Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 527: Relating to: use of skateboards on roadways.

SB 527 clarifies rules for skateboard and in-line skate use on roadways. It defines skateboards as non-motorized devices and prohibits attaching them to vehicles or riding on certain roadways under state jurisdiction. Local governments may create ordinances restricting skateboard use on their roads (except at crosswalks), while riders must follow safety rules like riding carefully. The bill also updates vehicle definitions to exclude skateboards and in-line skates from certain categories. These changes aim to standardize safety expectations and local authority over sidewalk and roadway access.

Topics ✓ Transportation

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 516: Relating to: school district employee participation in state group health insurance and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 516 requires the state group insurance board to study the potential costs and savings for Wisconsin school districts and current health insurance plan participants if school districts were either required to join or could voluntarily join a state-offered group health insurance plan. The bill allocates $300,000 for these actuarial studies, which must be completed within six months and reported to the governor and legislature. It does not change current participation rules but examines two scenarios: mandatory statewide enrollment versus voluntary participation. The study will specifically analyze financial impacts on school districts and existing plan members. This bill is procedural, focusing solely on gathering data before any policy decisions.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 78: Relating to: honoring the dedication and service of Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.

SJR 78 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley upon her retirement from the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The resolution formally expresses the Wisconsin Legislature's appreciation for her decades of service, including her historic role as the first woman elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court (1995) and her leadership as Chief Justice (2025). It recognizes her career milestones, community involvement, and global work advancing gender and human rights through judicial organizations. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic tribute to her service.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 481: Relating to: local minimum wage ordinances. (FE)

AB 481 repeals Section 104.001 of the statutes, which currently allows local governments to establish minimum wage rates higher than the state minimum. This bill would eliminate the legal authority for cities and counties to set their own local minimum wage ordinances. As a result, only the state-level minimum wage would apply uniformly across all jurisdictions. The bill does not create new wage requirements or affect existing state minimum wage rates.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 207: Relating to: creating a hazard mitigation revolving loan program, creating a Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 207 creates two revolving loan programs: one for hazard mitigation and another specifically for Great Lakes erosion control. The bill establishes a $5 million funding pool from the environmental fund, using repayments of principal and interest from existing loans to provide new loans for eligible projects. This program directly affects communities facing coastal erosion or natural hazards by offering low-cost financing for infrastructure improvements. The revolving nature means funds are recycled as loans are repaid, creating a sustainable funding source without requiring new annual appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 452: Relating to: pupil eligibility for parental choice programs based upon participation by a sibling or a dependent child of the pupil's parent or guardian. (FE)

SB 452 would expand eligibility for Wisconsin's private school choice programs to students whose siblings or younger dependent children (e.g., younger siblings) attended participating private schools the previous year. Currently, only students themselves must have attended such schools to qualify. The bill applies to students in grades K-12 outside city school districts (under Section 118.60) and within cities (under Section 119.23). It would take effect for the 2026-27 school year.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 433: Relating to: local traffic calming grants and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 433 creates a new $60 million annual grant program for local governments to fund traffic calming infrastructure projects. It directly affects counties, cities, villages, towns, and federally recognized tribes by providing funding for projects designed to slow vehicle speeds, such as speed bumps or road redesigns. Projects must align with the federal transportation alternatives program and be administered by the state Department of Transportation. The bill establishes a formal grant process with application requirements and evaluation criteria, but does not change existing traffic laws or require local matching funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 429: Relating to: prohibiting possessing a firearm on college and university campuses and providing a penalty.

SB 429 prohibits most people from possessing a firearm on the grounds of a university or college, including buildings and land owned or leased by the institution. It designates this as a Class A misdemeanor, with specific exceptions for law enforcement officers, military personnel on duty, individuals leasing residential or business space on campus, and those using firearms for approved programs. The bill creates the first dedicated prohibition for campus firearm possession, replacing a previous exemption under unrelated statutes. This change directly affects students, staff, and visitors on campus who are not exempt, with violations treated as serious offenses under criminal law.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 534: Relating to: voter registration at high schools. (FE)

AB 534 requires public high schools to offer voter registration during regular school days for enrolled students and school staff. It creates a process where schools appoint "school registration deputies" to collect forms, which are then sent to the local election office; students who register as minors will be automatically added to the voter rolls when they turn 18. Private or tribal high schools with many local students may also participate if they request it. The bill directly affects high school students (especially those approaching voting age) and school staff by expanding access to voter registration at school locations.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 383: Relating to: the veterans housing and recovery program and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 383 increases funding for Wisconsin's Veterans Housing and Recovery Program. It allocates an additional $900,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $1,050,000 for 2026-27 to cover program supplies, services, and leasing costs for the Chippewa Falls-based program. This adjustment addresses space and facility deficiencies at the current location by enabling a facility move. The bill directly affects veterans utilizing this housing program in Chippewa Falls. The changes are purely fiscal, with no new program requirements or policy shifts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 404: Relating to: the Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 404 establishes and funds the Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program, which provides direct support services to veterans in need. The bill appropriates state funds to cover outreach, counseling, and recovery resources for veterans facing challenges like homelessness, mental health issues, or unemployment. It directly affects veterans seeking these services and the state agencies or community organizations delivering them. The program’s implementation is contingent on the approved budget allocation, with no policy changes beyond the funding mechanism. As a fiscal bill, it focuses on resource allocation rather than new legal requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 427: Relating to: prohibiting possessing a firearm on college and university campuses and providing a penalty.

AB 427 prohibits possessing a firearm on university or college campus property, including buildings and grounds owned or leased by the institution. It establishes a Class A misdemeanor charge for violations, with specific exceptions for law enforcement officers, military personnel on duty, individuals leasing residential or business spaces on campus, and firearms in approved programs or locked vehicles. The bill directly affects anyone on campus property - students, staff, visitors - by restricting firearm possession where it was previously not specifically prohibited under state law. Key mechanisms include creating new legal language (941.236) to define campus firearm rules and amending related statutes to clarify campus exemptions.

Bill results