Relating to: imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE)
AB 86 amends Wisconsin law to impose a life sentence without parole for individuals convicted of child trafficking involving three or more child victims. It specifically upgrades penalties under statutes 948.051(1)(b) and 948.051(2)(b), defining child trafficking as recruiting, transporting, or exploiting children for commercial sex acts. The bill requires courts to sentence offenders to life imprisonment without parole eligibility when three or more child victims are involved, affecting both traffickers and those who benefit from such crimes. This change applies to offenses committed on or after the bill’s effective date.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Assembly Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 28, 2025
Signed Apr 3, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
34
Key actions
6
Committee
3
Apr 3, 2026
Signed into law
Report approved by the Governor on 4-3-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 187
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and concurred in
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Apr 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 6, 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 Judiciary, Ayes 4, Noes 0
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Sortwell, Allen, Behnke, Goeben, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, Mursau and Wichgers;
cosponsored by Senator Jacque
lower
10 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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