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Bills from the 2019–20 session

Senate Bill 247

The use of a surveillance device by an owner of real estate in connection with the sale of the real estate and providing a penalty

Became law

The governor signed it on Jan 22, 2020. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    May 30, 2019

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Nov 5, 2019

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Jan 15, 2020

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2019 Wisconsin Act 72

Latest entry in the official record, Jan 22, 2020: “Published 1-22-2020”

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 provides that an owner of real estate may, with certain exceptions, use a surveillance device in or on the real estate, other than in a bathroom or washroom, to observe or record an individual who is present for a private showing, open house, or other viewing of the real estate in connection with the owner's attempt to sell the real estate. The bill specifies that such use of a surveillance device is not an invasion of the individual's privacy under current state law recognizing the right of privacy.

Who's behind it

3 senators are its ⁠. 2 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.

14 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 17 names

Authors (3)

Signed on in support (14)

How lawmakers voted

There were 2 votes on this bill. Taking a bill up right away needs two-thirds of the members, a higher bar than passing it, so that vote can draw more yeses than the final one.

Senate Committee on Utilities and Housing vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 0 · Sep 6, 2019

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

Official motion: “Report passage recommended by Committee on Utilities and Housing, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to take it up right away

Passed, 60 to 35 · Nov 12, 2019 · 4 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (60)

Didn't vote (4)

Official motion: “SUSPEND RULES TO TAKE UP”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Jan 22, 2020

    The new law was published.

  2. Jan 22, 2020

    The governor signed it. It became 2019 Wisconsin Act 72.

  3. Jan 17, 2020

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Jan 15, 2020

    The Assembly passed it too.

  5. Jan 13, 2020

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Nov 6, 2019

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Nov 5, 2019

    The Senate passed it.

  8. Sep 26, 2019

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  9. Sep 6, 2019

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.

  10. Aug 13, 2019

    The committee held a public hearing.

  11. May 30, 2019

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Utilities and Housing.

  12. May 30, 2019

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. May 30, 2019 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Bernier, Bewley and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Jagler, Stafsholt, Ballweg, Felzkowski, Fields, James, B. Meyers, Pronschinske, Skowronski, Spiros, Tusler, Wichgers and Allen

  2. May 30, 2019 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Utilities and Housing

  3. Aug 13, 2019 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Sep 6, 2019 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  5. Sep 6, 2019 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Utilities and Housing, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  6. Sep 6, 2019 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  7. Sep 26, 2019 · Senate

    Representative Wittke added as a cosponsor

  8. Nov 1, 2019 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 11-5-2019 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  9. Nov 5, 2019 · Senate

    Read a second time

  10. Nov 5, 2019 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  11. Nov 5, 2019 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  12. Nov 5, 2019 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed

  13. Nov 5, 2019 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  14. Nov 6, 2019 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  15. Nov 12, 2019 · Assembly

    Refused to suspend rules to withdraw from Senate message and take up, Ayes 60, Noes 35

  16. Jan 13, 2020 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  17. Jan 13, 2020 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 1-15-2020 by Committee on Rules

  18. Jan 15, 2020 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  19. Jan 15, 2020 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  20. Jan 15, 2020 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  21. Jan 15, 2020 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  22. Jan 15, 2020 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  23. Jan 15, 2020 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  24. Jan 16, 2020 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  25. Jan 17, 2020 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 1-17-2020

  26. Jan 22, 2020 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 1-21-2020. 2019 Wisconsin Act 72

  27. Jan 22, 2020 · Senate

    Published 1-22-2020

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

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