Relating to: injuring or killing a police or fire animal and providing a penalty.
AB 61 increases penalties for harming police or fire department animals used in official duties. It creates three penalty tiers: a Class A misdemeanor for negligent harm, a Class I H felony for intentional injury, and a Class H G felony for intentional killing. The law applies specifically to animals working for law enforcement or fire departments during their duties. Penalties depend on the perpetrator's intent (intentional vs. negligent) and the outcome (injury vs. death). This bill, enacted as 2025 Wisconsin Act 28, directly affects individuals who intentionally or negligently injure or kill such animals.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Assembly Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Aug 2025
Introduced Feb 24, 2025
Signed Aug 11, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
37
Key actions
5
Committee
2
Aug 11, 2025
Signed into law
Report approved by the Governor on 8-8-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 28
lower
Jun 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and concurred in
upper
Jun 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 1
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report passage recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 15, Noes 0
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Nedweski, Dittrich, Piwowarczyk, Andraca, Armstrong, Behnke, Brill, Callahan, Donovan, Goeben, Gundrum, B. Jacobson, Kaufert, Kitchens, Kreibich, Maxey, Miresse, O'Connor, Penterman, Sinicki, Steffen, Tittl and Wichgers;
cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard, Carpenter, L. Johnson, Marklein and Nass
lower
23 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Amanda Nedweski
RRepublican
P
Barbara Dittrich
RRepublican
P
Bob Donovan
RRepublican
P
Brent Jacobson
RRepublican
P
Calvin Callahan
RRepublican
P
Christine Sinicki
DDemocratic
P
Chuck Wichgers
RRepublican
P
Dave Armstrong
RRepublican
P
Dave Maxey
RRepublican
P
David Steffen
RRepublican
P
Dean Kaufert
RRepublican
P
Deb Andraca
DDemocratic
P
Elijah Behnke
RRepublican
P
Jerry O'Connor
RRepublican
P
Jim Piwowarczyk
RRepublican
P
Joel Kitchens
RRepublican
P
Joy Goeben
RRepublican
P
Lindee Brill
RRepublican
P
Paul Tittl
RRepublican
P
Rick Gundrum
RRepublican
P
Rob Kreibich
RRepublican
P
Vinnie Miresse
DDemocratic
P
Will Penterman
RRepublican
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