WisconsinAB4452025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session)HouseWALLET

An Act to repeal 59.43 (1c) (j), 59.43 (1c) (L) to (s), 59.43 (1c) (v), 59.43 (2) (a), 59.43 (2) (ag) 2., 59.43 (2) (ar), 59.43 (2) (d) and (e), 59.43 (2) (k), 59.43 (2m) (a) 2., 59.43 (2m) (a) 4. a. to c., 59.43 (2m) (b) (intro.), 59.43 (2m) (d), 59.43 (4) (b), 59.43 (5) (title), 59.43 (5) (b) 4., 59.43 (9) (b) and (c), 59.43 (11), 59.43 (12) (d), 84.095 (1) (f) and 236.25 (5); to renumber 59.43 (2m) (b) 1., 59.43 (2m) (b) 2., 59.43 (2m) (b) 5., 59.43 (2m) (b) 6., 59.43 (2m) (b) 7., 59.43 (5) (b) 1. and 84.095 (1) (a); to renumber and amend 59.43 (2) (ag) 1., 59.43 (2) (c), 59.43 (2) (j), 59.43 (2m) (a) 4. (intro.), 59.43 (2m) (b) 3., 59.43 (2m) (b) 4., 59.43 (2m) (e), 59.43 (4) (a), 59.43 (4) (c), 59.43 (4) (d), 59.43 (5) (b) 3., 59.43 (6), 59.43 (9) (a) and 59.43 (9) (d); to consolidate, renumber and amend 59.43 (5) (a) and (b) (intro.); to amend 54.19 (8), 59.43 (1c) (intro.), 59.43 (1c) (a), 59.43 (1c) (c), 59.43 (1c) (d), 59.43 (1c) (e), 59.43 (1c) (f), 59.43 (1c) (h), 59.43 (1c) (i), 59.43 (1c) (k), 59.43 (1c) (t), 59.43 (1c) (u), 59.43 (1g), 59.43 (1m) (title), 59.43 (1m) (a), 59.43 (1m) (b), 59.43 (1m) (c), 59.43 (1m) (cm), 59.43 (2) (b), 59.43 (2) (h), 59.43 (2m) (title), 59.43 (2m) (a) (intro.), 59.43 (2m) (a) 1., 59.43 (2m) (a) 3., 59.43 (2m) (c), 59.43 (8), 59.43 (12) (title), 59.43 (12m) (a) (intro.), 59.43 (12m) (a) 1., 59.43 (12m) (a) 2., 59.43 (12m) (a) 3., 59.72 (5) (a), 59.72 (5) (b) (intro.), 59.72 (6), 66.1025 (2) (b), 69.07 (3), 77.02 (3) (b), 77.91 (5), 84.095 (1) (c), 84.095 (2) (title), 84.095 (2) (a), 84.095 (2) (b) 1., 84.095 (2) (b) 2., 84.095 (3) (a), 84.095 (3) (b), 84.095 (4) (a) (intro.), 84.095 (5), 84.095 (6) (a), 84.095 (7) (a), 84.095 (8) (a), 84.095 (8) (b), 84.095 (9), 132.04 (3), 185.82 (1) (c), 187.09, 226.14 (1) (b), 236.25 (2) (a), 236.25 (4), 236.34 (2) (a), 236.45 (2) (am) (intro.), 703.065 (2), 703.163 (11), 706.05 (1), 706.05 (2) (intro.), 706.05 (2) (c), 706.05 (2m) (a), 706.05 (5), 706.05 (6), 706.05 (7), 706.057 (4), 706.08 (2), 706.08 (4) (b), 706.08 (5), 706.08 (7), 710.25 (3), 710.25 (4), 710.25 (5) (a) (intro.), 710.25 (5) (a) 3., 710.25 (5) (a) 4., 710.25 (5) (b), 766.56 (2) (a), 766.58 (11), 766.59 (2) (c), 766.59 (4), 779.97 (1) (b), 779.97 (2) (title), 779.97 (2) (a), 779.97 (2) (b), 779.97 (2) (c) (intro.), 779.97 (2) (c) 4., 779.97 (3), 779.97 (4) (title), 779.97 (4) (a) (intro.), 779.97 (4) (a) 2., 779.97 (4) (c) 1., 779.97 (4) (c) 2., 779.97 (4) (e), 779.97 (8), 786.36 (2), 840.10 (1) (a), 841.10 (1), 842.14 (5), 867.045 (1) (j), 867.046 (2) (i), 893.305 (3) (a) and 946.82 (4); to repeal and recreate 59.43 (1b), 59.43 (1c) (g), 59.43 (2) (title), 59.43 (2m) (a) 5., 59.43 (3) (title) and 59.43 (9) (title); to create 59.43 (1c) (jm), 59.43 (2g) (title), 59.43 (2m) (a) 4m., 59.43 (2m) (a) 10., 59.43 (2m) (a) 11., 59.43 (2m) (a) 12., 59.43 (2m) (bm), 59.43 (2s), 59.43 (10) (title), 59.43 (13), 59.43 (14), 84.095 (1) (ae), 939.32 (1) (em), 946.77 and 971.368 of the statutes; Relating to: registers of deeds, transportation project plats, and providing a penalty. (FE)

