AB 185 Wisconsin Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: property tax exemption for nonprofit theaters. (FE)

AB 185 modifies property tax exemption rules to expand eligibility for nonprofit theaters. It creates a new provision (70.11 (29m)(b)) requiring qualifying theaters to be operated by an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit (with a determination letter by October 1, 1990), use all property for theater arts, and have a total seating capacity of at least 240 persons. The bill repeals the previous exemption section (70.11 (29p)) and applies to property tax assessments starting January 1, 2025. This change directly affects nonprofit theaters meeting these specific criteria, potentially reducing their property tax burden.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Nov 2025
Assembly Passage
Nov 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 15, 2025 Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes · Assembly Nov 19, 2025

How they voted

970
Passed
Total votes 97
Nov 19, 2025
D Democratic44
44 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican53
53 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
30
Key actions
9
Committee
10
Amendments
4
Mar 23, 2026
Amended
Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
upper
Nov 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 97, Noes 0
lower
Nov 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Assembly Amendment 2 adopted
lower
Nov 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on calendar 11-19-2025 by Committee on Rules
lower
Nov 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report passage as amended recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 14, Noes 0
lower
Nov 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report Assembly Amendment 2 adoption recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 14, Noes 0
lower
Nov 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken by joint committee on Finance
lower
Nov 11, 2025
Committee
Referred to joint committee on Finance
lower
Nov 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken by joint survey committee on Tax Exemptions
lower
Nov 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to joint survey committee on Tax Exemptions pursuant to Assembly Rule 45 (4)
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Ways and Means, Ayes 10, Noes 0
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report Assembly Amendment 2 adoption recommended by Committee on Ways and Means, Ayes 10, Noes 0
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Introduced
Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representative Kitchens
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Introduced
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Kitchens
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Kitchens, Novak, Duchow, Melotik, Kreibich, Brown, Billings, Tranel, Mursau, O'Connor, Rivera-Wagner, Johnson and Sheehan; cosponsored by Senators Jacque and Spreitzer
lower
13 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors