An Act to repeal 59.34 (1) (b), 59.34 (1) (c), 59.34 (2) (b) 2. and 83.016; to renumber 59.34 (2) (b) 1.; to amend 20.505 (1) (ic), 48.06 (2) (a), 59.27 (9), 59.34 (1) (a), 59.38 (5), 59.40 (2) (o), 59.52 (8) (b) 7., 59.54 (5), 63.03 (3) (b), 63.08 (1) (a), 102.29 (11), 118.162 (1) (c), 118.162 (1) (d), 165.92 (4), 341.65 (2) (g), 342.40 (3) (c), 346.505 (1), 346.70 (1), 895.46 (1) (dm), 938.06 (2) (am) 1., 938.06 (2) (am) 2., 938.06 (2) (b) 1. and 969.07; to repeal and recreate 59.26; to create 59.23 (2) (sm) and 59.265 of the statutes; Relating to: the administration of the office of county sheriff and the appointment of county medical examiners. (FE)
Sponsored By: Elijah Behnke (Republican), Lindee Brill (Republican), Chanz Green (Republican), Daniel Knodl (Republican), Tony Kurtz (Republican), Paul Melotik (Republican), Todd Novak (Republican), William Penterman (Republican), Jim Piwowarczyk (Republican), Ron Tusler (Republican), Chuck Wichgers (Republican)
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 9 mixed.
New hiring and staffing rules for deputies
Within 10 days of taking office, the sheriff must appoint deputies, including one for every city or village with 1,000+ people and some small‑village districts. In counties under 750,000, the county board can set the total number of deputies (not below the state minimum) and their pay. Counties may require a competitive exam and have the sheriff pick from the top three; the county pays exam costs. Current deputies can be kept without an exam when a civil service ordinance starts, and former officers from abolished departments get a 24‑month hiring preference under service contracts. Deputy sheriff job applicants are exempt from the usual state residency rule.
Discipline hearings and job protections for deputies
In counties without civil service, deputies can only be suspended, demoted, or fired for just cause, with a right to a hearing if they ask within two weeks. Written decisions, subpoenas, and possible reinstatement and back pay are available. If the final decision goes against the deputy, the county can require pay and benefits received during suspension or dismissal to be returned. Discipline must reasonably fit the seriousness of the violation and the employee’s record. Deputies who serve as undersheriff keep their job rights or get an equivalent position when they return, unless they are disciplined under the law.
Medical examiner runs inquests in large counties
In counties with 750,000 or more people and in counties that use a medical examiner system, the medical examiner handles inquests and related powers. In large counties, the county executive or administrator appoints the medical examiner, with board confirmation, or the county may contract for the service. Prior subsections tied to older coroner rules are repealed.
State account for county personnel services
The state credits money from certain county personnel services to a specific state account. When a county sells these services, the payments go back into that account. This expands which county services can be paid from that state account.
TTY access for emergency calls expands
Counties with 200,000 or more people must keep a teletypewriter (TTY) in the sheriff’s office for emergency calls. Cities with 30,000 or more people that are not in such a county must keep a TTY in the police or fire department. If several cities qualify, the county board can place one TTY in the sheriff’s office.
Clear rules for undersheriff leadership and succession
Each sheriff must appoint an undersheriff within 10 days and after any vacancy. The undersheriff must live in the county and be a certified law enforcement or jail officer. A sheriff can remove the undersheriff, but appointments and removals must be in writing and filed with the county clerk. The undersheriff serves as acting sheriff during a vacancy or incapacity. If there is no undersheriff when a vacancy happens, the presiding judge appoints a county resident, who must file a bond within 10 days.
Bail only at stations with numbered receipts
Officers may take bail only at a sheriff’s office or a police station. Officers must issue serial, triplicate receipts: one to you, one to the court clerk, and one kept by the agency. The officer must deposit your bail with the clerk within a reasonable time.
New rules for impounded and abandoned cars
The law sets default steps when local rules do not say how to handle impounded or abandoned cars. Public sale notices can be posted at the police or sheriff’s office in the same form as the certified-mail notice. Owners and lienholders get certified-mail notice, and the vehicle is held at least 10 days after that notice. If sold, the buyer has 10 days to remove the car; storage fees start after the second business day. If the buyer does not remove it within 10 days, the buyer loses ownership.
