Housing (Renters) in Wisconsin

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1080: Relating to: local regulation of the short-term rental of residential dwellings.

SB 1080 removes state-imposed limits on how cities and counties can regulate short-term rentals (like Airbnb) of residential properties. It repeals specific sections of law that previously restricted local governments from setting their own rules about the number of days a residential dwelling can be rented out annually. This change directly affects local governments (cities, towns, counties), property owners who rent short-term, and renters by allowing communities to develop their own regulatory frameworks without state caps. The bill focuses on updating statutory language to eliminate existing restrictions, not creating new programs or financial impacts.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1057: Relating to: reporting positive rental payment information to credit bureaus.

AB 1057 requires landlords to offer residential tenants the option to have their on-time rent payments reported to credit bureaus. Landlords must provide this opt-in offer at lease signing and annually thereafter, with tenants able to accept or decline without penalty. Landlords may charge up to $10 monthly (or actual cost) for this service but cannot report payment of the fee as rent or use it to evict tenants. Tenants can stop reporting at any time but must wait six months to restart the reporting. The bill specifically covers only positive payment history (timely rent), not late payments.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1029: Relating to: local regulation of landlords.

SB 1029 repeals Section 66.0104 of the statutes, which previously allowed local governments to regulate landlords. This bill directly affects cities and counties that had authority under this statute to create local rules for rental housing. The key provision is the removal of this specific legal authority, meaning local governments would no longer be able to enact ordinances under this section. The bill does not create new regulations but eliminates an existing framework for local landlord oversight.

Topics ✗ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1076: Relating to: rent abatement and retaliatory conduct and granting rule-making authority.

This bill creates clear rules for rent reductions when rental properties have health or safety hazards, requiring the state agency to establish a standardized schedule for how much rent can be reduced based on specific issues. It also strengthens tenant protections by making it illegal for landlords to retaliate - such as by raising rent, cutting services, or threatening eviction - after a tenant legally requests repairs or rent abatement within the past year. The law specifies that landlords cannot use these actions to punish tenants for exercising rights under the new rules. These changes apply to all residential rental properties in the state.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1058: Relating to: reporting positive rental payment information to credit bureaus.

SB 1058 requires landlords to offer tenants the option to have their on-time rent payments reported to credit bureaus. Landlords must provide written offers (via mail or email) to all tenants by July 1, 2026, detailing the option, any fee (capped at $10/month or actual cost), and how to accept or opt out. Tenants may accept the offer at any time, but must wait six months to restart reporting after opting out. Landlords cannot charge fees for reporting, deduct fees from security deposits, or treat non-payment of the optional fee as lease breach. The bill directly affects renters seeking to build credit and landlords managing reporting systems.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 142: Relating to: algorithmic software for residential housing, and providing a penalty.

AB 142 prohibits landlords and software providers from using algorithmic software to set rents or occupancy rates based on private competitor data (like unpublicized rent or occupancy details). It directly affects residential landlords, property management companies, and software vendors selling such tools. The bill bans both selling/licensing the software and using it for rent decisions, with penalties of up to $1,000 per violation per rental unit. Tenants may also sue for damages or injunctive relief, while exemptions cover aggregated rental data publications and affordable housing tools.

Topics ✓ Housing ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 414: Relating to: immunity from prosecution for certain crimes based on assisting a victim of sexual assault, extending the time limit for prosecution of second-degree sexual assault, and the standard for terminating residential residency when tenant is the victim of sexual assault.

AB 414 helps sexual assault victims by creating legal protection for people who assist them (like friends or advocates) from being prosecuted for minor crimes committed while helping. It also extends the time limit for prosecuting second-degree sexual assault cases, giving victims more time to report crimes. Additionally, the bill changes rules for evictions, making it harder for landlords to remove tenants who are sexual assault victims from rental housing. These changes directly affect sexual assault victims, those who support them, and landlords in residential housing situations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Renters

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 327: Relating to: emotional support animals in housing; falsely claiming that an animal is a service animal; and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 327 ensures landlords cannot deny housing to tenants with emotional support animals based solely on the animal's presence. It requires tenants to provide a letter or prescription from a healthcare provider to verify their need for the animal. The bill also establishes penalties for individuals who falsely claim their pet is a service animal to gain housing access. This directly affects landlords, tenants, and housing providers across the state.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 607: Relating to: housing and homelessness; emergency rental assistance program; indigent civil legal services; workforce development; community action agencies; poverty reports; mental health; economic security; reimbursement for nonemergency medical transportation services; urban mass transit aid; lead exposure and abatement services; lead service line replacement; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; granting rule-making authority; and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 607 creates new programs and modifies existing ones to address housing, homelessness, and related services in Wisconsin. It establishes a lead service line replacement program for water systems, creates an annual review process for homelessness services, and funds emergency rental assistance for households earning under 80% of county median income. The bill allocates $43 million for indigent civil legal services, $5 million for emergency rental assistance (2026-27), and $2.5 million for housing grants. These provisions directly affect low-income residents, homeless individuals, and service providers by expanding access to housing support, legal aid, and water infrastructure improvements.

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

Sub-Topics Mental Health Homelessness Renters Tenant Rights Workforce Development Public Transit

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 605: Relating to: housing and homelessness; emergency rental assistance program; indigent civil legal services; workforce development; community action agencies; poverty reports; mental health; economic security; reimbursement for nonemergency medical transportation services; urban mass transit aid; lead exposure and abatement services; lead service line replacement; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; granting rule-making authority; and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 605 restructures funding for multiple social services programs. It creates a new lead service line replacement program for public water systems, establishes an emergency rental assistance program for households earning ≤80% of county median income (with $5 million allocated for 2026-27), and expands indigent civil legal services funding by $43 million annually. The bill also mandates annual reports on improving homeless services access and creates new grants for housing support, workforce development, and internet assistance programs. These changes directly affect low-income residents, homeless individuals, and legal aid clients through specific funding allocations and program requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Homelessness Property Development Renters Public Transit

All housing bills