Wisconsin Bills | MyRepTracker

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 426: Relating to: election observers and providing a penalty.

AB 426 establishes clear rules for election observer access during voting and recounts. It requires election officials to designate observation areas 3-8 feet from voting tables and ensures all observers (like candidates' representatives) have uniform, nondiscriminatory access to every election stage, including absentee voting, ballot counting, and recounts. Officials who violate these rules face penalties of up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail. The bill directly affects election clerks, inspectors, and canvassers who must implement these procedures.

Ron Tusler (R) Clint Moses (R) Dave Armstrong (R) David Steffen (R) Paul Tittl (R)

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 617: Relating to: applying for and returning absentee ballots; use of central counting locations; election night reporting; court determinations of incompetency and ineligibility to vote; preelection tests of electronic voting equipment, and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 617 updates election procedures in key areas. It requires election officials to test voting machines 15 days before elections (up from 10 days) and publicly verify they reject invalid votes like excess ballots. The bill also creates new rules for handling voter ineligibility: if a court determines someone cannot vote, the election commission must update voter records within 3 business days and notify the voter and local clerk. These changes affect voters (particularly those with court-ordered voting restrictions), municipal clerks, and election officials managing ballot processing and machine testing. The bill passed the Assembly in November 2025 but awaits governor action.

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 613: Relating to: notifying parents if a pupil is removed from the classroom. (FE)

AB 613 requires school principals to notify parents in writing within 5 p.m. the same day when a student is removed from a classroom in a way that reduces instructional time for other students (e.g., during drills). Notices must be electronic (or by mail if declined) and cannot include personal information. School principals must report annual removal counts to school boards by October 1, 2027, and school boards must submit this data to the state superintendent by December 1, starting in 2028. The law applies to all public schools and takes effect July 1, 2026.

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 645: Relating to: grants for feasibility studies of school district consolidation or whole grade sharing. (FE)

AB 645 creates grants to help school district consortia (groups of two or more school boards) assess the feasibility of merging districts or sharing grade levels. It allows reimbursement of up to $25,000 per group for costs like financial analyses and population studies related to consolidation or sharing agreements. To qualify, a group must provide proof that all member school boards have approved resolutions supporting the study. The bill does not fund actual consolidation but provides initial support for planning.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 312: Relating to: hours for voting by absentee ballot in person at the office of the municipal clerk or an alternate site. (FE)

AB 312 sets standardized operating hours for in-person absentee ballot voting at local election offices (municipal clerks) and approved alternate sites. It directly affects voters who cast absentee ballots in person and local election officials managing these locations. The bill establishes specific, consistent hours for these locations to ensure accessible voting access, replacing variable or inconsistent schedules previously set by individual jurisdictions. This is a procedural change to improve clarity and convenience for voters using in-person absentee voting.

passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 663: Relating to: a study of redundancies in legal requirements for new housing construction. (FE)

SB 663 requires the Department of Administration to study overlapping or duplicate legal requirements for new housing construction - including single-family, duplex, and multi-family buildings - from federal, state, and local governments. The study must identify redundancies in these requirements and be completed within one year of the bill's effective date. The department will then submit a report with findings and legislative recommendations to the relevant state committees. This bill does not change existing laws but initiates a review to potentially streamline future housing construction processes.

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 565: Relating to: qualified new business venture eligibility. (FE)

AB 565 amends tax credit eligibility rules for qualified new business ventures in Wisconsin. It increases the investment cap from $12 million to $20 million for businesses claiming tax credits under specific statutes (71.07, 71.28, 71.47, 76.638) for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025. The bill also requires businesses receiving such credits to agree not to relocate outside Wisconsin for three years, with penalties for violations. These changes directly affect new businesses seeking state tax credits to support growth. The bill repeals outdated provisions and updates the rules to adjust investment limits and relocation requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 207: Relating to: information provided to voters concerning proposed constitutional amendments and other statewide referenda. (FE)

AB 207 requires clear, plain-language disclosure notices for all statewide referenda and constitutional amendments on ballots. It mandates that each notice include the full ballot text, a plain-language summary of current law, and specific explanations of how "yes" and "no" votes would affect voters - all limited to one page. These notices must be posted online 30 days before voting, included with sample ballots and absentee ballots, and published by county clerks. The bill directly affects voters by improving their access to understandable information and election officials who must implement these disclosure requirements.

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 240: Relating to: a sales and use tax exemption for equipment associated with the use of a search and rescue dog. (FE)

AB 240 creates a sales and use tax exemption for equipment used to train, manage, or control search and rescue dogs. It directly affects state and nationally recognized search and rescue agencies that deploy canines to locate missing persons or assist in disaster response. The bill exempts the cost of such equipment from state sales tax, reducing operational expenses for these agencies. This policy change provides immediate financial relief for agencies that rely on specialized dog teams in emergency operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 185: Relating to: property tax exemption for nonprofit theaters. (FE)

AB 185 modifies property tax exemption rules to expand eligibility for nonprofit theaters. It creates a new provision (70.11 (29m)(b)) requiring qualifying theaters to be operated by an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit (with a determination letter by October 1, 1990), use all property for theater arts, and have a total seating capacity of at least 240 persons. The bill repeals the previous exemption section (70.11 (29p)) and applies to property tax assessments starting January 1, 2025. This change directly affects nonprofit theaters meeting these specific criteria, potentially reducing their property tax burden.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 682: Relating to: fees for nonresident hunting, trapping, and fishing approvals and nonresident vehicle admission receipts. (FE)

AB 682 increases fees for nonresident hunting, trapping, and fishing permits and vehicle admissions in Wisconsin. The bill raises specific fee amounts across multiple categories, such as increasing the annual deer license fee from $197.25 to $237.25 and the annual small game license fee from $87.25 to $107.25. These fee increases will take effect on March 1, 2026, and primarily affect nonresidents who wish to engage in hunting, fishing, or trapping activities within Wisconsin. The bill does not introduce new programs but adjusts existing fee structures for nonresident users.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 665: Relating to: establishing a statewide wolf population goal.

SB 665 requires the state wildlife department to establish a specific statewide population goal for wolves when they are not listed as endangered under federal or state law. This goal would guide the department's management plan, which must allow regulated hunting and trapping of wolves. The bill mandates that the department issue licenses to limit the number of hunters, trappers, and wolves taken. It directly affects the department's authority to manage wolf populations and hunting regulations. The bill does not set a specific numerical target but requires the department to define and implement a population goal as part of its management plan.

Topics ✗ Environment