Assembly Bill 5
Intimidating a witness
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 8, 2015. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Jan 7, 2015
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jan 22, 2015
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Mar 17, 2015
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2015 Wisconsin Act 14
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 8, 2015: “Published 4-9-2015”
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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
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.
Under current law, it is a crime to intimidate a witness. Current law sets forth three statutory categories of intimidation: one, preventing or dissuading a victim or a person acting on the victim's behalf from making a report of the crime; two, preventing or dissuading the victim or a person acting on the victim's behalf from causing a complaint, indictment, or information to be sought and prosecuted and assisting in the prosecution, and three, preventing or dissuading the victim or a person acting on the victim's behalf from arresting, or causing or seeking the arrest of, a person in connection with the criminal act.
In State of Wisconsin v. Freer , 2010 WI App 9, the court of appeals held that the statutory language for the second category, causing a complaint, indictment, or information to be sought and prosecuted and assisting in the prosecution thereof, should be read so that a person who prevents or dissuades a victim from doing any one or more of the following is guilty of intimidating a witness: causing a complaint, indictment, or information to be sought, causing a complaint to be prosecuted, or assisting in the prosecution.
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This bill amends the statutory language to comply with the interpretation set forth in the Freer case.
Who's behind it
Jim Ott, a Republican, is its .
See all the details Hide the names
Author (1)
- Jim Ott · Republican, Assembly
How lawmakers voted
There were 2 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Judiciary vote to recommend it
Passed, 8 to 0 · Jan 16, 2015
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 8, 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 · Feb 6, 2015
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 Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 8, 2015
The new law was published.
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Apr 8, 2015
The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 14.
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Apr 7, 2015
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 17, 2015
The Senate passed it too.
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Feb 6, 2015
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Feb 4, 2015
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 23, 2015
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
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Jan 22, 2015
The Senate received it.
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Jan 22, 2015
The Assembly passed it.
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Jan 16, 2015
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jan 16, 2015
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 8 to 0.
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Jan 8, 2015
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 7, 2015
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary.
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Jan 7, 2015
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 7, 2015 · Assembly
Introduced by Representative J. Ott
- Jan 7, 2015 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary
- Jan 8, 2015 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Jan 15, 2015 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Jan 16, 2015 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 8, Noes 0
- Jan 16, 2015 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Jan 20, 2015 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 1-22-2015 by committee on Rules
- Jan 22, 2015 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jan 22, 2015 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 22, 2015 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jan 22, 2015 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Jan 22, 2015 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 22, 2015 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Jan 23, 2015 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Feb 4, 2015 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Feb 4, 2015 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Feb 6, 2015 · Senate
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Feb 6, 2015 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 13, 2015 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-17-2015 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 17, 2015 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 17, 2015 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 17, 2015 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Mar 17, 2015 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Mar 17, 2015 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 17, 2015 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Mar 24, 2015 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 3-24-2015
- Apr 7, 2015 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 4-7-2015
- Apr 8, 2015 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 4-8-2015. 2015 Wisconsin Act 14
- Apr 8, 2015 · Assembly
Published 4-9-2015
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
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote