WisconsinBill would route listed business disputes to commercial court dockets
Wisconsin courts would use treatment court dockets and send listed business disputes to commercial dockets in districts that establish them.
What it does
Treatment courts would work within the state court system on issues linked to criminal behavior. They would use treatment and a team approach to help participants address addiction or mental health issues.
In districts with a commercial court docket, listed business disputes would go to that docket. Covered cases include disputes over company governance, competition, intellectual property, and business sales.
The chief justice would select judges for commercial court dockets, with each judge’s agreement. The text sets minimum numbers of judges in five districts and any district that later adds a docket.
Argument forBusinesses in covered disputes may get decisions sooner because the docket would use judges with commercial expertise and practices suited to those cases.
Argument againstPeople in covered business disputes could have less choice over which court hears their case because assignment would be required when a commercial docket exists.
More detail
The bill would recognize specialized treatment court dockets in state law. The listed courts include adult and juvenile drug courts, impaired-driving courts, mental health and family dependency courts, veterans courts, hybrid courts, and tribal healing to wellness courts.
Covered business cases would be assigned to a commercial court docket where one has been established. Covered cases include disputes about business organizations, unfair or prohibited business activity, business sales and mergers, securities, intellectual property, and franchising. The procedures would apply in districts that have a commercial docket on the specified effective date and in districts that establish one later, starting when the docket is established. For an existing commercial docket, the procedures would apply beginning on the stated effective date. For a later docket, they would apply when it is established.
The chief justice would select judges for commercial court dockets after considering the district chief judge’s recommendation and with each judge’s agreement. These rules cover circuit court judges serving on commercial court dockets. At least four judges would participate in each of the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th, and 10th judicial administrative districts, and in any district that later adds a commercial docket. The chief justice could add districts on the state courts director’s recommendation. A selected judge could also serve on other assigned dockets.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- 2025
- Aug 11Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 8-8-2025Major
- Aug 7Presented to the Governor on 8-7-2025To Governor
- May 16Report correctly enrolled on 5-16-2025Minor
- May 15Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Vote recorded CONCURRENCE. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded SHALL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND. Result: pass.Upper
- May 15Ordered immediately messaged
- May 15Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15Passed Senate
- May 15Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- May 15Ordered to a third readingMinor
- May 15Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate, Ayes 18, Noes 15
- May 15Point of order that Senate Amendment 1 was not germane well taken
- May 15Read a second timeMinor
- May 15Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Roys, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Spreitzer, Habush Sinykin, Dassler-Alfheim, Smith, Drake, Larson, Carpenter, Wirch and HesselbeinMinor
- May 13Placed on calendar 5-15-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Vote recorded Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- May 13Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- May 8Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3. Result: pass.Upper
- May 8Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3Minor
- May 8Executive action taken
- Apr 24Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary and Public SafetyMinor
- Apr 23Received from AssemblyMinor
- Apr 22Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 42, Paired 2Passed Assembly
- Apr 22Rules suspended
- Apr 22Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Apr 22Read a second timeMinor
- Apr 17Placed on calendar 4-22-2025 by Committee on Rules
- Apr 15Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention, Ayes 7, Noes 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15Report passage recommended by Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention, Ayes 7, Noes 2Minor
- Apr 3Executive action taken
- Apr 1Representative Dittrich added as a coauthor
- Apr 1Public hearing held
- Feb 24Read first time and referred to Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse PreventionMinor
- Feb 24Introduced by Representatives Tusler, B. Jacobson, Brooks, Knodl, Murphy and O'Connor; cosponsored by Senators Jacque and WimbergerIntroduced
Criminal Justice