Senate Bill 117
Battery and threats to a judge, a prosecutor, or a law enforcement officer and providing a criminal penalty. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Nov 12, 2015. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Apr 8, 2015
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed May 6, 2015
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed 80 to 16
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2015 Wisconsin Act 78
Latest entry in the official record, Feb 24, 2016: “Representative Subeck added as a cosponsor”
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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
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
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, no person may intentionally cause bodily harm to a law enforcement officer acting in an official capacity, if the actor knows or has reason to know that the victim is a law enforcement officer. Under current law, no one may intentionally cause or threaten bodily harm to a judge or a member of a judge's family if the person knows that the person harmed or threatened is a judge or a family member of the judge and the person who causes or threatens harm does so while the judge is acting in his or her official capacity or as a response to an official action by the judge. A person who commits any of these acts is guilty of a Class H felony and may be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned for not more than six years, or both.
Under this bill, a person who intentionally causes or threatens bodily harm to a judge, a prosecutor, or a law enforcement officer, or who intentionally causes or threatens bodily harm to a family member of any of those persons, is guilty of Class H felony if the person knows or should know that the victim is a judge, prosecutor, law enforcement officer, or family member of any of those, if the person commits the offense in response to any action taken in the judge's, prosecutor's, or law enforcement officer's official capacity, or if the person commits the offense while the judge, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer is acting in his or her official capacity.
Who's behind it
5 senators are its . 3 are Republicans and 2 are Democrats.
40 more lawmakers .
See all 45 names Hide the names
Authors (5)
- Janet Bewley · Democrat, Senate
- Richard Gudex · Republican, Senate
- Julie M. Lassa · Democrat, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (40)
- Alvin Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Joan Ballweg · Republican, Senate
- Kathleen Bernier · Republican, Senate
- Mark Born · Republican, Assembly
- Tim Carpenter · Democrat, Senate
- Chris Danou · Democrat, Assembly
- Edward Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- James Edming · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Gannon · Republican, Assembly
- David Heaton · Republican, Assembly
- Cody Horlacher · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Ott · Republican, Assembly
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- John Jagler · Republican, Senate
- Robb Kahl · Democrat, Assembly
- Samantha Kerkman · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Jesse Kremer · Republican, Assembly
- Scott Krug · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Kulp · Republican, Assembly
- John Macco · Republican, Assembly
- Nick Milroy · Democrat, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- John Murtha · Republican, Assembly
- Todd Novak · Republican, Assembly
- Romaine Quinn · Republican, Senate
- Keith Ripp · Republican, Assembly
- Jessie Rodriguez · Republican, Assembly
- Mike Rohrkaste · Republican, Assembly
- Katrina Shankland · Democrat, Assembly
- Ken Skowronski · Republican, Assembly
- John Spiros · Republican, Assembly
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Amanda Stuck · Democrat, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
- Thomas Larson · Republican, Assembly
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Tittl · Republican, Assembly
- Thomas Weatherston · Republican, Assembly
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 3 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote on an amendment
Passed, 5 to 0 · Apr 28, 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 to recommend it
Passed, 4 to 1 · Apr 28, 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 Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 4, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 80 to 16 · Oct 27, 2015 · 3 didn't vote
See how each of the 99 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (80)
- Adam Neylon (R, 15)
- Alvin Ott (R, 3)
- Amanda Stuck (D, 57)
- Amy Loudenbeck (R, 31)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Beth Meyers (D, 74)
- Bob Gannon (R, 58)
- Bob Kulp (R, 69)
- Chris Danou (D, 92)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Cindi Duchow (R, 97)
- Cody Horlacher (R, 33)
- Cory Mason (D, 66)
- Dale Kooyenga (R, 5)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Dana Wachs (D, 91)
- Daniel Riemer (D, 7)
- Dave Murphy (R, 56)
- David Craig (R, 28)
- David Heaton (R, 85)
- David Steffen (R, 4)
- Dean Knudson (R, 30)
- Debra Kolste (D, 44)
- Edward Brooks (R, 50)
- Eric Genrich (D, 90)
- Gary Tauchen (R, 6)
- Gordon Hintz (D, 54)
- James Edming (R, 87)
- Janel Brandtjen (R, 22)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R, 52)
- Jesse Kremer (R, 59)
- Jessie Rodriguez (R, 21)
- Jim Ott (R, 23)
- Jim Steineke (R, 5)
- Joan Ballweg (R, 14)
- Joel Kitchens (R, 1)
- Joel Kleefisch (R, 38)
- John Jagler (R, 13)
- John Macco (R, 88)
- John Murtha (R, 29)
- John Nygren (R, 89)
- Josh Zepnick (D, 9)
- Kathleen Bernier (R, 23)
- Katrina Shankland (D, 71)
- Keith Ripp (R, 42)
- Ken Skowronski (R, 82)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- LaTonya Johnson (D, 6)
- Lee Nerison (R, 96)
- Leon Young (D, 16)
- Lisa Subeck (D, 79)
- Mark Born (R, 37)
- Michael Schraa (R, 53)
- Mike Kuglitsch (R, 84)
- Mike Rohrkaste (R, 55)
- Nancy VanderMeer (R, 70)
- Nick Milroy (D, 73)
