WisconsinCourts reduce surcharges when they lower covered fines
Courts reduce the surcharge along with covered fines or forfeitures, so people whose penalties are reduced owe a proportionally smaller surcharge.
What it does
When a court reduces a fine or forfeiture that carries a penalty surcharge, the surcharge is reduced by the same proportion.
Argument forPeople may owe less surcharge when a court reduces a covered fine or forfeiture, because the surcharge falls by the same proportion.
Argument againstA smaller surcharge may mean less surcharge revenue when a court reduces a covered fine or forfeiture.
More detail
The law reduces the surcharge in proportion to a covered fine or forfeiture reduction. It covers fines or forfeitures for state law and municipal or county ordinance violations, except the violations listed in the text. The rule applies only when the fine or forfeiture carries a penalty surcharge. The surcharge does not apply to the listed excluded violations, including certain traffic violations.
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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 4-9-2026Latest
- Apr 9Report approved by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-8-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 213Became Law
- Apr 2Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026To Governor
- Jan 22Report correctly enrolledMinor
- Jan 20Received from Assembly concurred inMinor
- Jan 20Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 20Read a third time and concurred inPassed House
- Jan 20Rules suspended
- Jan 20Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Jan 20Read a second timeMinor
- Jan 20Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take upMajor
- Jan 16Representatives Madison, Phelps and Clancy added as cosponsors
- Jan 14Placed on calendar 1-20-2026 by Committee on Rules
- Jan 14Read first time and referred to committee on RulesMinor
- 2025
- Nov 19Received from SenateMinor
- Nov 18Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 18Senator Ratcliff added as a coauthor
- Nov 18Read a third time and passedPassed Senate
- Nov 18Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Nov 18Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Nov 18Read a second timeMinor
- Nov 14Placed on calendar 11-18-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Oct 15Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- May 8Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0. Result: pass.Upper
- May 8Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0Minor
- May 8Executive action taken
- Apr 30Public hearing held
- Apr 14Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public SafetyMinor
- Apr 14Introduced by Senator Feyen; cosponsored by Representatives Brooks, Knodl, Behnke, Moses, Mursau, Novak, Sinicki, Wichgers and O'ConnorIntroduced
Criminal Justice