable clauses, rather than the agreement being automatically void. Such voidable clauses include those that authorize landlords to take action against tenants for contacting law enforcement or health services, or for being a victim of a crime. If a tenant voids the agreement, it converts to a periodic tenancy under similar terms, or if a provision is severed, the rest of the agreement remains in effect. Tenants who suffer financial loss due to these voidable provisions can sue for double damages, costs, and attorney fees, excluding rent payments.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingStrengthens tenant protections by allowing severance of voidable lease clauses instead of automatic voidance of entire agreements, addressing problematic landlord provisions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 618: Relating to: allowing renters to claim the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit. (FE)

SB 618 allows renters who are veterans or surviving spouses to claim the property tax credit based on their rent payments instead of property taxes. The bill amends tax statutes to define "rent constituting property taxes" and permits eligible renters to file for this credit against their income taxes, with unused portions paid via state funds. It specifically applies to renters in veterans' principal dwellings, and couples filing separately can claim 50% of total rent paid. The law takes effect for taxable years beginning January 1, 2026. This expands an existing homeowner-focused credit to include qualifying renters without creating new funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows veterans/surviving spouses renting to claim property tax credit via rent payments, providing targeted tax relief for lower-income renters under tax statutes.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands tax credit access to renters (veterans/surviving spouses), reducing housing costs and increasing affordability for vulnerable groups.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands property tax credit access to veteran renters, enabling them to claim benefits previously unavailable to non-property owners through rent-based credit filing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Credits Property Taxes Renters Tenant Rights Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Housing

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