Relating to: the administration of the office of county sheriff and the appointment of county medical examiners. (FE)
AB 866 revises rules for county sheriff offices and undersheriff appointments across the state. It creates new requirements for appointing an undersheriff (who must be a certified law enforcement officer and county resident), clarifies succession rules when the sheriff is absent or incapacitated, and ensures deputies returning from undersheriff roles retain their prior pay and seniority. The bill directly affects county sheriffs, undersheriffs, county clerks handling vacancy procedures, and deputy sheriffs. Key provisions include mandating written appointment records, defining when an undersheriff acts as sheriff, and requiring counties to return deputies to their previous positions after undersheriff service.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Assembly Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 16, 2026
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
38
Key actions
8
Committee
5
Amendments
2
Apr 3, 2026
Signed into law
Report approved by the Governor on 4-3-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 196
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
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Local Government, Ayes 9, Noes 1
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Local Government, Ayes 10, Noes 0
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Tusler
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Tusler, Behnke, Green, Knodl, Kurtz, Melotik, Novak, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Wichgers and Brill;
cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard, Testin and Feyen
lower
11 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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