- Paul Tittl (R, 25)
- Peter Barca (D, 64)
- Rob Brooks (R, 59)
- Rob Hutton (R, 5)
- Rob Swearingen (R, 34)
- Robb Kahl (D, 47)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Romaine Quinn (R, 25)
- Samantha Kerkman (R, 61)
- Scott Allen (R, 82)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Terese Berceau (D, 77)
- Terry Katsma (R, 26)
- Thomas Larson (R, 67)
- Thomas Weatherston (R, 62)
- Tod Ohnstad (D, 65)
- Todd Novak (R, 51)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Tyler Vorpagel (R, 27)
- Warren Petryk (R, 93)
No (16)
- Adam Jarchow (R, 28)
- Andy Jorgensen (D, 43)
- Chris Taylor (D, 76)
- Dave Considine (D, 81)
- David Bowen (D, 10)
- Dianne Hesselbein (D, 27)
- Evan Goyke (D, 18)
- Frederick Kessler (D, 12)
- Gary Hebl (D, 46)
- Jill Billings (D, 95)
- JoCasta Zamarripa (D, 8)
- Jonathan Brostoff (D, 19)
- Mandela Barnes (D, 11)
- Mark Spreitzer (D, 15)
- Melissa Sargent (D, 48)
- Sondy Pope (D, 80)
Didn't vote (3)
- Joe Sanfelippo (R, 15)
- John Spiros (R, 86)
- Mary Czaja (R, 35)
Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 80, Noes 16”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Feb 19, 2016 to Feb 24, 2016
2 more representatives signed on in support.
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Nov 12, 2015
The new law was published.
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Nov 12, 2015
The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 78.
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Nov 10, 2015
Sent to the governor.
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Oct 27, 2015
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Oct 27, 2015
The Assembly passed it too, 80 to 16.
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Jun 3, 2015
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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May 6, 2015
The Assembly received it.
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May 6, 2015
The Senate passed it.
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May 6, 2015
“Read a third time” (the official wording)
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May 6, 2015
The Senate adopted it.
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May 6, 2015
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Apr 30, 2015
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Apr 29, 2015
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Apr 28, 2015
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 1.
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Apr 28, 2015
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Apr 23, 2015
The committee held a public hearing.
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Apr 17, 2015
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Apr 16, 2015
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Apr 8, 2015
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
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Apr 8, 2015
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Apr 8, 2015 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Gudex, Wanggaard, Lassa, Bewley and Marklein; cosponsored by Representatives J. Ott, Jagler, Born, Kerkman, Heaton, T. Larson, Murphy, A. Ott, Rohrkaste, Weatherston, Quinn, Rodriguez, Murtha, Novak, E. Brooks, Krug, Spiros, Bernier, Ballweg, Macco, Ripp, Edming, Mursau, Kulp, Kremer, Gannon, Milroy, C. Taylor, Horlacher, Knodl, Jacque, Stuck, Skowronski, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Steffen and Kahl
- Apr 8, 2015 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Apr 10, 2015 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Gudex
- Apr 16, 2015 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 17, 2015 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 23, 2015 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Apr 28, 2015 · Senate
Executive session held
- Apr 28, 2015 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Apr 28, 2015 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 4, Noes 1
- Apr 28, 2015 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Apr 29, 2015 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 30, 2015 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- May 4, 2015 · Senate
Placed on calendar 5-6-2015 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Senator Carpenter added as a coauthor
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Read a second time
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 adopted
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Rules suspended
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Read a third time
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Passed
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- May 6, 2015 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- May 14, 2015 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Kerkman
- Jun 3, 2015 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 10-27-2015 by Committee on Rules
- Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 withdrawn and returned to author
- Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 80, Noes 16
- Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly
Representative C. Taylor withdrawn as a cosponsor
- Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly
Representative Danou added as a cosponsor
- Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 28, 2015 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Nov 9, 2015 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Nov 10, 2015 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 11-10-2015
- Nov 12, 2015 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 11-11-2015. 2015 Wisconsin Act 78
- Nov 12, 2015 · Senate
Published 11-12-2015
- Feb 19, 2016 · Senate
Representative Shankland added as a cosponsor
- Feb 24, 2016 · Senate
Representative Subeck added as a cosponsor
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
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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote