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Bills from the 2021–22 session

Senate Bill 121

Prohibiting use of choke holds by law enforcement officers in use of force policies. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Jun 23, 2021. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 18, 2021

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Jun 9, 2021

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Jun 16, 2021

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2021 Wisconsin Act 48

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 10, 2022: “Representative Anderson added as a cosponsor”

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.

Current law requires law enforcement agencies to develop policies on the use of force by law enforcement officers in the performance of their duties. This bill provides that a law enforcement agency may not authorize in its use of force policy the use of choke holds by law enforcement officers, except in life-threatening situations or in self-defense.

Who's behind it

7 senators are its ⁠. 6 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.

11 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 18 names

Authors (7)

Signed on in support (11)

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, 7 to 0 · May 7, 2021

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

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote to recommend it

Passed, 6 to 1 · May 7, 2021

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 6, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 10, 2022

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  2. Jun 23, 2021

    The new law was published.

  3. Jun 23, 2021

    The governor signed it. It became 2021 Wisconsin Act 48.

  4. Jun 22, 2021

    Sent to the governor.

  5. Jun 16, 2021

    The Assembly passed it too.

  6. Jun 14, 2021

    “Read first time and referred to calendar of 6-16-2021” (the official wording)

  7. Jun 10, 2021

    The Assembly received it.

  8. Jun 9, 2021

    1 more senator signed on in support.

  9. Jun 9, 2021

    The Senate passed it.

  10. Jun 9, 2021

    The Senate adopted it.

  11. May 26, 2021 to May 28, 2021

    2 more representatives signed on in support.

  12. May 7, 2021

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 6 to 1.

  13. May 7, 2021

    “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  14. Apr 20, 2021

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  15. Mar 18, 2021

    The committee held a public hearing.

  16. Feb 18, 2021

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

  17. Feb 18, 2021

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Feb 18, 2021 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, L. Taylor, Darling, Cowles, Feyen, Jacque and Nass; cosponsored by Representatives Spiros, Armstrong, Brandtjen, Moses, Thiesfeldt and Tusler

  2. Feb 18, 2021 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  3. Mar 18, 2021 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Apr 20, 2021 · Senate

    Representative L. Myers added as a cosponsor

  5. May 4, 2021 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  6. May 6, 2021 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  7. May 7, 2021 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 0

  8. May 7, 2021 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 6, Noes 1

  9. May 7, 2021 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  10. May 26, 2021 · Senate

    Representative Drake added as a cosponsor

  11. May 28, 2021 · Senate

    Representative Steffen added as a cosponsor

  12. Jun 4, 2021 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 6-9-2021 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  13. Jun 9, 2021 · Senate

    Read a second time

  14. Jun 9, 2021 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  15. Jun 9, 2021 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  16. Jun 9, 2021 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  17. Jun 9, 2021 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed

  18. Jun 9, 2021 · Senate

    Senator Carpenter added as a coauthor

  19. Jun 9, 2021 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  20. Jun 10, 2021 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  21. Jun 14, 2021 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to calendar of 6-16-2021

  22. Jun 16, 2021 · Assembly

    Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up

  23. Jun 16, 2021 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  24. Jun 16, 2021 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  25. Jun 16, 2021 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  26. Jun 16, 2021 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  27. Jun 16, 2021 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  28. Jun 16, 2021 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  29. Jun 17, 2021 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  30. Jun 22, 2021 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 6-22-2021

  31. Jun 23, 2021 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 6-22-2021. 2021 Wisconsin Act 48

  32. Jun 23, 2021 · Senate

    Published 6-23-2021

  33. Mar 10, 2022 · Senate

    Representative Anderson added as a cosponsor

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