An Act to amend 48.685 (1) (c) 2., 48.686 (1) (c) 1., 51.20 (13) (ct) 1m. a., 51.20 (13) (ct) 1m. b., 115.31 (2g) (c) 1., 115.31 (2r) (c) 3., 301.45 (1p) (b), 901.08 (1) (b), 938.34 (15m) (am) 1., 938.34 (15m) (am) 2., 938.345 (3) (d), 940.03, 946.82 (4), 949.03 (2), 949.05 (intro.), 949.06 (1m) (b), 949.08 (2) (a), 968.26 (1b) (a) 2. a., 971.17 (1m) (b) 1m. a., 971.17 (1m) (b) 1m. b., 972.11 (2) (b) (intro.), 972.11 (2) (d) 1. (intro.), 973.048 (1m) (a), 973.048 (1m) (b) and 995.50 (2) (am) 4.; to create 62.50 (1e) (cm), 942.095 and 949.03 (1s) of the statutes; Relating to: extortion, sexual extortion, and providing a penalty.
Sponsored By: David Armstrong (Republican), Brent Jacobson (Republican), Elijah Behnke (Republican), Lindee Brill (Republican), Calvin Callahan (Republican), Barbara Dittrich (Republican), Joy Goeben (Republican), Rick Gundrum (Republican), Alex Joers (Democratic), Dean Kaufert (Republican), Daniel Knodl (Republican), Rob Kreibich (Republican), Scott Krug (Republican), Dave Maxey (Republican), Maureen McCarville (Democratic), Vincent Miresse (Democratic), Clint Moses (Republican), Todd Novak (Republican), Jerry O'Connor (Republican), Jim Piwowarczyk (Republican), Jessie Rodriguez (Republican), Christine Sinicki (Democratic), Patrick Snyder (Republican), John Spiros (Republican), David Steffen (Republican), Shelia Stubbs (Democratic), Lisa Subeck (Democratic), Chuck Wichgers (Republican)
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
New crime and tougher penalties for sexual extortion
The law creates a new crime: sexual extortion. It is a Class I felony to threaten harm or share intimate images to force sex, images, or money. Penalties rise to Class H or Class G for aggravating factors like serious injury, child victims with age gaps, prior violent sex offenses, or during a child abduction. Maximum penalties are up to $10,000 and 3 years 6 months (Class I), up to $10,000 and 6 years (Class H), or up to $25,000 and 10 years (Class G). If someone dies during the crime, courts can add up to 15 extra years for felony murder.
Child safety actions tied to sexual extortion
Child‑welfare laws now treat sexual extortion as grounds to remove or place a child for safety. Courts and agencies can rely on a sexual‑extortion violation when deciding protective placement or ending parental rights. This raises the risk of losing custody after such a conviction.
School jobs barred after sexual extortion
A sexual‑extortion conviction disqualifies people from school employment under background‑check rules. If the conviction involves an image or depiction of a child, it is treated like other child‑depiction crimes for school‑related consequences. These rules can block school jobs and affect household income.
More victim compensation, including suicide cases
Victims of sexual extortion now qualify for state victim‑compensation. The law also covers suicide or attempts when the crime was a substantial cause. Family and household members can receive awards for certain economic losses tied to a covered death. A prior disqualification rule does not block awards under the new suicide and related‑victim categories. Usual award rules still apply, and the department may order payments for these incidents.
Adult sex offender reporting and release rules
Courts can require people sentenced or on probation for sexual extortion (and related sexually motivated conduct) to report as sex offenders if that protects the public. Courts can also require reporting for people found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. For people under 21 at the time of the offense, courts may end reporting when the commitment ends or after they successfully finish sentence or probation. If reporting was ordered only for a sexual‑extortion case, it ends when you meet the court’s conditions or complete the sentence, probation, or commitment. When court‑set conditions are met, the court must notify the Department of Corrections.
Juvenile sex offender reporting and release
Juvenile courts can require a juvenile adjudicated for sexually motivated sexual extortion to report as a sex offender if it protects the public. Courts can later end reporting when the juvenile meets the dispositional order’s conditions. When a juvenile qualifies for release, the clerk must notify the Department of Corrections and the Department of Children and Families so records get updated.
Stronger privacy and civil protections for victims
In sexual‑extortion cases found to be sexually motivated, most evidence about a complainant’s past sexual behavior is not allowed. Evidence about the complainant’s clothing is allowed only when it is clearly relevant and more helpful than harmful. Victims can also seek civil remedies for sexual‑extortion conduct even if there is no criminal case. The law treats sexual extortion as sexual misconduct in procedure, aligning it with other protected offenses.
Wider tools to investigate sexual extortion
Sexual extortion now counts as racketeering activity. It is added to offense lists used for criminal investigations and local offense cross‑references. These updates help law enforcement and local governments investigate and charge related crimes more effectively.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
David Armstrong
Republican • House
Brent Jacobson
Republican • House
Elijah Behnke
Republican • House
Lindee Brill
Republican • House
Calvin Callahan
Republican • House
Barbara Dittrich
Republican • House
Joy Goeben
Republican • House
Rick Gundrum
Republican • House
Alex Joers
Democratic • House
Dean Kaufert
Republican • House
Daniel Knodl
Republican • House
Rob Kreibich
Republican • House
Scott Krug
Republican • House
Dave Maxey
Republican • House
Maureen McCarville
Democratic • House
Vincent Miresse
Democratic • House
Clint Moses
Republican • House
Todd Novak
Republican • House
Jerry O'Connor
Republican • House
Jim Piwowarczyk
Republican • House
Jessie Rodriguez
Republican • House
Christine Sinicki
Democratic • House
Patrick Snyder
Republican • House
John Spiros
Republican • House
David Steffen
Republican • House
Shelia Stubbs
Democratic • House
Lisa Subeck
Democratic • House
Chuck Wichgers
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Clinton Anderson
Democratic • House
Rachael Cabral-Guevara
Republican • Senate
Tim Carpenter
Democratic • Senate
Steve Doyle
Democratic • House
Jodi Emerson
Democratic • House
Rob Hutton
Republican • Senate
Jenna Jacobson
Democratic • House
Jesse James
Republican • Senate
Jeffrey Mursau
Republican • House
Priscilla Prado
Democratic • House
Romaine Quinn
Republican • Senate
Melissa Ratcliff
Democratic • Senate
Jeff Smith
Democratic • Senate
Angela Stroud
Democratic • House
Cory Tomczyk
Republican • Senate
Randy Udell
Democratic • House
Van Wanggaard
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Published 12-9-2025
12/8/2025HouseReport approved by the Governor on 12-8-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 48
12/8/2025HousePresented to the Governor on 12-4-2025
12/4/2025HouseRepresentative J. Jacobson added as a coauthor
11/4/2025HouseReport correctly enrolled on 10-20-2025
10/20/2025HouseLRB correction (Assembly Amendment 1)
10/20/2025HouseLRB correction
10/20/2025HouseReceived from Senate concurred in
10/14/2025HouseOrdered immediately messaged
10/14/2025SenateRead a third time and concurred in
10/14/2025SenateRules suspended to give bill its third reading
10/14/2025SenateOrdered to a third reading
10/14/2025SenateRead a second time
10/14/2025SenateSenator Carpenter added as a cosponsor
10/14/2025SenatePlaced on calendar 10-14-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
10/13/2025SenateAvailable for scheduling
9/4/2025SenateReport concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0
9/4/2025SenateExecutive action taken
9/4/2025SenateSenator Hutton added as a cosponsor
9/3/2025SenatePublic hearing held
9/3/2025SenateSenator Wanggaard added as a cosponsor
9/2/2025SenateRead first time and referred to committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
6/19/2025SenateReceived from Assembly
6/18/2025SenateOrdered immediately messaged
6/18/2025HouseRepresentative Anderson added as a coauthor
6/18/2025House
Bill Text
Assembly Amendment 1
6/18/2025
Bill Text
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