Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 517: Relating to: expressly prohibiting a foreign national from making a contribution to a referendum committee.

AB 517 prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to referendum committees and bans referendum committees from accepting such contributions. The bill directly affects foreign nationals (defined using federal campaign finance rules) and referendum committees organizing ballot initiatives. It adds a new provision to state law stating: "No foreign national may make a contribution to a referendum committee, and no referendum committee may accept a contribution from a foreign national." This clarifies existing federal restrictions apply to state-level referendum committees. The bill is currently in committee for review after its October 2025 introduction.

Alex Joers (D) Tara Johnson (D) Mike Bare (D) Christine Sinicki (D) Lee Snodgrass (D)

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 145: Relating to: passing legislation to reduce carbon emissions.

AB 145 requires the state legislature to create and pass a plan to reduce carbon emissions by 52% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The bill mandates that any legislative plan developed must prioritize improving both economic and racial equity alongside emission reductions. It directly affects the legislature, which must finalize this plan during the 2025-26 session. The key provision is establishing legally binding emission reduction targets with an explicit requirement to address equity impacts in the implementation strategy.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 527: Relating to: eliminating the advisory referenda restrictions under 2023 Wisconsin Act 12.

AB 527 removes restrictions on county advisory referendums in Wisconsin. It eliminates a specific exception that previously barred counties from holding advisory votes on most issues, except for capital projects funded by property taxes. The bill amends statute 59.52(25) to allow county boards to conduct advisory referendums on any topic without prior restrictions. This directly affects county governments seeking to gather public input on local policy decisions through non-binding votes. The change removes barriers to community engagement on a broader range of local issues.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 541: Relating to: poll list numbers marked on certain absentee ballots.

AB 541 requires election officials to mark the poll list number on the back of each absentee ballot after verifying its validity. This affects local election boards handling absentee ballots, specifically the "board of absentee ballot canvassers" during the ballot processing step. The bill amends a statute to mandate that officials record the elector's poll list number on the ballot's back before depositing it into the ballot box. This is a procedural change to standardize ballot tracking, not a policy shift affecting voters or election outcomes.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 537: Relating to: returning an absentee ballot with an incomplete certificate or with no certificate.

AB 537 requires municipal clerks to return absentee ballots with incomplete or missing voter certification forms to the voter, rather than discarding them. This directly affects voters who make minor errors on their ballots and municipal clerks who process mail-in votes. The bill mandates that clerks return the ballot (in its sealed envelope) with a new envelope if needed, giving voters time to correct the error before the deadline. It changes the law from allowing clerks to return ballots ("may") to requiring it ("shall").

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 540: Relating to: extending voting rights to certain 17-year-old individuals and requiring a referendum.

AB 540 would allow 17-year-old residents to vote in primary elections if they will turn 18 by the date of the general election. The bill amends voting statutes to change eligibility requirements from "age 18 or older" to include "age 17 on the primary date if turning 18 by the general election date." It updates voter verification processes, including the oath required for challenged voters, to reflect this age adjustment. The bill's title mentions requiring a referendum, but the provided text does not detail this requirement. This policy change directly affects eligible 17-year-olds in the state who meet residency and registration requirements.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 502: Relating to: a nuclear energy generation tax credit; prioritizing nuclear energy resources; approval of certain electric tariffs for very large customers; and authorizing electric utilities to recover certain precertification costs through rates. (FE)

SB 502 creates a 20-year tax credit for nuclear energy facilities in Wisconsin, providing electric utilities and cooperatives with annual credits of $10,000 per megawatt (decreasing to $1,000 by year 19) for qualifying nuclear power generation. The credit applies only to facilities located in Wisconsin that generated electricity during the tax year, with a cap of 20 years per facility. It also modifies definitions to include nuclear energy in "renewable resource" reporting for state agencies and utilities. The bill allows credit transfers to other taxpayers subject to state income tax, but prohibits partnerships and similar entities from claiming the credit directly.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 337: Relating to: training to address student mental health and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 337 requires public school staff in Wisconsin to receive training focused on student mental health and social-emotional learning. This bill directly affects school staff, including teachers and administrators, by mandating new training programs. It authorizes a $500,000 funding increase for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support these training initiatives through the Department of Public Instruction. The legislation creates a new statutory requirement (115.28 (63)(d)) for schools to implement this training, funded by the specified appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 348: Relating to: training to address student mental health and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 348 requires school districts to provide training for staff on addressing student mental health, directly affecting public schools and their employees. The bill adds $500,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 and another $500,000 for 2026-27 to the state’s existing budget for the Department of Public Instruction to fund these training programs. This funding is specifically designated to support mental health training initiatives in schools, with no changes to existing curriculum requirements. The bill takes effect after the 2025 biennial budget is published.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 522: Relating to: use of skateboards on roadways.

AB 522 clarifies rules for skateboard and in-line skate use on public roads. It establishes that riders must follow safety rules (e.g., riding carefully, not attaching to vehicles) and prohibits use on certain roadways without local permission. Local governments gain authority to restrict skateboard use on their streets via ordinance, while still allowing crosswalk crossings. The bill also updates legal definitions to exclude skateboards from "recreational vehicles" and prohibits towing them. These changes directly affect skateboard users, municipalities, and road safety regulations.

Topics ✓ Transportation

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AJR 77: Relating to: honoring the dedication and service of Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.

AJR 77 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley upon her retirement from the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The resolution formally recognizes her 40-year career, including her 1985 appointment as Marathon County's first female circuit court judge, her 1995 election as the first woman to reach the Supreme Court via election, and her 2025 service as Chief Justice. It does not create any new policy or affect any laws, as it is purely a symbolic gesture of legislative appreciation. The resolution was introduced by 32 assembly members and 14 senators in July 2025.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 91: Relating to: proclaiming the months of October 2025 and October 2026 as Breast Cancer Awareness Months.

This is a ceremonial resolution (SJR 91) that declares October 2025 and October 2026 as "Breast Cancer Awareness Months" in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or allocate funds - it is a symbolic gesture to promote public awareness, early detection, and treatment of breast cancer. The resolution cites Wisconsin-specific statistics on breast cancer incidence and mortality to highlight the issue. It directly affects Wisconsin residents by encouraging community-focused awareness efforts during those months.

Bill results