WisconsinCounties check homes before courts approve supervised release placements
Counties must confirm that proposed homes meet placement rules before courts approve supervised community release for people held for treatment as sexually violent.
What it does
Counties must check proposed homes and report whether they meet placement rules before courts approve supervised release. The Department of Health Services must notify counties when it submits plans.
An alley does not permit placing a serious child sex offender beside a child's main home when living quarters are no more than 1,500 feet apart. A child moving there after placement does not put the released person in violation.
Argument forChecking homes before approval could catch changed conditions and help courts avoid placing people in homes that fail safety rules.
Argument againstWaiting for a county home assessment could delay supervised release for people whose plans are awaiting court approval.
More detail
The Department of Health Services must notify the county when it submits a supervised release plan. The county must assess the proposed home and report to the court. These requirements cover community release plans for people held for treatment by the Department of Health Services after a court finds them sexually violent. The assessment must check whether the home meets the placement rules. If the home fails those rules, the court must find supervised release inappropriate or require another plan. The county must assess the home before court approval. The law first applies to plans not yet approved on its effective date.
Placement rules disregard an alley when deciding whether the proposed home is on property next to a child's main home. This rule covers people classified as serious child sex offenders and properties that share a boundary when the alley is disregarded. The living quarters on the two properties must be no more than 1,500 feet apart. A child establishing a main home next door after placement does not put the released person in violation of this rule. The law first applies to release plans not yet approved on its effective 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 6Published 4-4-2026Latest
- Apr 6Report approved by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-3-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 180Became Law
- Apr 2Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026To Governor
- 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 11:34 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14
- Feb 18Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Feb 12Received from SenateMinor
- Feb 11Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 11Read a third time and passedPassed Senate
- Feb 11Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 11Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 11Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 9Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 2Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 2Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0Minor
- Feb 2Executive action taken
- Jan 28Public hearing held
- Jan 13Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public SafetyMinor
- Jan 13Introduced by Senator Hutton; cosponsored by Representatives Rodriguez and SinickiIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety