SB 440 Wisconsin Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: newspaper publication and typeface for certain legal notices.

SB 440 changes Wisconsin's requirements for the typeface used in legal notices published in newspapers. It replaces the previous standard (Times New Roman) with Arial sans serif typeface, mandating 6-point font size with specific formatting details. The bill directly affects newspapers publishing legal notices and government agencies placing such notices, requiring them to use Arial within specified parameters. It also allows for larger Arial sizes (up to 12-point) with proportional fee adjustments, which the Department of Administration will certify. This is a procedural change to standardize legal notice formatting, not a substantive policy shift.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2025
Committee Review
Nov 2025
Senate Passage
Nov 2025
Assembly Passage
Nov 2025
Signed into Law
Dec 2025
Introduced Sep 29, 2025 Signed Dec 10, 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
26
Key actions
4
Committee
1
Dec 10, 2025
Signed into law
Report approved by the Governor on 12-9-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 72
upper
Nov 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and concurred in
lower
Nov 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and passed
upper
Nov 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0
upper
Sep 29, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Senators Quinn, Marklein, Pfaff, Roys and Spreitzer; cosponsored by Representatives Novak, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Roe, Swearingen, Tranel, Wichgers, Johnson and Palmeri
upper
5 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors