Relating to: authorizing additional circuit court and criminal justice system positions. (FE)
SB 546 expands court capacity in specific Wisconsin counties by adding new judicial branches and related positions. It increases circuit court branches in Kenosha County (from 8 to 9, effective 2028), Brown County (from 8 to 9 in 2027, then to 10 in 2028), and Menominee/Shawano Counties (from 2 to 3, effective 2027). The bill authorizes 4 new circuit judge positions, 4 new court reporter positions, and 30.5 additional assistant district attorney positions across 25 counties to support these expansions. All changes take effect between August 2027 and August 2028, with funding tied to existing state appropriations.
Bill status
failed
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Oct 17, 2025
Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
17
Key actions
3
Committee
1
Amendments
4
Feb 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 6, Noes 2
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Introduced
Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wimberger
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Introduced
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wimberger
upper
Oct 17, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Senator Wimberger;
cosponsored by Representatives Steffen, Kurtz, Allen, Behnke, Dittrich, Donovan, Franklin, Goeben, Gundrum, B. Jacobson, Kitchens, Knodl, Kreibich, Melotik, Murphy, Mursau, Neylon and O'Connor
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Eric Wimberger
RRepublican
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