Skip to content
Bills from the 2013–14 session

Assembly Bill 496

Releases of customer information by municipal utilities

Became law

The governor signed it on Feb 26, 2014. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Nov 8, 2013

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Nov 14, 2013

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 11, 2014

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2013 Wisconsin Act 134

Latest entry in the official record, Feb 26, 2014: “Published 2-27-2014”

Read the bill

Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.

What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, a municipal utility is generally prohibited from releasing "customer information," which is defined as any information received from customers that serves to identify customers individually by usage or account status.

The prohibition, however, has several exceptions, including the following: 1) a release made with the consent of a customer; 2) a release to a title agent, insurer, lender, mortgage broker, or attorney that is made in connection with the preparation of real estate closing documents; and 3) a release to a lender or prospective purchaser that is made in connection with real property foreclosures.

Read the full summary

This bill requires the Public Service Commission (PSC) to specify a form for a municipal utility to obtain a customer's consent to a release under the first exception described above. The bill allows the PSC to specify the form without promulgating rules. The bill also creates an exception allowing a municipal utility to release customer information in connection with real estate transactions and real property appraisals. Under the bill's new exception, a municipal utility may release customer information under such circumstances to licensed real estate brokers and salespersons, as well as to certified or licensed appraisers.

Who's behind it

2 representatives are its ⁠. All 2 are Republicans.

1 more lawmaker ⁠.

See all 3 names

Authors (2)

Signed on in support (1)

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 Energy and Utilities vote on an amendment

Passed, 10 to 0 · Nov 12, 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 Energy and Utilities, Ayes 10, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities vote to recommend it

Passed, 10 to 0 · Nov 12, 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 Energy and Utilities, Ayes 10, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Government Operations vote to recommend it

Passed, 7 to 0 · Jan 22, 2014

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

  1. Feb 26, 2014

    The new law was published.

  2. Feb 26, 2014

    The governor signed it. It became 2013 Wisconsin Act 134.

  3. Feb 25, 2014

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 11, 2014

    The Senate passed it too.

  5. Jan 22, 2014

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 0.

  6. Jan 15, 2014

    The committee held a public hearing.

  7. Nov 21, 2013

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications.

  8. Nov 15, 2013

    The Senate received it.

  9. Nov 14, 2013

    The Assembly passed it.

  10. Nov 14, 2013

    The Assembly adopted it.

  11. Nov 12, 2013

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  12. Nov 12, 2013

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 10 to 0.

  13. Nov 12, 2013

    The committee held a public hearing.

  14. Nov 8, 2013

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities.

  15. Nov 8, 2013

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Nov 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Kaufert and Thiesfeldt; cosponsored by Senator Lasee

  2. Nov 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Energy and Utilities

  3. Nov 12, 2013 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  4. Nov 12, 2013 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  5. Nov 12, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Committee on Energy and Utilities

  6. Nov 12, 2013 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Energy and Utilities, Ayes 10, Noes 0

  7. Nov 12, 2013 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Energy and Utilities, Ayes 10, Noes 0

  8. Nov 12, 2013 · Assembly

    Referred to Committee on Rules

  9. Nov 12, 2013 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 11-14-2013 by Committee on Rules

  10. Nov 14, 2013 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  11. Nov 14, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  12. Nov 14, 2013 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  13. Nov 14, 2013 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  14. Nov 14, 2013 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  15. Nov 14, 2013 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  16. Nov 15, 2013 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  17. Nov 21, 2013 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications

  18. Jan 15, 2014 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  19. Jan 22, 2014 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  20. Jan 22, 2014 · Senate

    Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications, Ayes 7, Noes 0

  21. Jan 22, 2014 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  22. Feb 6, 2014 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-11-2014 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  23. Feb 11, 2014 · Senate

    Read a second time

  24. Feb 11, 2014 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  25. Feb 11, 2014 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  26. Feb 11, 2014 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in

  27. Feb 11, 2014 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  28. Feb 11, 2014 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  29. Feb 25, 2014 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 2-25-2014

  30. Feb 25, 2014 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 2-25-2014

  31. Feb 26, 2014 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 2-26-2014. 2013 Wisconsin Act 134

  32. Feb 26, 2014 · Assembly

    Published 2-27-2014

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

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

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

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote

More in the glossary