Some sheriff jobs shift to civil service
The law lets counties move nonelective sheriff’s office positions into the classified civil service. The undersheriff cannot be moved into classified service. This can change hiring rules and add job protections for some employees, but not for the undersheriff.
Clerk serves court papers when sheriff conflicts
If the sheriff is a party to a case, or a filed affidavit says the sheriff will not perform the duty, papers can be addressed to the county clerk. The county clerk then serves and executes the papers, and the clerk’s bond is liable the same way a sheriff’s bond is. When the sheriff is a party, a coroner clerk performs required service following the same rules that apply to sheriffs.
Deputizing tribal and military officers, with limits
Sheriffs can deputize people in writing for specific tasks and must file those papers with the county clerk. Sheriffs may deputize Department of Military Affairs security officers for outside security checks, with the adjutant general’s approval and written jurisdiction. These deputized DMA officers are treated like state employees for liability while on those assigned duties. Those officers cannot sue the county, sheriff, or undersheriff over routine external security checks. Sheriffs can also deputize tribal law enforcement officers and grant the powers allowed by law.
Traffic division option and crash reporting rules
A county board that adopts a civil service system may create a traffic division in the sheriff’s office and set staffing. After an accident with injuries or death, you must give immediate notice. You must also report if damage is $200 or more to government property, or $1,000 or more to private property or a government vehicle. An older highway statute is repealed.
Juvenile intake and overnight detention procedures
In counties under 750,000 people, juvenile intake must be done by court or county employees and cannot be subcontracted. A county that used a sheriff’s‑office subcontract on April 1, 1980 may keep it. Where the sheriff runs a juvenile detention center, staff may make secure‑custody calls from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., but an intake worker must review the call within 24 hours. Intake workers hired after May 15, 1980 must meet entry‑level qualifications and complete 30 hours of approved intake training in the first six months.
Who sits on local school safety teams
The sheriff chooses the sheriff’s office member for the school safety team. The chief of the local law‑enforcement agency that covers the county seat chooses that agency’s member. These rules clarify who names each law‑enforcement representative.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Elijah Behnke
Republican • House
Lindee Brill
Republican • House
Chanz Green
Republican • House
Daniel Knodl
Republican • House
Tony Kurtz
Republican • House
Paul Melotik
Republican • House
Todd Novak
Republican • House
William Penterman
Republican • House
Jim Piwowarczyk
Republican • House
Ron Tusler
Republican • House
Chuck Wichgers
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Brienne Brown
Democratic • House
Jodi Emerson
Democratic • House
Dan Feyen
Republican • Senate
Jeff Smith
Democratic • Senate
Patrick Testin
Republican • Senate
Van Wanggaard
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Published 4-4-2026
4/3/2026HouseReport approved by the Governor on 4-3-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 196
4/3/2026HousePresented to the Governor on 4-2-2026
4/2/2026HouseReport correctly enrolled on 3-23-2026
3/23/2026HouseLRB correction
3/23/2026HouseRepresentative Emerson added as a coauthor
3/19/2026HouseReceived from Senate concurred in
3/18/2026HouseOrdered immediately messaged
3/17/2026SenateSenator Smith added as a cosponsor
3/17/2026SenateRead a third time and concurred in
3/17/2026SenateRules suspended to give bill its third reading
3/17/2026SenateOrdered to a third reading
3/17/2026SenateRead a second time
3/17/2026SenatePlaced on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
3/16/2026SenatePublic hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
3/16/2026SenateRepresentative Brown added as a coauthor
3/6/2026SenateAvailable for scheduling
3/2/2026SenateReport concurrence recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0
3/2/2026SenateExecutive action taken
3/2/2026SenateRead first time and referred to committee on Transportation and Local Government
2/25/2026SenateReceived from Assembly
2/23/2026SenateOrdered immediately messaged
2/19/2026HouseRead a third time and passed
2/19/2026HouseRules suspended
2/19/2026HouseOrdered to a third reading
2/19/2026House
Bill Text
Assembly Amendment 1
2/19/2026
Bill Text
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