Senate Bill 139
Sexual contact with an animal and providing a penalty
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 4, 2020. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Mar 28, 2019
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Oct 8, 2019
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 11, 2020
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2019 Wisconsin Act 162
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 4, 2020: “Published 3-4-2020”
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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 this bill, it is a Class H felony to have sexual contact with an animal, to promote or otherwise participate in sexual contact with animals, to create, possess, or distribute obscene material depicting a person engaged in sexual contact with an animal, or to advertise, harbor, transport, provide, or obtain an animal for the purpose of having sexual contact with the animal. In addition, it is a Class F felony to force, coerce, entice, or encourage a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual contact with an animal or a Class G felony if the child is over the age of 13 but under the age of 18. It is also a Class F felony to have sexual contact with an animal in the presence of a child under the age of 13 or a Class G felony if the child is over the age of 13 but under the age of 18. In addition, all felony classifications are increased for second or subsequent violations.
Under current law, it is a Class A misdemeanor for a person to commit an act of sexual gratification involving his or her sex organ and the sex organ, mouth, or anus of an animal, or involving his or her sex organ, mouth, anus, or other body part and the sex organ of an animal.
Read the full summary Show less
Under current law, a person may be required to register as a sex offender for certain crimes that are sexually motivated if the judge determines that it would be in the interest of public protection to have the person register. Under this bill, the new offense of bestiality would be subject to this provision.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.
Who's behind it
4 senators are its . 3 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.
10 more lawmakers .
See all 14 names Hide the names
Authors (4)
- Rob Cowles · Republican, Senate
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Fred A. Risser · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (10)
- Janel Brandtjen · Republican, Assembly
- Chris Taylor · Democrat, Assembly
- James Edming · Republican, Assembly
- Jesse James · Republican, Senate
- Amy Loudenbeck · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- LaKeshia Myers · Democrat, Assembly
- Ken Skowronski · Republican, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, 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 · Sep 25, 2019
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, 5 to 0 · Sep 25, 2019
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 4, 2020
The new law was published.
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Mar 4, 2020
The governor signed it. It became 2019 Wisconsin Act 162.
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Feb 28, 2020
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 11, 2020
The Assembly passed it too.
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Feb 6, 2020
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Oct 8, 2019
The Assembly received it.
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Oct 8, 2019
The Senate passed it.
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Oct 8, 2019
The Senate adopted it.
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Sep 25, 2019
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Sep 25, 2019
“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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Sep 17, 2019
The committee held a public hearing.
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Mar 28, 2019
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
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Mar 28, 2019
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Mar 28, 2019 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Jacque, Risser, Cowles and Marklein; cosponsored by Representatives Wichgers, Brandtjen, Edming, James, Loudenbeck, Murphy, Myers, Skowronski, Subeck and C. Taylor
- Mar 28, 2019 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Sep 17, 2019 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Sep 23, 2019 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Jacque
- Sep 25, 2019 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Sep 25, 2019 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Sep 25, 2019 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Sep 25, 2019 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Oct 4, 2019 · Senate
Placed on calendar 10-8-2019 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Read a second time
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 adopted
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Oct 8, 2019 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 8, 2019 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 6, 2020 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 11, 2020 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from committee on Rules and take up
- Feb 11, 2020 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 11, 2020 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 11, 2020 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 11, 2020 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 11, 2020 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 12, 2020 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 17, 2020 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Feb 17, 2020 · Senate
LRB correction (Senate Amendment 1)
- Feb 28, 2020 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 2-28-2020
- Mar 4, 2020 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 3-3-2020. 2019 Wisconsin Act 162
- Mar 4, 2020 · Senate
Published 3-4-2020
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