WisconsinSB 25 proposed limits on complaints against officers involved in deaths
SB 25 proposed limits on complaints against officers involved in deaths when a district attorney finds no basis to prosecute, with an exception for new or unused evidence.
What it does
If a district attorney finds no basis to prosecute an officer involved in a death, courts could not allow or issue a complaint unless new or unused evidence is presented.
Argument forThe rule could help prevent complaints against an officer from moving forward without new evidence after a district attorney finds no basis to prosecute.
Argument againstPeople seeking a complaint could lose a way to have it considered if they cannot present new or unused evidence, even when they disagree with the district attorney.
More detail
A circuit court could not allow a complaint to be filed, and a judge could not issue one, unless new or unused evidence is presented. It covers law enforcement officers involved in an officer-involved death, as defined in state law. The restriction applies only if a district attorney determines there is no basis to prosecute the officer. It does not apply if new or unused evidence is presented. The text says it would first apply to district attorney determinations made on the effective date of the applicability subsection.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- 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
- Nov 3Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 10-31-2025Major
- Oct 30Presented to the Governor on 10-30-2025To Governor
- Oct 15Report correctly enrolledMinor
- Oct 15Received from Assembly concurred inMinor
- Oct 14Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 14Read a third time and concurred inPassed House
- Oct 14Rules suspended
- Oct 14Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Oct 14Read a second timeMinor
- Oct 14Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take upMajor
- Oct 9Placed on calendar 10-14-2025 by Committee on Rules
- May 27Read first time and referred to committee on RulesMinor
- May 20Representative O'Connor added as a cosponsor
- Apr 24Representative Maxey added as a cosponsor
- Mar 19Received from SenateMinor
- Mar 18Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 18Read a third time and passed, Ayes 19, Noes 13Passed Senate
- Mar 18Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Mar 18Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Mar 18Read a second timeMinor
- Mar 14Placed on calendar 3-18-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 18Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report passage without recommendation, pursuant to Senate Rule 27 (4)(a), by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 4, Noes 4. Result: fail.Upper
- Feb 18Report passage without recommendation, pursuant to Senate Rule 27 (4)(a), by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 4, Noes 4
- Feb 18Executive action taken
- Feb 10Senator James added as a coauthor
- Feb 6Public hearing held
- Feb 5Representative Swearingen added as a cosponsor
- Feb 5Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public SafetyMinor
- Feb 5Introduced by Senators Hutton, Bradley, Wanggaard, Feyen, Nass, Tomczyk and Testin; cosponsored by Representatives Moses, Duchow, Dittrich, Piwowarczyk, Armstrong, Brooks, Donovan, B. Jacobson, Penterman, Murphy, Tucker, Wichgers and BehnkeIntroduced
Criminal Justice