Sponsored By: Elijah Behnke (Republican), Joan Fitzgerald (Democratic), Dean Kaufert (Republican), Karen Kirsch (Democratic), Daniel Knodl (Republican), Scott Krug (Republican), Vincent Miresse (Democratic), David Murphy (Republican), Jeffrey Mursau (Republican), Todd Novak (Republican), Jerry O'Connor (Republican), Jim Piwowarczyk (Republican), Lee Snodgrass (Democratic), Lisa Subeck (Democratic), Paul Tittl (Republican), Nancy VanderMeer (Republican), Chuck Wichgers (Republican)

Became Law

Crime and criminals -- FelonyLegislature -- Criminal PenaltiesJoint Review Committee onPlatsReal propertyRegister of deedsTransportationDepartment of -- Administration

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

County handles vital and veteran records

The register of deeds accepts marriages that happen in the county, and births and deaths that occur in the county, and sends them into the state system. It also accepts domestic partnership terminations presented for filing. Veterans can record their discharge certificates with the register. These steps make local, official access to these records clearer.

Stronger county land recording rules

The register of deeds must record documents that the law does not bar, and recording also counts as filing. Each document gets a minute-level timestamp, is recorded in the order received, and gets a unique consecutive number. The office must keep documents, images, and indexes safely and permanently. On demand and for a fee, the office must return documents by mail if you provide postage and give certified or noncertified copies. It must keep a name-searchable index of company and group papers, and on deeds show the transfer fee paid or the legal reason for an exemption. The law also removes some old subsections to streamline duties.

Guardians must record ward property info

If you are a guardian and know the person you care for owns real estate in a county, you must file and record a sworn, notarized statement there. The statement must list the property’s legal description, the date the person was found incompetent, and contact details for the guardian and any surety. This creates a public record that links the guardianship to the property.

Protects Social Security numbers in records

The register of deeds cannot record a document that contains a Social Security number. The register may remove or hide SSN characters before recording, and if an SSN is found after recording, the register may obscure it and is not liable for the drafter’s mistake. Federal income tax liens are exempt and can still be recorded even if they include an SSN. This reduces identity theft risk in public land records, but IRS lien records may still show SSN-related details.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Elijah Behnke

    Republican • House

  • Joan Fitzgerald

    Democratic • House

  • Dean Kaufert

    Republican • House

  • Karen Kirsch

    Democratic • House

  • Daniel Knodl

    Republican • House

  • Scott Krug

    Republican • House

  • Vincent Miresse

    Democratic • House

  • David Murphy

    Republican • House

  • Jeffrey Mursau

    Republican • House

  • Todd Novak

    Republican • House

  • Jerry O'Connor

    Republican • House

  • Jim Piwowarczyk

    Republican • House

  • Lee Snodgrass

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Subeck

    Democratic • House

  • Paul Tittl

    Republican • House

  • Nancy VanderMeer

    Republican • House

  • Chuck Wichgers

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Jesse James

    Republican • Senate

  • Steve Nass

    Republican • Senate

  • Sylvia Ortiz-Velez

    Democratic • House

  • Lori Palmeri

    Democratic • House

  • Jeff Smith

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Published 4-9-2026

    4/9/2026House
  2. Report approved by the Governor on 4-8-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 234

    4/9/2026House
  3. Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026

    4/2/2026House
  4. Report correctly enrolled on 3-27-2026

    3/27/2026House
  5. LRB correction (Assembly Substitute Amendment 1)

    3/27/2026House
  6. Received from Senate concurred in

    3/18/2026House
  7. Ordered immediately messaged

    3/17/2026Senate
  8. Senator Smith added as a cosponsor

    3/17/2026Senate
  9. Read a third time and concurred in

    3/17/2026Senate
  10. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

    3/17/2026Senate
  11. Ordered to a third reading

    3/17/2026Senate
  12. Read a second time

    3/17/2026Senate
  13. Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

    3/16/2026Senate
  14. Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

    3/16/2026Senate
  15. Available for scheduling

    3/2/2026Senate
  16. Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0

    3/2/2026Senate
  17. Executive action taken

    3/2/2026Senate
  18. Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation and Local Government

    2/20/2026Senate
  19. Received from Assembly

    2/19/2026Senate
  20. Ordered immediately messaged

    2/18/2026House
  21. Read a third time and passed

    2/18/2026House
  22. Rules suspended

    2/18/2026House
  23. Ordered to a third reading

    2/18/2026House
  24. Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

    2/18/2026House
  25. Read a second time

    2/18/2026House

Bill Text

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