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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

AB 861

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: the civil causes of action for human trafficking and trafficking a child.

Children Court — Procedure Crime and criminals Crime victim

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Assembly, not reached
  3. Passes Senate, not reached
  4. Governor signs, not reached
  5. Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a victim of human trafficking or child trafficking who incurs an injury or death as a result of the trafficking may bring a civil cause of action against the person who committed the violation. The victim must commence the civil action within three years of the injury.

Under current law, a person who is injured by an act that would constitute a violation of criminal laws relating to sexual assault of a child or incest with a child may bring a cause of action against the person who caused the injury regardless of whether that person was prosecuted or convicted for the criminal violation. The victim must commence the civil action before he or she reaches the age of 35.

This bill specifies that a victim of child trafficking may bring a civil action regardless of whether anyone was prosecuted or convicted for the child trafficking violation, and specifies that the victim may commence the civil action any time before he or she reaches the age of 35.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Behnke (R) , Dittrich (R) , Gundrum (R) , Knodl (R) , Kreibich (R) , Murphy (R) , Mursau (R) , O'Connor (R) , Ortiz-Velez (D) , Penterman (R) , Piwowarczyk (R) , Sinicki (D) , Steffen (R) , Stubbs (D) , Udell (D)

4 cosponsors

Habush Sinykin (D) , Sheehan (D) , Subeck (D) , Wanggaard (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

Full history

  1. Jan 16, 2026 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Mursau, Steffen, Stubbs, Behnke, Dittrich, Gundrum, Kreibich, Murphy, O'Connor, Ortiz-Velez, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Sinicki, Udell and Knodl; cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard and Habush Sinykin

  2. Jan 16, 2026 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety

  3. Feb 20, 2026 · Assembly

    Representative Sheehan added as a coauthor

  4. Mar 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Representative Subeck added as a coauthor

  5. Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1