Assembly Bill 581
Venue requirements for domestic abuse, child abuse, and harassment cases
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 17, 2018. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Oct 24, 2017
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Nov 9, 2017
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Mar 20, 2018
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2017 Wisconsin Act 302
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 17, 2018: “Published 4-17-2018”
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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.
This bill changes the venue requirements for actions growing out of domestic abuse, child abuse, and harassment. Under the bill, if a petitioner is a victim advocate, an employee of the county court system, a legal professional practicing law, or a current or former law enforcement officer, or is the spouse or dating partner of one of those persons, an action for a restraining order or injunction in a case of domestic abuse, child abuse, or harassment may be brought in any county within a 100-mile radius of the county seat of the county in which the petitioner resides or is temporarily living.
Under current law, action for a restraining order or injunction in a case of domestic abuse must be brought in the county in which the cause of action arose, where the petitioner or the respondent resides, or where the petitioner is temporarily living, and an action for a restraining order or injunction in a case of child abuse or harassment must be brought in the county in which the cause of action arose or where the petitioner or the respondent resides.
Who's behind it
17 lawmakers are its . 10 are Democrats and 7 are Republicans.
11 more lawmakers .
See all 28 names Hide the names
Authors (17)
- Jimmy Anderson · Democrat, Assembly
- Terese Berceau · Democrat, Assembly
- Jill Billings · Democrat, Assembly
- Chris Taylor · Democrat, Assembly
- David Crowley · Democrat, Assembly
- Cody Horlacher · Republican, Assembly
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Joel Kitchens · Republican, Assembly
- Joel Kleefisch · Republican, Assembly
- Debra Kolste · Democrat, Assembly
- Jesse Kremer · Republican, Assembly
- Romaine Quinn · Republican, Senate
- Melissa Sargent · Democrat, Assembly
- Mark Spreitzer · Democrat, Senate
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
- Ron Tusler · Republican, Assembly
- Don Vruwink · Democrat, Assembly
Signed on in support (11)
- Barca and Shankland
- Rob Cowles · Republican, Senate
- Alberta Darling · Republican, Senate
- Sheila Harsdorf · Republican, Senate
- LaTonya Johnson · Democrat, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Luther S. Olsen · Republican, Senate
- Janis Ringhand · Democrat, Senate
- Kathleen Vinehout · Democrat, Senate
- Bob Wirch · Democrat, Senate
- 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 4 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Family Law vote on an amendment
Passed, 5 to 0 · Nov 7, 2017
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 Family Law, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly Committee on Family Law vote to recommend it
Passed, 8 to 0 · Nov 7, 2017
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 Family Law, 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 · Mar 15, 2018
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 15, 2018
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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Apr 17, 2018
The new law was published.
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Apr 17, 2018
The governor signed it. It became 2017 Wisconsin Act 302.
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Apr 12, 2018
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 20, 2018
The Senate passed it too.
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Mar 15, 2018
“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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Mar 15, 2018
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Nov 14, 2017
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
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Nov 9, 2017
The Senate received it.
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Nov 9, 2017
2 more representatives signed on in support.
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Nov 9, 2017
The Assembly passed it.
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Nov 9, 2017
The Assembly adopted it.
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Nov 7, 2017
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Nov 7, 2017
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 8 to 0.
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Nov 6, 2017
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Oct 31, 2017
The committee held a public hearing.
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Oct 24, 2017
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Family Law.
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Oct 24, 2017
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Oct 24, 2017 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Tusler, Crowley, Anderson, Berceau, Billings, Horlacher, Jacque, Kitchens, Kleefisch, Kolste, Kremer, Quinn, Sargent, C. Taylor, Vruwink, Subeck and Spreitzer; cosponsored by Senators Harsdorf, Johnson, Cowles, Darling, Marklein, Ringhand, Vinehout, Wirch and Olsen
- Oct 24, 2017 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Family Law
- Oct 31, 2017 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Nov 3, 2017 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Tusler
- Nov 6, 2017 · Assembly
Representative Zepnick added as a coauthor
- Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Family Law, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Family Law, Ayes 8, Noes 0
- Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 11-9-2017 by Committee on Rules
- Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
- Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly
- Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 9, 2017 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Nov 14, 2017 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Mar 14, 2018 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 15, 2018 · Senate
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Mar 15, 2018 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 15, 2018 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 15, 2018 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-20-2018 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 20, 2018 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 20, 2018 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 20, 2018 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Mar 20, 2018 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Mar 20, 2018 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 21, 2018 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Apr 5, 2018 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 4-5-2018
- Apr 12, 2018 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 4-12-2018
- Apr 17, 2018 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 4-16-2018. 2017 Wisconsin Act 302
- Apr 17, 2018 · Assembly
Published 4-17-2018
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