Senate Bill 97
Including orders pertaining to household pets in certain restraining orders and injunctions
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 2, 2016. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Mar 27, 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 Feb 9, 2016
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2015 Wisconsin Act 253
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 2, 2016: “Published 3-2-2016”
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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, an individual who is, or who acts on behalf of, a victim of abuse, harassment, or threats may obtain a temporary restraining order against the person who has committed the acts of abuse or harassment or making a threat. The restraining order generally prohibits the person from engaging in additional threats or acts of abuse or harassment, bars the person from contacting the victim, and requires the person to stay away from the victim's residence and other places temporarily occupied by the victim until a court conducts a hearing to determine whether the restraining order should be incorporated into a longer-lasting injunction.
If the court determines that the person has engaged in, or may engage in, acts of abuse, harassment, or threats against the victim, the court may issue a longer-term injunction against the person. An injunction generally bars the person from contacting the victim, requires the person to stay away from the victim's residence, and may require the person to stay away from other locations temporarily occupied by the victim.
Read the full summary Show less
Under this bill, a court may include in a restraining order or an injunction order provisions pertaining to household pets. Under the bill, a court may order the person subject to the restraining order or injunction to refrain from removing, damaging, hiding, harming, or mistreating, or disposing of a household pet. The restraining order or injunction may also allow the victim of the abuse, harassment, or threats, or a person acting on his or her behalf, to retrieve a household pet from the person subject to the restraining order or injunction.
Who's behind it
6 senators are its . 4 are Democrats and 2 are Republicans.
17 more lawmakers .
See all 23 names Hide the names
Authors (6)
- Chris Larson · Democrat, Senate
- Tim Carpenter · Democrat, Senate
- Nikiya Harris Dodd · Democrat, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
- Fred A. Risser · Democrat, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (17)
- Alvin Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Scott Allen · Republican, Assembly
- Joan Ballweg · Republican, Senate
- Terese Berceau · Democrat, Assembly
- Jill Billings · Democrat, Assembly
- Chris Taylor · Democrat, Assembly
- Gordon Hintz · Democrat, Assembly
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- LaTonya Johnson · Democrat, Senate
- Tod Ohnstad · Democrat, Assembly
- Katrina Shankland · Democrat, Assembly
- Christine Sinicki · Democrat, Assembly
- Mark Spreitzer · Democrat, Senate
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
- Thomas Larson · Republican, Assembly
- Josh Zepnick · Democrat, Assembly
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 2 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 Substitute 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, 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 passage as amended 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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Mar 2, 2016
The new law was published.
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Mar 2, 2016
The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 253.
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Feb 25, 2016
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 9, 2016
The Assembly passed it too.
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Oct 12, 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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Apr 28, 2015
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Apr 28, 2015
“Report adoption of Senate Substitute 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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Mar 27, 2015
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
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Mar 27, 2015
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Mar 27, 2015 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Carpenter, Wanggaard, Harris Dodd, Risser, Nass and C. Larson; cosponsored by Representatives Jacque, Berceau, Ballweg, Allen, Sinicki, Steffen, Shankland, A. Ott, Zepnick, T. Larson, Spreitzer, Subeck, C. Taylor, Johnson, Hintz, Ohnstad and Billings
- Mar 27, 2015 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Apr 14, 2015 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Carpenter
- Apr 23, 2015 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Apr 28, 2015 · Senate
Executive session held
- Apr 28, 2015 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Substitute 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 5, Noes 0
- Apr 28, 2015 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- May 4, 2015 · Senate
Placed on calendar 5-6-2015 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Read a second time
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Senate Substitute 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
- Oct 12, 2015 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 4, 2016 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 2-9-2016 by Committee on Rules
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 10, 2016 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 25, 2016 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Feb 25, 2016 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 2-25-2016
- Mar 2, 2016 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 3-1-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 253
- Mar 2, 2016 · Senate
Published 3-2-2016
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