Assembly Bill 53
Threatening to communicate derogatory information
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 31, 2016. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Feb 17, 2015
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jan 19, 2016
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Mar 15, 2016
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2015 Wisconsin Act 335
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 31, 2016: “Published 3-31-2016”
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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
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, a person who threatens to expose information, whether true or false, that would injure the reputation of the threatened person unless the threatened person transfers property to a person who is not entitled to the property is guilty of a Class I felony, and subject to a fine up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to three years and six months, or both.
Under this bill, a person is guilty of a Class I felony if he or she threatens to expose information, whether true or false, that would humiliate or injure the reputation of the threatened person, with the intent to extort money or any pecuniary advantage, or with the intent to compel the threatened person to do any act against the person's will or omit to do any lawful act. Under the bill, "information" includes any visual image or an audio representation or recording.
Who's behind it
13 lawmakers are its . 12 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.
1 more lawmaker .
See all 14 names Hide the names
Authors (13)
- Alvin Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Joan Ballweg · Republican, Senate
- Mark Born · Republican, Assembly
- Steve Doyle · Democrat, Assembly
- Edward Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- James Edming · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Joel Kleefisch · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- John Spiros · Republican, Assembly
- Thomas Larson · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Tittl · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (1)
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
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 and Public Safety vote to recommend it
Passed, 10 to 2 · Oct 13, 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 Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 10, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 15, 2016
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
Senate vote
Passed, 3 to 2 · Mar 14, 2016
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 31, 2016
The new law was published.
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Mar 31, 2016
The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 335.
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Mar 29, 2016
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 15, 2016
The Senate passed it too.
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Mar 14, 2016
“Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)
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Feb 15, 2016
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Jan 22, 2016
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
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Jan 19, 2016
The Senate received it.
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Jan 19, 2016
The Assembly passed it.
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Jan 19, 2016
The Assembly adopted it.
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Nov 3, 2015
“Placed at the foot of the calendar of 11-3-2015” (the official wording)
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Oct 13, 2015
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Oct 13, 2015
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 10 to 2.
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Jun 2, 2015
The committee held a public hearing.
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Feb 17, 2015
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.
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Feb 17, 2015
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Feb 17, 2015 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives J. Ott, Born, Kleefisch, Tittl, Mursau, T. Larson, A. Ott, Edming, Ballweg, E. Brooks, Spiros, Doyle and Murphy; cosponsored by Senator Nass
- Feb 17, 2015 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety
- Jun 2, 2015 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Oct 8, 2015 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Oct 13, 2015 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 10, Noes 2
- Oct 13, 2015 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Oct 28, 2015 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 11-3-2015 by Committee on Rules
- Nov 3, 2015 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative J. Ott
- Nov 3, 2015 · Assembly
Placed at the foot of the calendar of 11-3-2015
- Jan 12, 2016 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representative J. Ott
- Jan 19, 2016 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jan 19, 2016 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
- Jan 19, 2016 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 2 adopted
- Jan 19, 2016 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 19, 2016 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jan 19, 2016 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Jan 19, 2016 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 19, 2016 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Jan 22, 2016 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Feb 15, 2016 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Feb 15, 2016 · Senate
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Feb 15, 2016 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 14, 2016 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 14, 2016 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-15-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 15, 2016 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 15, 2016 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 15, 2016 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Mar 15, 2016 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Mar 15, 2016 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 16, 2016 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Mar 21, 2016 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 3-21-2016
- Mar 29, 2016 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 3-29-2016
- Mar 31, 2016 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 3-30-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 335
- Mar 31, 2016 · Assembly
Published 3-31-2016
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
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote