WisconsinWisconsin courts may admit some recorded statements from children under 18
Wisconsin Act 246 allows courts to consider recorded statements made by some children under 18 when deciding whether to admit them as evidence.
What it does
A court may admit a recording of an available child’s statement if it was made before the child turned 12, or before 18 when the interests of justice support admission.
Argument forConsidering a recording from a 16- or 17-year-old could help a court weigh the child’s account when the interests of justice support admission.
Argument againstUsing recordings made before a child turns 18 could make it harder for parties to question the child’s account in person.
More detail
A court or hearing examiner may admit an available child’s recorded oral statement as evidence under the age rules. These rules apply in criminal trials or hearings, juvenile fact-finding hearings about a child needing protection or services, and hearings to revoke probation or parole. For a child who is at least 12 and under 18, the court or hearing examiner may consider factors such as age, development, health, and ability to understand the events when deciding whether the interests of justice support admission. The act first applies to actions commenced on the effective date of the applicability subsection; the text does not give that date.
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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
- Apr 9Published 4-10-2026Latest
- Apr 9Report approved by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-9-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 246Became Law
- Apr 2Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026To Governor
- Feb 26Representative Subeck added as a cosponsor
- Feb 25Report correctly enrolledMinor
- Feb 23Received from Assembly concurred inMinor
- Feb 19Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 19Read a third time and concurred inPassed House
- Feb 19Rules suspended
- Feb 19Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 19Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 18Made a special order of business at 11:45 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14
- Feb 18Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Feb 18Received from SenateMinor
- Feb 18Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 18Read a third time and passedPassed Senate
- Feb 18Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 18Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 18Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 18Senators Ratcliff and Smith added as coauthors
- Feb 18Representative Kitchens added as a cosponsor
- Feb 17Placed on calendar 2-18-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 16Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 16Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0Minor
- Feb 16Executive action taken
- Feb 10Public hearing held
- Feb 4Public hearing held
- Jan 30Representative Goodwin added as a cosponsor
- Jan 29Representative Ortiz-Velez added as a cosponsor
- Jan 26Representative Steffen added as a cosponsor
- Jan 23Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public SafetyMinor
- Jan 23Introduced by Senators Jacque and Wall; cosponsored by Representatives Franklin, Behnke, Dittrich, Goeben, Knodl, Murphy, O'Connor, Rivera-Wagner and SpaudeIntroduced
Criminal Justice