This bill creates new authority for the Wisconsin attorney general to investigate and sue individuals or entities for civil rights violations in housing, employment, education, and public accommodations. It allows the attorney general to conduct investigations requiring sworn statements, access to documents, and subpoenas when there is reasonable cause to believe a pattern of rights violations or a denial of rights with public importance has occurred. If violations are found, courts can order injunctive relief, award damages, and impose civil forfeiture penalties of up to $50,000 for first violations or $100,000 for subsequent violations within seven years. The bill also permits the attorney general to accept voluntary compliance agreements instead of pursuing litigation, though violations of such agreements remain subject to penalties.
This bill would remove a state law that currently prevents local governments from creating or enforcing eviction moratoriums, which are rules that temporarily stop landlords from evicting tenants. By repealing the existing prohibition, the legislation would allow cities and counties to establish their own eviction pause policies if they choose to do so. The change directly affects local governments, landlords, and tenants by potentially opening the door for neighborhood-level eviction protections. The bill is currently in the early stages of review and has not yet been passed into law.
This bill authorizes cities, villages, towns, and counties to establish fair housing departments to educate residents about housing discrimination rights and enforce local fair housing ordinances. It creates a grant program that provides up to $10 million in state funding to help local governments set up these departments, with grants distributed across state regions to ensure equitable access. The legislation includes specific rules for grant applications, limits each region to receiving no more than 12.5 percent of available funds, and restricts grant usage to supporting fair housing department operations. The bill also establishes a sunset provision that prevents new grants from being awarded after June 30, 2029.
This bill would allow Wisconsin local governments to create rules requiring landlords to offer tenants a good faith renewal of their leases unless there is a valid reason not to do so. It also permits municipalities to set standards for lease renewals, limit when landlords can show properties to new tenants, and establish penalties for violations that could include relocation assistance. The bill would make these local rules mandatory and prevent landlords from waiving them in lease agreements. However, the bill failed to pass in the Senate on March 23, 2026, so it is not currently in effect.
This bill modifies Iowa's eviction laws to clarify the notice requirements landlords must follow when evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent. It establishes specific timelines for notice periods, requiring at least 30 days for month-to-month and weekly tenants, and 14 days for annual or shorter-term leases when a tenant is already in default. The legislation also prevents courts from dismissing eviction cases solely because a landlord accepts rent after serving a notice of default, provided the tenant pays all past due amounts before a judgment is entered. These changes directly affect landlords, tenants, and housing courts by standardizing procedures for handling rent arrears and eviction proceedings.
This bill expands the Wisconsin attorney general's authority to file civil lawsuits on behalf of the state against individuals or entities accused of violating civil rights in housing, employment, education, and public accommodations. It allows the attorney general to investigate these potential violations by requiring sworn statements, accessing relevant documents, and issuing subpoenas to gather information. If a violation is found, the attorney general can seek court orders to stop the illegal conduct, recover investigation costs, and impose civil penalties of up to $50,000 for first offenses or $100,000 for subsequent violations within seven years. The bill also permits the attorney general to accept voluntary compliance agreements as an alternative to litigation, though breaking such agreements would still be treated as a violation subject to penalties.
This bill establishes a home repair program that provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners and landlords for fixing habitability issues, improving energy efficiency, and making housing accessible for individuals with disabilities. The program offers grants of up to $25,000 to homeowners and interest-free loans of up to $25,000 to landlords who own no more than 15 affordable housing units. Eligibility is limited to individuals or landlords with incomes at or below 100 percent of the area median income, and assistance is restricted to homes built between 10 and 40 years ago. The state authority will administer the program, potentially contracting with counties or nonprofit organizations to distribute funds while maintaining oversight through reporting and audit requirements.
This bill would require the Wisconsin state courts to remove defendants' names from public eviction records when an eviction case is dismissed. It creates a new rule that mandates redaction of names from the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Internet site for dismissed eviction actions, while keeping names visible for cases where eviction writs are granted for at least 10 years. The change applies to eviction cases dismissed on or after the bill's effective date. This legislation directly affects tenants involved in dismissed eviction proceedings and modifies how public court records are managed for those specific cases.
This bill modifies property tax exemptions for nonprofit organizations that sell homes to low-income buyers. It allows nonprofits to qualify for tax breaks only if they either offer zero-interest loans or restrict sales to households earning less than 120 percent of the area median income. The changes apply to property tax assessments starting January 1, 2026, and affect nonprofits that rehabilitate, redevelop, or construct housing for low-income residents. The legislation removes a previous provision that allowed broader exemptions without income restrictions.
This bill establishes a grant program to help owners of mobile or manufactured home communities meet licensing standards and assists individual homeowners with repairs and improvements. It creates a new statute that defines key terms and authorizes a state authority to distribute funds for community compliance and home upgrades. The legislation also introduces a penalty system that imposes a $5,000 annual forfeiture on community owners who fail to meet reporting or other requirements, with unpaid penalties creating a lien on the property. All collected forfeitures are directed to fund the grant program, linking enforcement revenue directly to assistance for affected homeowners.
