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Bills from the 2017–18 session

Assembly Bill 855

The operation and regulation of unmanned aircraft and providing a penalty. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Apr 17, 2018. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 19, 2018

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 20, 2018

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Mar 20, 2018

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2017 Wisconsin Act 322

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 17, 2018: “Published 4-17-2018”

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 prohibits the operation of a drone in certain manners and prohibits a political subdivision from regulating the ownership or operation of a drone.

Current law prohibits the operation of a drone over a state correctional institution and the use of a drone with the intent to photograph, record, or otherwise observe another individual in a place or location where the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy. This bill also prohibits the operation of a drone in any of the following manners: 1) so as to interfere with the official duties of a police officer, fire fighter, emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, or search and rescue officer; 2) so as to constitute stalking or criminal harassment; 3) so as to violate a restraining order or other judicial order; and 4) if an individual is required to register as a sex offender and is prohibited from taking these actions, for the purpose of following or contacting or photographing, recording, or otherwise observing another individual.

Who's behind it

4 representatives are its ⁠. All 4 are Republicans.

1 more lawmaker ⁠.

See all 5 names

Authors (4)

Signed on in support (1)

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 Criminal Justice and Public Safety vote on an amendment

Passed, 7 to 4 · Feb 15, 2018

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

Official motion: “Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 adoption recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 4”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety vote to recommend it

Passed, 7 to 4 · Feb 15, 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 Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 4”. 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

  1. Apr 17, 2018

    The new law was published.

  2. Apr 17, 2018

    The governor signed it. It became 2017 Wisconsin Act 322.

  3. Apr 12, 2018

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 20, 2018

    The Senate passed it too.

  5. 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)

  6. Mar 12, 2018

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.

  7. Feb 21, 2018

    The Senate received it.

  8. Feb 20, 2018

    The Assembly passed it.

  9. Feb 20, 2018

    The Assembly adopted it.

  10. Feb 15, 2018

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  11. Feb 15, 2018

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 4.

  12. Jan 25, 2018

    The committee held a public hearing.

  13. Jan 25, 2018

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  14. Jan 19, 2018

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.

  15. Jan 19, 2018

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 19, 2018 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Schraa, Kulp, Tittl and Tusler; cosponsored by Senator Feyen

  2. Jan 19, 2018 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety

  3. Jan 25, 2018 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Jan 25, 2018 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  5. Feb 5, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Schraa

  6. Feb 6, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Goyke

  7. Feb 6, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Goyke

  8. Feb 13, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Schraa

  9. Feb 14, 2018 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  10. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 adoption recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 4

  11. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 4

  12. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  13. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 1:56 PM on 2-20-2018 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 26

  14. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  15. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 adopted

  16. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  17. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  18. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  19. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  20. Feb 21, 2018 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  21. Mar 12, 2018 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  22. Mar 12, 2018 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  23. Mar 15, 2018 · Senate

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

  24. Mar 15, 2018 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-20-2018 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  25. Mar 20, 2018 · Senate

    Read a second time

  26. Mar 20, 2018 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  27. Mar 20, 2018 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  28. Mar 20, 2018 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in

  29. Mar 20, 2018 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  30. Mar 21, 2018 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  31. Mar 30, 2018 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 3-30-2018

  32. Apr 12, 2018 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 4-12-2018

  33. Apr 17, 2018 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 4-16-2018. 2017 Wisconsin Act 322

  34. 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

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