Assembly Bill 86
Imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE)
Topics: Crime and criminals, Legislature: Criminal Penalties, Joint Review Committee on, Sentences and penalties
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 3, 2026. It's .
-
Introduced, passed
Feb 28, 2025
-
Committee, passed
Approved
-
Assembly vote, passed
Passed Mar 13, 2025
-
Senate vote, passed
Passed Mar 17, 2026
-
Governor, passed
Signed
-
Law, here now
2025 Wisconsin Act 187
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 3, 2026: “Published 4-4-2026”
Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.
Embed this on your site
Paste this code into your page. The card shows the latest record each time it loads. Preview the card
The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 91. That version died when the session ended.
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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. 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 current law, a person who is convicted of the crime of trafficking a child, or who knowingly benefits from the crime of trafficking a child, is guilty of a Class C felony. This bill increases the penalty to a Class A felony if the crime involved at least three victims who were children at the time the crime was committed. A Class A felony carries a penalty of life imprisonment.
Under current law, the court must impose a bifurcated sentence on a person who is being sentenced for a felony that was committed on or after December 31, 1999. A bifurcated sentence is a sentence that comprises a term of confinement in prison followed by a term of extended supervision in the community. Under current law, a court that sentences a person who has been convicted of a Class A felony committed on or after December 31, 1999, must determine one of the following: 1) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision after serving a 20-year term of confinement in prison; 2) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision on a certain date that is after the person serves a 20-year term of confinement in prison; or 3) the person is not eligible for release to extended supervision. Under this bill, a person is not eligible for release to extended supervision if the person is convicted of a Class A felony violation of trafficking a child.
Read the full summary Show less
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
10 representatives are its . All 10 are Republicans.
3 more lawmakers .
See all 13 names Hide the names
Authors (10)
- Scott Allen · Republican, Assembly
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Joy Goeben · Republican, Assembly
- Rick Gundrum · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Kreibich · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Shae Sortwell · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (3)
- Clint Anderson · Democrat, Assembly
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Jeff Smith · Democrat, Senate
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There were 3 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Judiciary vote to recommend it
Passed, 4 to 0 · Mar 11, 2025
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 Judiciary, Ayes 4, 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 · Apr 15, 2025
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 6, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 3 to 2 · Mar 16, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
-
Apr 3, 2026
The new law was published.
-
Apr 3, 2026
The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 187.
-
Apr 2, 2026
Sent to the governor.
-
Mar 17, 2026
1 more senator signed on in support.
-
Mar 17, 2026
The Senate passed it too.
-
Mar 16, 2026
“Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)
-
Apr 15, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
-
Apr 15, 2025
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 6 to 1.
-
Apr 9, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
-
Mar 14, 2025
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
-
Mar 13, 2025
The Senate received it.
-
Mar 13, 2025
The Assembly passed it.
-
Mar 13, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
-
Mar 13, 2025
1 more representative signed on in support.
-
Mar 11, 2025
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 0.
-
Mar 4, 2025
The committee held a public hearing.
-
Feb 28, 2025
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary.
-
Feb 28, 2025
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Feb 28, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Sortwell, Allen, Behnke, Goeben, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, Mursau and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senator Jacque
- Feb 28, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary
- Mar 4, 2025 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Mar 10, 2025 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Mar 11, 2025 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 4, Noes 0
- Mar 11, 2025 · Assembly
Referred to calendar of 3-13-2025 pursuant to Assembly Rule 45 (1)
- Mar 13, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Anderson added as a coauthor
- Mar 13, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 13, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 13, 2025 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Mar 13, 2025 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 13, 2025 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Mar 13, 2025 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Mar 13, 2025 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 13, 2025 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Mar 14, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Apr 9, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 15, 2025 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Apr 15, 2025 · Senate
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 6, Noes 1
- Apr 15, 2025 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Apr 15, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 16, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 16, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Senator Smith added as a cosponsor
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 18, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Mar 25, 2026 · Assembly
LRB correction
- Mar 25, 2026 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 3-25-2026
- Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026
- Apr 3, 2026 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 4-3-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 187
- Apr 3, 2026 · Assembly
Published 4-4-2026
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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. 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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote