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Bills from the 2017–18 session

Assembly Bill 778

Appellate procedure in proceedings related to termination of parental rights

Became law

The governor signed it on Apr 5, 2018. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Dec 27, 2017

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 13, 2018

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 20, 2018

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2017 Wisconsin Act 258

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 5, 2018: “Published 4-5-2018”

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 makes changes to the appellate procedures applicable in proceedings related to the termination of parental rights.

First, the bill changes certain requirements relating to the notice of intent to pursue postdisposition or appellate relief in proceedings related to the termination of parental rights. Under current law, in order to initiate an appeal in a termination of parental rights matter, a person must file a notice of intent to pursue postdisposition or appellate relief. This bill creates a requirement that the notice of intent must include the signature of the person on whose behalf the notice is filed.

Read the full summary

The person's counsel, if any, must sign the notice, but may not do so in lieu of the signature of the person on whose behalf the notice is filed. The bill also expands the authority of the court to grant an extension of time to file the notice of intent.

Second, the bill establishes an additional requirement for filing a motion to remand for postjudgment fact-finding on appeal of a judgment or order related to the termination of parental rights. Under current law, an appellant who intends to appeal on any ground that may require postjudgment fact-finding must file a motion in the court of appeals raising the issue and requesting that the court of appeals retain jurisdiction over the appeal and remand to the circuit court to hear and decide the issue of possible additional fact-finding. This bill establishes a requirement that counsel who files the motion for remand or, if the appellant seeking the remand is unrepresented, the appellant, must file an affidavit in support of the motion for remand which states with specificity the reasons why postjudgment fact-finding is necessary. The bill also extends the deadline for filing the motion for remand if the appellant is not represented by counsel.

Who's behind it

37 lawmakers are its ⁠. 28 are Republicans and 9 are Democrats.

7 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 44 names

Authors (37)

Signed on in support (7)

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.

Assembly Committee on Judiciary vote on an amendment

Passed, 9 to 0 · Feb 7, 2018

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

Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 2 adoption recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 9, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Judiciary vote to recommend it

Passed, 9 to 0 · Feb 7, 2018

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, Ayes 9, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 16, 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 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Apr 5, 2018

    The new law was published.

  2. Apr 5, 2018

    The governor signed it. It became 2017 Wisconsin Act 258.

  3. Apr 3, 2018

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 20, 2018

    The Senate passed it too.

  5. Feb 16, 2018

    “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  6. Feb 14, 2018

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.

  7. Feb 14, 2018

    The Senate received it.

  8. Feb 13, 2018

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  9. Feb 13, 2018

    The Assembly passed it.

  10. Feb 13, 2018

    The Assembly adopted it.

  11. Feb 7, 2018

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  12. Feb 7, 2018

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 9 to 0.

  13. Feb 6, 2018

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  14. Jan 31, 2018

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  15. Jan 30, 2018

    The committee held a public hearing.

  16. Jan 8, 2018

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  17. Dec 27, 2017

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary.

  18. Dec 27, 2017

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Dec 27, 2017 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Doyle, Katsma, Subeck, Neylon, Kitchens, Novak, Rodriguez, Ballweg, Pronschinske, Snyder, Anderson, Berceau, Born, Brandtjen, E. Brooks, R. Brooks, Considine, Felzkowski, Kolste, Krug, Kulp, Mursau, Ohnstad, Petersen, Petryk, Quinn, Ripp, Rohrkaste, Schraa, Sinicki, Steineke, Swearingen, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, VanderMeer and Vruwink; cosponsored by Senators Olsen, Darling, Ringhand, L. Taylor, Vinehout and Wanggaard

  2. Dec 27, 2017 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary

  3. Jan 4, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Doyle

  4. Jan 8, 2018 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Jan 11, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representative Doyle

  6. Jan 30, 2018 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  7. Jan 31, 2018 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  8. Jan 31, 2018 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  9. Feb 6, 2018 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  10. Feb 7, 2018 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 2 adoption recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 9, Noes 0

  11. Feb 7, 2018 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 9, Noes 0

  12. Feb 7, 2018 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  13. Feb 8, 2018 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 2-13-2018 by Committee on Rules

  14. Feb 13, 2018 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  15. Feb 13, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 adopted

  16. Feb 13, 2018 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  17. Feb 13, 2018 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  18. Feb 13, 2018 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  19. Feb 13, 2018 · Assembly

    Representative Barca added as a coauthor

  20. Feb 13, 2018 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  21. Feb 14, 2018 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  22. Feb 14, 2018 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  23. Feb 14, 2018 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  24. Feb 16, 2018 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0

  25. Feb 16, 2018 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-20-2018 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  26. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Read a second time

  27. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  28. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  29. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in

  30. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  31. Feb 21, 2018 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  32. Mar 8, 2018 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 3-8-2018

  33. Apr 3, 2018 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 4-3-2018

  34. Apr 5, 2018 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 4-4-2018. 2017 Wisconsin Act 258

  35. Apr 5, 2018 · Assembly

    Published 4-5-2018

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

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