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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Assembly Bill 19

Unlawful use of a global positioning device and providing a penalty. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Jul 1, 2015. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 29, 2015

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 12, 2015

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed May 6, 2015

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 45

Latest entry in the official record, Jul 1, 2015: “Published 7-2-2015”

Read the bill

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What it does

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

This bill prohibits certain uses of a global positioning device (GPS). Under the bill, a person who places a GPS on a vehicle owned by another person without that person's knowledge or who intentionally obtains information regarding another person's movement or location generated by a GPS without that person's knowledge is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Additionally, under the bill a person who places a GPS on a vehicle used primarily by his or her spouse without the spouse's knowledge after a petition for an annulment, divorce, or legal separation has been filed is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

The bill creates exceptions for a person who installs a subscription-based communication or navigation system, for a parent or guardian who places a GPS to track the movement or location of his or her minor child or ward, for a business owner who places a GPS to track a motor vehicle used for his or her business, for a lienholder who places a GPS to track a motor vehicle for the purpose of repossessing the vehicle, and for a law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity.

Read the full summary

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

26 lawmakers are its ⁠. 17 are Republicans and 9 are Democrats.

8 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 34 names

Authors (26)

Signed on in support (8)

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 6 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety vote on an amendment

Passed, 12 to 0 · Feb 10, 2015

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 12, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety vote to recommend it

Passed, 12 to 0 · Feb 10, 2015

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 and Public Safety, Ayes 12, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 64 to 35 · Feb 12, 2015

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 64, Noes 35”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Apr 23, 2015

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Apr 23, 2015

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 3 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 0 · Apr 23, 2015

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report concurrence as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Jul 1, 2015

    The new law was published.

  2. Jul 1, 2015

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 45.

  3. Jun 30, 2015

    Sent to the governor.

  4. May 13, 2015

    “Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)

  5. May 6, 2015

    The Assembly adopted it.

  6. May 6, 2015

    The Senate passed it too.

  7. May 6, 2015

    The Senate adopted it.

  8. Apr 23, 2015

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.

  9. Apr 23, 2015

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 3 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  10. Apr 23, 2015

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  11. Mar 24, 2015

    The committee held a public hearing.

  12. Feb 16, 2015

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  13. Feb 13, 2015

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

  14. Feb 12, 2015

    The Senate received it.

  15. Feb 12, 2015

    The Assembly passed it.

  16. Feb 12, 2015

    The Assembly adopted it.

  17. Feb 12, 2015

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  18. Feb 10, 2015

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  19. Feb 10, 2015

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 12 to 0.

  20. Feb 9, 2015

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  21. Feb 3, 2015

    The committee held a public hearing.

  22. Feb 2, 2015

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  23. Jan 29, 2015

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.

  24. Jan 29, 2015

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 29, 2015 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Neylon, Knudson, Czaja, Craig, T. Larson, August, Murphy, Kleefisch, Ballweg, Tittl, Thiesfeldt, E. Brooks, Tranel, Kahl, Hutton, Mursau, Kremer, Murtha, Hintz, Sargent, Genrich, Sinicki, Kessler, Ohnstad, Subeck and Doyle; cosponsored by Senators Petrowski, Marklein, Olsen, Cowles, Carpenter, C. Larson and L. Taylor

  2. Jan 29, 2015 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety

  3. Feb 2, 2015 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Feb 3, 2015 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  5. Feb 9, 2015 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Feb 10, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety

  7. Feb 10, 2015 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  8. Feb 10, 2015 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 12, Noes 0

  9. Feb 10, 2015 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 12, Noes 0

  10. Feb 10, 2015 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  11. Feb 10, 2015 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 2-12-2015 by Committee on Rules

  12. Feb 10, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Neylon

  13. Feb 12, 2015 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  14. Feb 12, 2015 · Assembly

    Representative Zepnick added as a coauthor

  15. Feb 12, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  16. Feb 12, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Barnes, Goyke, Genrich and C. Taylor

  17. Feb 12, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 64, Noes 35

  18. Feb 12, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  19. Feb 12, 2015 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  20. Feb 12, 2015 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  21. Feb 12, 2015 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  22. Feb 12, 2015 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  23. Feb 12, 2015 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  24. Feb 13, 2015 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  25. Feb 16, 2015 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  26. Mar 24, 2015 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  27. Mar 26, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Petrowski

  28. Apr 13, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senator Petrowski

  29. Apr 14, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 offered by Senator Petrowski

  30. Apr 23, 2015 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  31. Apr 23, 2015 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  32. Apr 23, 2015 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 3 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  33. Apr 23, 2015 · Senate

    Report concurrence as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  34. Apr 23, 2015 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  35. May 4, 2015 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 5-6-2015 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  36. May 6, 2015 · Senate

    Read a second time

  37. May 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  38. May 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 adopted

  39. May 6, 2015 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  40. May 6, 2015 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  41. May 6, 2015 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in as amended

  42. May 6, 2015 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  43. May 6, 2015 · Assembly

    Received from Senate amended and concurred in as amended (Senate amendments 1 and 3 adopted)

  44. May 13, 2015 · Assembly

    Senate Amendment 1 concurred in

  45. May 13, 2015 · Assembly

    Senate Amendment 3 concurred in

  46. May 13, 2015 · Assembly

    Action ordered immediately messaged

  47. May 19, 2015 · Assembly

    LRB correction (Senate Amendment 3)

  48. May 19, 2015 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 5-19-2015

  49. Jun 30, 2015 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 6-30-2015

  50. Jul 1, 2015 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 7-1-2015. 2015 Wisconsin Act 45

  51. Jul 1, 2015 · Assembly

    Published 7-2-2015

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

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