Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 885: Relating to: digital asset staking and the state’s securities laws.

SB 885 clarifies that digital asset staking and staking-as-a-service are excluded from the state's securities laws. It defines "staking" as locking digital assets to support blockchain security (e.g., via validator nodes) and "staking as a service" as third-party technical support for stakers. The bill directly affects blockchain participants, staking providers, and custodians by removing regulatory burdens under securities rules. This creates a clear regulatory boundary, ensuring staking activities are not treated as investment products under existing state law.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRemoves securities law barriers for blockchain staking, reducing regulatory burden on digital asset participants and promoting innovation in decentralized finance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 965: Relating to: artificial intelligence systems that simulate humanlike relationships with children and providing a penalty.

AB 965 prohibits operators of AI chatbots designed to simulate ongoing, humanlike relationships with children (under 18 in the state) from making them available without specific safety measures. The bill requires these "companion chatbots" to avoid encouraging self-harm, illegal activity, sexual content, or prioritizing a child’s feelings over safety, while excluding standard customer service tools. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $25,000 per day or private lawsuits by affected children or parents for damages. The law takes effect after January 1, 2027, with a transition period for operators unaware a user is a child.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI chatbots interacting with children by mandating safety measures to prevent harm, directly limiting unrestricted AI deployment for child safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 957: Relating to: Internet crimes against children law enforcement and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 957 increases funding by $400,000 for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to support internet crimes against children law enforcement within the Department of Justice. This is a budget adjustment that directly affects the Department of Justice's resources for investigating and prosecuting online crimes targeting minors. The bill does not create new laws or change existing legal standards - it solely allocates additional state funds for enforcement efforts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $400,000 annually for DOJ's child internet crime enforcement, directly increasing state budget resources for public safety program funding.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds DOJ enforcement of internet crimes against children, directly strengthening criminal justice operations through increased budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAllocates $400k annually for internet crimes against children enforcement, enhancing cybersecurity efforts to protect minors online, aligning with technology safety support.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 958: Relating to: position authorizations for Internet crimes against children law enforcement. (FE)

AB 958 authorizes the Department of Justice to add three new positions specifically for its Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit: two criminal analyst roles, one outreach specialist, and one digital evidence examiner. These positions are funded through existing appropriations under section 20.455(2)(a). The bill directly affects the ICAC unit’s staffing capacity to investigate and respond to online crimes involving children. It does not create new laws or policies but adjusts personnel authorizations to support existing law enforcement efforts. The bill was introduced in the 2026 Legislature and referred to the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds three new ICAC unit positions to enhance staffing capacity for investigating online child crimes, directly strengthening law enforcement resources in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds ICAC unit personnel (digital evidence examiner, analysts) to investigate online child crimes, directly enhancing cybersecurity capacity for digital evidence handling and cybercrime response.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 807: Relating to: grants to WisconsinEye for the establishment of an endowment fund, creating the Office of the Public Affairs Network to administer a public affairs network in Wisconsin, and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 807 creates a new Office of the Public Affairs Network within Wisconsin's Department of Administration to provide live, unedited online coverage of state government proceedings. The office must stream real-time video and audio of legislative sessions, court hearings, agency meetings, and related public events, while maintaining permanent online archives accessible without registration or fees. It allocates $2 million biennially for operations and transitions WisconsinEye's existing digital archives and equipment to the state. The bill establishes a board with gubernatorial, legislative, and public members to oversee the network's nonpartisan operation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $2M biennially for Office of Public Affairs Network, funding government transparency services under state budget appropriation.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds digital streaming of government proceedings, expanding public internet access to state meetings without fees or registration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 963: Relating to: social media accounts for minors and providing a penalty.

AB 963 requires large social media platforms (with $1 billion+ annual revenue) to identify users under 18 and obtain parental permission before collecting their personal data. After a user spends 25 hours on the platform within six months, companies must estimate age with 80% confidence; if uncertain, they must treat the user as a minor. Platforms must then get verifiable parental consent for data collection, including location, browsing history, and biometric information. This bill directly affects minors under 18 in the state and major social media companies operating there, focusing on data handling rather than restricting access to platforms.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires parental consent for minor data collection on social media, strengthening data privacy protections for minors - aligns with technology policy focus on privacy regulation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Social Media

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 960: Relating to: requiring social media platforms to provide mental health warnings and providing a penalty.

AB 960 requires most social media platforms operating in the state to display a clear, prominent mental health warning each time a user in the state accesses the platform. The warning must inform users about potential negative mental health effects and provide access to crisis resources like the 988 suicide hotline. It applies to platforms defined as user-generated content services (excluding search engines, email, business communication tools, and streaming services), and prohibits hiding warnings in terms of service or allowing users to disable them without specific conditions. Violations may result in fines up to $5,000 per incident, enforced by state departments.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mental health warnings and crisis resource links (e.g., 988), directly promoting access to mental health support services per bill's mandate.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires social media platforms to warn users about mental health risks and provide crisis resources, regulating tech companies for consumer protection as per topic indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Social Media

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 855: Relating to: synthetic digital representations and providing a penalty.

AB 855 prohibits creating and sharing synthetic digital representations (like AI-generated images, videos, or audio) that use someone's recognizable personal characteristic (face, voice, etc.) without their consent, appear authentic to a reasonable person, and are intended to coerce, harass, intimidate, or defraud for monetary gain. It classifies unauthorized use for coercion/harassment as a Class A misdemeanor and for financial gain as a Class I felony. Key exceptions include tech providers (protected under Section 230), newsworthy content, and clear disclaimers like "This content generated by AI" in the media itself. The law directly affects individuals whose likenesses are misused without consent and aims to prevent non-consensual deepfakes used for harm.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits non-consensual AI-generated deepfakes to protect personal privacy, aligning with data privacy regulations and consumer protection measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 815: Relating to: synthetic digital representations and providing a penalty.

SB 815 prohibits creating and sharing AI-generated content that mimics a real person's face, voice, or other identifying features without their consent, if intended to harass, intimidate, or defraud for financial gain. It establishes a Class A misdemeanor for misuse to coerce or harass, and a Class I felony for profit-driven misuse. The law includes key exceptions: tech companies, news content, and creators who clearly label AI-generated material (e.g., "This content generated by AI" in videos, images, or audio). It directly affects individuals whose likenesses are exploited without consent and sets clear penalties for malicious use of synthetic media.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits non-consensual AI deepfakes for harassment/profit, requiring clear labeling. Protects individuals from digital harm, aligning with consumer privacy regulations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 946: Relating to: implementing a behavioral health prevention pilot program and making an appropriation.

AB 946 creates a two-year pilot program to provide behavioral health support to high school students in Wisconsin. It allocates $1.5 million annually for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years to give at least 50,000 high school students access to a digital tool offering online mental health resources, peer support, and private sessions with licensed professionals. The tool must be accessible via mobile/web, support English/Spanish, include professional profiles for user choice, and follow a population health model. The program is administered by the Department of Public Instruction and requires contracting with educational service agencies, with the related funding provision set to expire on July 1, 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.5M annually for behavioral health pilot, directly increasing state funding for public health services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $1.5M annually for digital mental health resources to 50k+ high school students, enhancing student support services within educational access.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $1.5M annually for digital mental health resources to 50k+ students, expanding access to behavioral health services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates digital tool requiring privacy standards (inferred), accessibility, and secure data handling for mental health services, aligning with technology policy goals.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations K-12 Education Mental Health

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