WisconsinCounty officials would seek to end parental rights after safe haven relinquishment
If the bill had taken effect, county officials would have had to seek to end parental rights after a court found a safe haven custody relinquishment, on a set schedule.
What it does
After a court finds that a parent relinquished custody under Wisconsin’s safe haven law, a designated county official would have to seek to end parental rights or join a petition already filed.
A case about a child relinquished under Wisconsin’s safe haven law would be heard in the county where the relinquishment occurred.
Argument forA clear schedule could help officials move a child’s case forward after a court finds that the parent relinquished custody.
Argument againstA parent could face a fast-moving case to end parental rights, since officials must file or join a petition within set time limits.
More detail
The designated county official must file a petition to end parental rights or join a petition already filed. The duty falls on the district attorney, corporation counsel, or another appropriate county official designated under section 48.09. It concerns the parent or parents of the child. This duty applies after a court finds that a parent relinquished custody as described in section 48.13 (2m). The official must file or join the petition no earlier than 30 days after the child is relinquished and no later than 60 days after the court makes its finding.
Proceedings under section 48.13 (2m) must be held in the county where the child’s custody was relinquished. This applies to proceedings concerning a child whose custody was relinquished under section 48.195.
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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)
- Apr 3Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-3-2026Major
- Apr 2Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026To Governor
- Mar 20Report correctly enrolled on 3-20-2026Minor
- Mar 18Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Mar 17Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 17Read a third time and concurred inPassed Senate
- Mar 17Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Mar 17Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Mar 17Read a second timeMinor
- Mar 16Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 11Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Ayes 3, Noes 2Minor
- Mar 11Executive action taken
- Mar 3Public hearing held
- Feb 25Read first time and referred to committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and FamiliesMinor
- Feb 23Received from AssemblyMinor
- Feb 19Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 19Read a third time and passedPassed Assembly
- Feb 19Rules suspended
- Feb 19Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 19Assembly Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Feb 19Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 18Made a special order of business at 11:44 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14
- Feb 11Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Vote recorded Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 6, Noes 3. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 9, Noes 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 6, Noes 3Minor
- Feb 11Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 9, Noes 0Minor
- Feb 11Executive action taken
- Feb 10Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Feb 10Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative MosesMinor
- Feb 5Public hearing held
- Jan 23Read first time and referred to Committee on Children and FamiliesMinor
- Jan 23Introduced by Representatives Moses, Dittrich, Doyle, Gundrum, Hurd, Knodl, Maxey, Nedweski, O'Connor and Piwowarczyk; cosponsored by Senators James and JacqueIntroduced