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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

AB 123

Became law Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: calculation of miles for purposes of relocation of a child 100 miles or more from the other parent in an action affecting the family.

Divorce Family

  1. Introduced, completed
  2. Passes Assembly, completed
  3. Passes Senate, completed
  4. Governor signs, completed
  5. Law, completed

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a parent granted periods of physical placement with a child in an action affecting the family must obtain a court order if the parent intends to relocate and reside with the child 100 miles or more from the other parent if the other parent also has court-ordered periods of physical placement with the child. Also under current law, during the pendency of an action affecting the family, parties are generally prohibited from relocating and establishing a residence with a minor child of the parties that is more than 100 miles from the residence of the other party, if the party does not have consent of the other party or an order of the court. The requirement to obtain a court order allowing relocation does not apply if the parents already live more than 100 miles apart when a parent proposes to relocate and reside with the child, but in that situation, the parent who intends to relocate with the child must serve written notice of the intent to relocate on the other parent at least 60 days before relocation.

This bill adds an express requirement that the 100-mile distance for purposes of these provisions must be calculated as “driving miles,” defined in the bill to mean the actual distance traveling by road required to get from one location to another rather than the straight-line distance between those locations.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Armstrong (R) , Brooks (R) , Goeben (R) , Knodl (R) , Mursau (R) , Wichgers (R)

3 cosponsors

Jacque (R) , O'Connor (R) , Penterman (R)

Registered lobbying interests · 1

Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record

Votes

Assembly: Report passage recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 9, Noes 0

Passed 9–0 Jun 6, 2025 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0

Passed 5–0 Oct 10, 2025 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Full history

  1. Mar 11, 2025 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Goeben, Knodl, Wichgers, Brooks, Armstrong and Mursau; cosponsored by Senator Jacque

  2. Mar 11, 2025 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Children and Families

  3. May 21, 2025 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  4. May 22, 2025 · Assembly

    Representative Penterman added as a coauthor

  5. Jun 4, 2025 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  6. Jun 6, 2025 · Assembly

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 9, Noes 0

  7. Jun 6, 2025 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  8. Jun 20, 2025 · Assembly

    Withdrawn from Committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 6-24-2025

  9. Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  10. Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  11. Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  12. Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  13. Jun 24, 2025 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  14. Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly

    Representative O'Connor added as a coauthor

  15. Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  16. Jun 27, 2025 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families

  17. Sep 4, 2025 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  18. Oct 2, 2025 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  19. Oct 10, 2025 · Senate

    Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  20. Oct 10, 2025 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  21. Oct 13, 2025 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 10-14-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  22. Oct 14, 2025 · Senate

    Read a second time

  23. Oct 14, 2025 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  24. Oct 14, 2025 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  25. Oct 14, 2025 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in

  26. Oct 14, 2025 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  27. Oct 14, 2025 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  28. Oct 15, 2025 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 10-15-2025

  29. Dec 4, 2025 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 12-4-2025

  30. Dec 10, 2025 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 12-9-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 81

  31. Dec 10, 2025 · Assembly

    Published 12-10-2025