Wisconsin Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 782: Relating to: intentionally sending false text messages to 911 and providing a penalty.

SB 782 amends Wisconsin statute 256.35(10)(a) to penalize intentionally sending false text messages to 911 reporting a non-existent emergency. It imposes fines of $100-$600 or up to 90 days in jail for a first offense, and classifies subsequent offenses within four years as a Class H felony. The law directly affects individuals who deliberately mislead emergency services via text, such as falsely reporting crimes or medical crises. Key provisions clarify that the penalty applies specifically when the sender knows the reported emergency is fabricated. This bill creates concrete legal consequences for misuse of 911 text services, aiming to deter non-emergency false reports.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 759: Relating to: eligibility to receive occupational credentials for recipients of deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. (FE)

AB 759 allows individuals with deferred action under the federal DACA program to obtain state occupational licenses (like nursing or cosmetology credentials) if they have valid federal work permits. It requires state licensing agencies to verify DACA recipients' federal work authorization through official systems before issuing licenses. Licenses issued under this law expire when the federal work permit expires, and recipients must renew both simultaneously. The bill explicitly states it does not grant eligibility for public benefits beyond occupational credentials.

Topics ✓ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 98: Relating to: pupils wearing traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event.

AB 98 creates a new law that prevents school boards and charter schools from prohibiting eligible pupils from wearing traditional tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies or school-sponsored events. This bill directly affects students who are members, descendants of members, or eligible to be enrolled in a federally recognized American Indian tribe. "Traditional tribal regalia" is defined to include a tribe's traditional dress or recognized objects of religious or cultural significance, such as tribal symbols, beads, and feathers.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 134: Relating to: alternative open enrollment application procedures for residency change based on military orders.

SB 134 extends the deadline for military-connected families to apply for school enrollment after a residency change due to military orders. It changes the requirement from a 30-day window to 90 days after receiving military orders, including orders from the National Guard, Reserve, or state defense forces. This directly affects service members and their dependents seeking to enroll children in public schools following a permanent relocation. The bill modifies existing statute 118.51(3m)(b)4 to provide more time for applications, ensuring families have sufficient opportunity to complete enrollment processes after a military assignment.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 96: Relating to: exempting certain electric vehicle charging stations located at a residence from the electric vehicle charging tax. (FE)

This bill exempts electricity used for charging electric vehicles at home from the state tax, specifically for Level 1 and Level 2 chargers installed at residences on or after March 22, 2024. The exemption applies retroactively to electricity delivered starting January 1, 2025. It does not apply to Level 3 chargers or commercial charging stations. The policy directly affects residential homeowners who install qualifying EV chargers.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 253: Relating to: independence accounts. (FE)

This bill creates "independence accounts" allowing individuals to save up to $15,000 annually from their gross earnings without that money counting toward Medicaid asset limits. It specifically excludes assets acquired through inheritance when determining eligibility for benefits. The department must seek federal approval to implement this change, though the program would take effect if federal authorities approve. The bill directly affects people applying for or receiving Medicaid benefits in the state.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 194: Relating to: modifications to housing programs under the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. (FE)

AB 194 modifies Wisconsin's housing programs under the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. It redefines "developer" to include tribal housing authorities (Section 3) and clarifies "residential housing" to include tax-exempt reservation or trust lands (Section 4). The bill reduces maximum loan limits for housing projects from 33% to 20% of development costs (Section 10) and from 25% to 10% (Section 11). It also requires local governments to submit cost-reduction analyses showing how zoning or fee changes lowered housing costs (Section 7), directly affecting developers, tribal entities, and local governments administering housing programs.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Housing

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 182: Relating to: changes to the low-income housing tax credit. (FE)

AB 182 amends state tax statutes to clarify how low-income housing tax credits are allocated to owners in multi-entity business structures. It specifies that partnerships, limited liability companies, and tax-option corporations cannot claim the credit directly; instead, partners, members, or shareholders must claim it based on their ownership share or a written agreement. A new provision (76.639(3)(b)) explicitly allows insurers who are partners/members/shareholders to claim credits based on their stake in qualifying housing projects. The bill requires entities to calculate and provide credit allocations to owners, with written agreements needed for non-proportional allocations, and holds individual claimants responsible for tax disputes.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 136: Relating to: school bus back-up lamps.

SB 136 amends school bus lighting rules to allow painted school buses (per §347.44(1)) to use specific safety features. It permits one amber or white back-up lamp on each side (mounted near wheels, with downward light direction), front and rear illuminated signs (steady, non-glaring light), and LED strobe lights meeting SAE J845 Class II standards. These changes directly affect school bus manufacturers, school districts, and the Department of Transportation (which will set installation rules). The bill updates existing safety equipment requirements without creating new mandates, focusing solely on technical specifications for lighting and signage.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 454: Relating to: a workforce home loan program. (FE)

AB 454 establishes a statewide "workforce home loan" revolving loan program to help low-to-moderate income workers purchase homes. It creates a new fund that will provide loans to first-time homebuyers whose household income is at or below 100% of the local area median income, with requirements including no prior residential property ownership in the past three years and meeting specific debt-to-income and credit score standards (minimum 580 FICO score for deferred payment options). The program uses repayments from existing loans to replenish the fund, allowing it to serve more borrowers over time. This directly affects eligible workforce households in housing markets across the state who qualify under the defined income and underwriting criteria.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 445: Relating to: registers of deeds, transportation project plats, and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 445 updates procedures for county registers of deeds regarding property records and transportation project maps (plats). It revises how documents are numbered, indexed, and recorded - requiring unique sequential numbers for each document and clarifying "legal description" definitions for property records. These changes directly affect county offices handling property deeds, mortgages, and transportation project plats, streamlining administrative processes without altering fees or substantive rights. The bill focuses on procedural consistency in record-keeping across statutes.

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 267: Relating to: the fee for filing limited liability company articles of organization with the Department of Financial Institutions. (FE)

This bill's title claims to address LLC filing fees, but the provided text actually amends an unrelated education-related statute (183.0122) regarding student enrollment criteria. The bill text modifies a section defining where students must be enrolled to qualify for certain benefits, specifying they must be in a postsecondary institution, public/private/tribal high school, or home-based program in the state. The content does not relate to LLC fees or business filings as indicated in the title. The inconsistency between the title and the actual bill text suggests a potential error in the document provided.