Governor Signs Four Police Reform Bills; Legislature Considering Several More
Date Thu, Jul. 1, 2021 - 8:43pm By Hamilton
On June 22, Governor Tony Evers (D) signed into law four bills related to law enforcement use of force and community relations: Senate Bill (SB) 121: Prohibits law enforcement agencies from authorizing the use of choke holds by officers except in life-threatening situations or in self-defense. Enacted as 2021 Act 48 SB 122: Requires law […]
Wisconsin Extends Worker’s Compensation Benefits to Public Safety Officers Diagnosed with PTSD
Date Fri, May. 21, 2021 - 9:37am By Hamilton
On April 27, Governor Tony Evers (D) signed 2021 Wisconsin Act 29 making various changes to Wisconsin worker’s compensation law, including creating a new type of claim for public safety officers diagnosed with job-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The bill originated in the Wisconsin Legislature as Senate Bill 11 and has also been referred to […]
Drug Costs, Child and Long-Term Care, and Marijuana Legalization Will be Focuses of Gov. Evers’ Budget Proposal Next Week
Date Fri, Feb. 12, 2021 - 9:30am By Hamilton
Governor Tony Evers will unveil his proposed 2021-23 state budget following his budget address on Tuesday, February 16. In various statements and press releases since the beginning of the year, the governor has previewed some of the policies and funding priorities that he will propose. Prescription Drug Prices On February 3, Gov. Evers announced that […]
Senators Release “Public Safety PACT” Bills on Law Enforcement, Use of Force
Date Fri, Jan. 29, 2021 - 9:00am By Hamilton
On Wednesday, January 20, Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) released draft versions of a package of bills, collectively called the “Public Safety PACT,” regulating law enforcement and use of force incidents in Wisconsin. The bills were circulated for co-sponsorship with a February 5 deadline. All the bills except for one, currently titled LRB-0157, are co-sponsored by […]
Gov. Evers Calls Special Session on Policing Accountability and Transparency; Legislature Responds
Date Wed, Sep. 9, 2020 - 10:08am By Hamilton
In response of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, on August 24, Gov. Evers called a special session of the legislature to address policing accountability and transparency to begin on August 31, 2020. The Senate and the Assembly gaveled in for the special session but met in “skeletal session,” meaning they did not actually […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Rejects ACLU Coronavirus Lawsuit
Date Mon, Apr. 27, 2020 - 11:32am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has denied the petition of American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin (ACLU) seeking removal of inmates from Wisconsin correctional facilities to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit had argued that Wisconsin prisoners and jail inmates should be released because subjecting prisoners to a likely outbreak of COVID-19 violates the rights to […]
Signed by Governor: Benefits for Families of Fallen Officers
Date Fri, Oct. 25, 2019 - 9:55am By Hamilton
On Oct. 16, Gov. Tony Evers signed into law a bill that will provide health insurance benefits to families of fallen officers. The bill (SB 266/AB 300) was enacted as 2019 Act 19. Act 19 would require any government entity and Marquette University to provide health insurance benefits to the widowed spouse and/or children after a […]
Benefits for Families of Fallen Officers Scheduled for Senate, Assembly Votes
Date Mon, Oct. 7, 2019 - 3:32pm By Hamilton
The Senate plans to vote on Tuesday, Oct. 8, on legislation (SB 266/AB 300) which would require any government entity and Marquette University to provide health insurance benefits to the widowed spouse and/or children after a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty. The Assembly has also scheduled a vote on the […]
Bills of Note: Protective Status for County Jailers
Date Fri, Mar. 22, 2019 - 8:15am By Hamilton
This week, the Assembly Committee on Corrections and the Senate Committee on Judiciary & Public Safety held public hearings on AB 5/SB 5, which would provide protective status to county jailers statewide. The bill, which has received bipartisan support, authored by Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) and Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), would provide jailers […]
Bills of Note: Marsy’s Law
Date Thu, Jan. 10, 2019 - 3:22pm By Hamilton
On Jan. 9, the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety and the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety held a joint hearing on a bill that would elevate victims’ rights under Wisconsin law. Assembly Joint Resolution 1 and Senate Joint Resolution 2, authored by Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) and Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), […]