WisconsinSB1212025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session)Senate

An Act to repeal 939.22 (21) (em), 940.198 (1) (intro.), 940.20 (title), 940.20 (2m) (a) (intro.), 940.20 (2m) (b) 3., 940.20 (3), 940.20 (4m) (a) (intro.), 940.20 (5) (a) (intro.), 940.201 (title), 940.201 (1) (intro.), 940.201 (1) (a), 940.201 (2), 940.203 (title), 940.203 (1) (intro.), 940.203 (1) (am), 940.203 (2) and (3), 940.204 (1) (intro.), 940.204 (1) (a), 940.204 (2) (c), 940.204 (3) (c), 940.205 (title) and (1), 940.205 (2) (c), 940.207 (title) and (1), 940.207 (2) (a), (b) and (c), 940.208 (3) and 941.38 (1) (b) 5m.; to renumber 940.19 (title), (1) and (2), 940.19 (4), (5) and (6), 940.195 (title), (1) and (2), 940.195 (4), (5) and (6), 940.198 (1) (a), 940.198 (2), (3) and (4), 940.20 (1m) (title), 940.20 (2m) (a) 1., 940.20 (2m) (a) 1m., 940.20 (2m) (a) 1o., 940.20 (4m) (title), 940.20 (4m) (a) 1., 940.20 (4m) (a) 2., 940.20 (4m) (a) 3., 940.20 (4m) (a) 4., 940.20 (5) (title), 940.20 (5) (a) 1., 940.20 (5) (a) 2., 940.20 (6) (title), 940.201 (1) (b), 940.203 (1) (ab), 940.203 (1) (ac), 940.203 (1) (b), 940.203 (1) (c), 940.203 (1) (d), 940.204 (1) (b) and 940.204 (1) (c); to renumber and amend 940.198 (title), 940.198 (1) (b), 940.20 (1), 940.20 (1g), 940.20 (2), 940.20 (2m) (title), 940.20 (2m) (a) 1p., 940.20 (2m) (a) 2., 940.20 (2m) (b) (intro.), 1. and 2., 940.20 (4), 940.20 (4m) (b), 940.20 (5) (b), 940.20 (6) (a), 940.20 (6) (b), 940.204 (title), 940.204 (4), 940.205 (2) (a) and (b) and 940.208 (intro.), (1), (2) and (2p); to consolidate, renumber and amend 940.20 (1m) (a) and (b), 940.204 (3) (intro.) and (2) (intro.), 940.204 (3) (a) and (2) (a), 940.204 (3) (b) and (2) (b) and 940.205 (2) (intro.) and 940.207 (2) (intro.); to amend 343.12 (7) (c) 9j., 939.22 (21) (e) and 941.38 (1) (b) 5.; to create 165.25 (22) (title), subchapter III (title) of chapter 940 [precedes 940.51], 940.51, 940.60 (intro.), 940.60 (1) (title), 940.60 (2) (title), 940.60 (3) (title), 940.61, 940.62, 940.65 (1) (title), 940.65 (2) (title), 940.65 (3) (title) and 947.016 of the statutes; Relating to: recodification of battery statutes and providing a penalty.

Sponsored By: Joint Legislative Council

Became Law

Sen Bill 121Crime and criminals -- BatteryLegislature -- Criminal PenaltiesJoint Review Committee onRecodification

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Battery laws reorganized with clear definitions

The law creates a new section that groups all battery crimes. It sets three levels: battery, substantial battery, and aggravated battery. It adds shared definitions, like who counts as a family member, what a public transit vehicle is, and who is a probation or parole agent. It repeals and renumbers old sections so the rules are in one place. This improves clarity and does not change basic penalties.

Clearer battery protections for seniors

The law renames elder abuse as battery to an elder person. It defines “recklessly” as taking an unreasonable risk with conscious disregard for an elder’s safety. It keeps criminal penalties for harming elder people.

Felony battery by people in custody

A person in prison, jail, or another detention or commitment facility who intentionally hurts another person commits a Class H felony. It covers harm to officers, employees, visitors, other inmates, agents, or residents, without consent. It also covers defined soft tissue injuries.

Felony threats against judges and agents

Threatening to cause bodily harm to certain protected people is a Class H felony. It covers judges, prosecutors, police, lawyers, witnesses, and some family members. It applies when the threat is because of the person’s official work or a legal case. The actor must know the person’s status when the law requires it.

Gang-crime references updated to new statutes

The law updates gang-activity rules to point to the new battery and threat crimes. It removes an outdated subsection and keeps the list of qualifying crimes aligned. Prosecutors can still use battery and threat offenses to show a pattern of gang activity.

Model warning signs for health facilities

The Department of Justice must post sample warning language online. Health care facilities can use it at entrances to warn about penalties for violence or threats. This makes a template only and does not change the penalties.

Stronger rules for attacks on protected workers

The law combines many special battery crimes into one statute. It protects groups like election officials, health care workers, court staff, school staff, firefighters, transit operators, and some state employees and families. It sets Class I or Class H felonies based on the situation. It uses shared elements like intent to cause harm and lack of consent.

School bus license rule kept

The law updates the offense name used by the DMV for school bus endorsements. A driver convicted of the renamed elder battery crime can still be denied renewal. This keeps the same licensing bar in place after renumbering.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joint Legislative Council

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Published 8-9-2025

    8/11/2025Senate
  2. Report approved by the Governor on 8-8-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 24

    8/11/2025Senate
  3. Presented to the Governor on 8-7-2025

    8/7/2025Senate
  4. Report correctly enrolled

    6/30/2025Senate
  5. LRB correction

    6/30/2025Senate
  6. Received from Assembly concurred in

    6/24/2025Senate
  7. Ordered immediately messaged

    6/24/2025House
  8. Read a third time and concurred in

    6/24/2025House
  9. Rules suspended

    6/24/2025House
  10. Ordered to a third reading

    6/24/2025House
  11. Read a second time

    6/24/2025House
  12. Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up

    6/24/2025House
  13. Withdrawn from Committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 6-24-2025

    6/20/2025House
  14. Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

    5/27/2025House
  15. Received from Senate

    4/22/2025House
  16. Ordered immediately messaged

    4/22/2025Senate
  17. Read a third time and passed

    4/22/2025Senate
  18. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

    4/22/2025Senate
  19. Ordered to a third reading

    4/22/2025Senate
  20. Read a second time

    4/22/2025Senate
  21. Placed on calendar 4-22-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

    4/18/2025Senate
  22. Available for scheduling

    4/15/2025Senate
  23. Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0

    4/15/2025Senate
  24. Executive action taken

    4/15/2025Senate
  25. Public hearing held

    4/1/2025Senate

Bill Text

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