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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Assembly Bill 547

Trespass and damage to property owned or used by an energy provider and providing a criminal penalty. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 1, 2016. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Nov 24, 2015

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Jan 12, 2016

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 20 to 12

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 158

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 1, 2016: “Published 3-1-2016”

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 increases the criminal penalty for intentionally damaging property from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class H felony if the property damaged is owned, leased, or operated by an energy provider and the actor intended to, or did, cause a substantial interruption of the energy provider's goods or services.

Under the bill, entering a property that is part of an energy plant or electric generation, distribution, or transmission system or part of a natural gas distribution system without lawful authority or the consent of the energy provider that owns, operates, or leases the property is also a Class H felony.

Who's behind it

19 representatives are its ⁠. 17 are Republicans and 2 are Democrats.

5 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 24 names

Authors (19)

Signed on in support (5)

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 7 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities vote on an amendment

Passed, 15 to 0 · Dec 22, 2015

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 15, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities vote to recommend it

Passed, 14 to 1 · Dec 22, 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 Energy and Utilities, Ayes 14, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Jan 28, 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 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 8, 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

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 19 to 13 · Feb 9, 2016

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 19 to 13 · Feb 9, 2016

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 20 to 12 · Feb 9, 2016 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Didn't vote (1)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 20, Noes 12”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 1, 2016

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 1, 2016

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 158.

  3. Feb 25, 2016

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 19, 2016

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  5. Feb 9, 2016

    The Senate passed it too, 20 to 12.

  6. Feb 8, 2016

    “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  7. Jan 28, 2016

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  8. Jan 15, 2016

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

  9. Jan 13, 2016

    The Senate received it.

  10. Jan 12, 2016

    2 more representatives signed on in support.

  11. Jan 12, 2016

    The Assembly passed it.

  12. Jan 12, 2016

    The Assembly adopted it.

  13. Dec 22, 2015

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  14. Dec 22, 2015

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 14 to 1.

  15. Dec 9, 2015

    The committee held a public hearing.

  16. Dec 8, 2015

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  17. Nov 24, 2015

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities.

  18. Nov 24, 2015

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Nov 24, 2015 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Steffen, E. Brooks, Gannon, Kahl, Kremer, Krug, Kuglitsch, T. Larson, Murphy, Novak, Petersen, Petryk, Ripp, Schraa, Tauchen, Tittl, Weatherston, Zepnick and Macco; cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard, Cowles, Gudex and Lasee

  2. Nov 24, 2015 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Energy and Utilities

  3. Dec 4, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Steffen

  4. Dec 8, 2015 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Dec 8, 2015 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Dec 8, 2015 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  7. Dec 9, 2015 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  8. Dec 15, 2015 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  9. Dec 16, 2015 · Assembly

    LRB correction

  10. Dec 22, 2015 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Energy and Utilities, Ayes 15, Noes 0

  11. Dec 22, 2015 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Energy and Utilities, Ayes 14, Noes 1

  12. Dec 22, 2015 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  13. Jan 7, 2016 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 1-12-2016 by Committee on Rules

  14. Jan 12, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up

  15. Jan 12, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  16. Jan 12, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  17. Jan 12, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  18. Jan 12, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  19. Jan 12, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  20. Jan 12, 2016 · Assembly

    Representatives Shankland and Kolste added as coauthors

  21. Jan 12, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  22. Jan 13, 2016 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  23. Jan 15, 2016 · Senate

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

  24. Jan 26, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators L. Taylor and Risser

  25. Jan 27, 2016 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  26. Jan 28, 2016 · Senate

    Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  27. Jan 28, 2016 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  28. Feb 8, 2016 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  29. Feb 8, 2016 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-9-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  30. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senators Risser, L. Taylor, Vinehout and Ringhand

  31. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 offered by Senators Vinehout, Miller, Risser, L. Taylor, Hansen, Wirch, Carpenter, C. Larson, Ringhand and Bewley

  32. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Read a second time

  33. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13

  34. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13

  35. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  36. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  37. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 20, Noes 12

  38. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  39. Feb 10, 2016 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  40. Feb 11, 2016 · Assembly

    LRB correction (Senate Amendment 3)

  41. Feb 19, 2016 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  42. Feb 19, 2016 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 2-19-2016

  43. Feb 25, 2016 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 2-25-2016

  44. Mar 1, 2016 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 2-29-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 158

  45. Mar 1, 2016 · Assembly

    Published 3-1-2016

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

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