Relating to: restitution orders following a conviction for human trafficking and restoration of the right to vote to a person barred from voting as a result of a felony conviction. (FE)
AB 87 modifies Wisconsin law to require courts to order immediate restitution payments for human trafficking convictions (specifically under sections 940.302(2) or 948.051) and to enforce these payments through property execution if unpaid. It also changes voting rights restoration rules: a person convicted of a felony regains voting rights only after completing their sentence, paying all fines/costs/restitution, and finishing any court-ordered community service. The bill mandates that the elections commission must inform individuals in writing when their voting rights are restored. This directly affects people convicted of human trafficking (impacting restitution timing) and all felony offenders (impacting voting rights restoration conditions). The law was vetoed by the governor on August 11, 2025.
Bill status
vetoed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Assembly Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Vetoed
Aug 2025
Introduced Feb 28, 2025
Vetoed Aug 11, 2025
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Bill Text
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Text as Enrolled
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4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends Wisconsin statutes to require immediate restitution payment for human trafficking convictions and to add a requirement that felons must pay all fines, costs, and restitution before their right to vote is restored. The changes aim to ensure victims of human trafficking receive prompt compensation and to tighten the criteria for restoring voting rights to individuals convicted of felonies.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of restitution enforcement to specifically mandate immediate payment for human trafficking cases and modifies the eligibility criteria for restoring voting rights to include full payment of financial obligations.
REQUIREMENT
For human trafficking convictions, courts must now require restitution to be paid immediately rather than allowing deferred payment plans.
The elections commission or jailer must now inform a person in writing that their right to vote has been restored only after verifying all financial and service obligations are met.
ENFORCEMENT
If a human trafficking defendant fails to pay restitution immediately, the court must issue an execution against the defendant's property without delay.
ELIGIBILITY
A person convicted of a felony must now have paid all fines, costs, fees, surcharges, and restitution, and completed community service, before their right to vote is restored.
Floor votes · Assembly Mar 13, 2025
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
30
Key actions
4
Committee
2
Aug 11, 2025
Vetoed
Report vetoed by the Governor on 8-8-2025
lower
Jun 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 14
upper
Jun 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 44
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 3, Noes 1
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Sortwell, Brill, Dittrich, Duchow, Gundrum, Knodl, Murphy, Mursau, O'Connor and Penterman;
cosponsored by Senator Feyen
lower
10 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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