Assembly Bill 519
The appointment of a guardian ad litem in a proceeding to grant reasonable visitation rights to a nonparent. (FE)
Topics: Children: Protection and services, Court: Procedure, Family: Support
Stopped in committee
It never got a , so it never came up for a vote. The last day for votes this session was Mar 19, 2026. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Oct 15, 2025
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Committee, stopped here
Stopped here. No public hearing was held.
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Senate vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 23, 2026: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It never got a hearing in the Assembly Committee on Children and Families. The committee's chair at the time was Pat Snyder. Chairs decide which bills get a hearing. See every bill that never got a hearing this session.
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The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 522. That version died when the session ended.
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill requires a court to appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) for a minor child in an action affecting the family where a petition for visitation rights has been filed by a grandparent, great-grandparent, stepparent, or person who has maintained a relationship similar to a parent-child relationship with the child and the petitioner has established standing to file the petition.
Under current law, a court is required to appoint a GAL for a minor child in an action affecting the family if the court has reason for special concern as to the welfare of the minor child or, with certain exceptions, if legal custody or physical placement of the child is contested. Current law also allows appointment of a GAL for a minor child if legal custody or physical placement is stipulated to be with any person or agency other than a parent of the child or, if at the time of the action, the child is in the legal custody of or physically placed with a person or agency other than the child’s parent.
Who's behind it
8 representatives are its . All 8 are Republicans.
4 more lawmakers .
See all 12 names Hide the names
Authors (8)
- Dave Armstrong · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Kreibich · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Melotik · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (4)
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Melissa Ratcliff · Democrat, Senate
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
- Cory Tomczyk · Republican, Senate
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.
What happened
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Mar 23, 2026
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Feb 18, 2026
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Nov 3, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 17, 2025
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Oct 15, 2025
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Children and Families.
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Oct 15, 2025
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Oct 15, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Dittrich, Armstrong, Brooks, Kreibich, Melotik, Mursau, Penterman and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Jacque and Tomczyk
- Oct 15, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Children and Families
- Oct 17, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Subeck added as a coauthor
- Nov 3, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Nov 3, 2025 · Assembly
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Dittrich
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Senator Ratcliff added as a cosponsor
- Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate