Assembly Bill 191
Theft of communication and video services, civil damages resulting from the theft of certain services, and providing penalties. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Dec 13, 2013. It's .
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Introduced, passed
May 3, 2013
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Oct 15, 2013
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Nov 12, 2013
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2013 Wisconsin Act 89
Latest entry in the official record, Dec 13, 2013: “Published 12-14-2013”
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Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Current law prohibits a person from obtaining without payment telecommunications service and from obtaining without payment video service. A person who violates either prohibition for the first time is subject to a Class C forfeiture. Under this bill, a person who violates either prohibition for the first time is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
Under current law if a person who incurs injury as a result of theft of telecommunications service, commercial mobile service, video service, or satellite cable programming prevails in a civil suit against the person who committed the theft, the court must grant the injured person actual damages, costs, and disbursements. The court is not permitted to grant attorney fees unless the person who committed the theft did it willfully and for commercial advantage or was previously convicted for the same violation. This bill permits the court to grant reasonable attorney fees for a first violation without regard to willfullness, commercial advantage or previous conviction.
Read the full summary Show less
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to result if the bill is enacted.
Who's behind it
3 representatives are its . All 3 are Republicans.
3 more lawmakers .
See all 6 names Hide the names
Authors (3)
- Joel Kleefisch · Republican, Assembly
- Warren Petryk · Republican, Assembly
- Keith Ripp · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (3)
- Paul F. Farrow · Republican, Senate
- Frank G. Lasee · Republican, Senate
- Joe Leibham · Republican, Senate
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
Versions and amendments
Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.
How lawmakers voted
There were 3 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice vote on an amendment
Passed, 7 to 0 · Sep 17, 2013
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice, Ayes 7, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice vote to recommend it
Passed, 6 to 1 · Sep 17, 2013
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice, Ayes 6, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Government Operations vote to recommend it
Passed, 7 to 0 · Nov 6, 2013
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications, Ayes 7, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Dec 13, 2013
The new law was published.
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Dec 13, 2013
The governor signed it. It became 2013 Wisconsin Act 89.
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Dec 12, 2013
Sent to the governor.
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Nov 12, 2013
The Senate passed it too.
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Nov 6, 2013
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 0.
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Oct 29, 2013
The committee held a public hearing.
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Oct 22, 2013
Sent to the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications.
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Oct 15, 2013
The Senate received it.
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Oct 15, 2013
The Assembly passed it.
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Oct 15, 2013
The Assembly adopted it.
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Sep 17, 2013
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Sep 17, 2013
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 6 to 1.
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Sep 17, 2013
“Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice, Ayes 7, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Jun 27, 2013
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jun 26, 2013
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Jun 3, 2013
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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May 17, 2013
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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May 3, 2013
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice.
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May 3, 2013
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- May 3, 2013 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Kleefisch, Petryk and Ripp; cosponsored by Senators Farrow, Lasee and Leibham
- May 3, 2013 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice
- May 17, 2013 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Jun 3, 2013 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Jun 26, 2013 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Jun 27, 2013 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Sep 11, 2013 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Kleefisch
- Sep 11, 2013 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representative Goyke
- Sep 12, 2013 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Sep 17, 2013 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice, Ayes 7, Noes 0
- Sep 17, 2013 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice, Ayes 6, Noes 1
- Sep 17, 2013 · Assembly
Referred to Committee on Rules
- Oct 10, 2013 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 10-15-2013 by Committee on Rules
- Oct 15, 2013 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Oct 15, 2013 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
- Oct 15, 2013 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Oct 15, 2013 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Oct 15, 2013 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Oct 15, 2013 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 15, 2013 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Oct 22, 2013 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications
- Oct 29, 2013 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Nov 6, 2013 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Nov 6, 2013 · Senate
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications, Ayes 7, Noes 0
- Nov 6, 2013 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Nov 11, 2013 · Senate
Placed on calendar 11-12-2013 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Nov 12, 2013 · Senate
Read a second time
- Nov 12, 2013 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 12, 2013 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Nov 12, 2013 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Nov 12, 2013 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 12, 2013 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Nov 21, 2013 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 11-21-2013
- Dec 12, 2013 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 12-12-2013
- Dec 13, 2013 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 12-13-2013. 2013 Wisconsin Act 89
- Dec 13, 2013 · Assembly
Published 12-14-2013
Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote