Assembly Bill 866
The administration of the office of county sheriff and the appointment of county medical examiners. (FE)
Topics: Coroner, County: Officers, Sheriff
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 3, 2026. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Jan 16, 2026
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 19, 2026
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Mar 17, 2026
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2025 Wisconsin Act 196
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 3, 2026: “Published 4-4-2026”
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The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 862. 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.
This bill makes various changes related to the administration of the county sheriff’s office. Among the changes, the bill does all of the following:
1. Provides a procedure for temporarily filling a vacancy in the office of sheriff when there is no undersheriff. Under the procedure, the presiding judge of the county’s circuit court makes the appointment subject to certain requirements. Under current law, such a vacancy would be filled by the coroner.
Read the full summary Show less
2. Provides procedural requirements related to the appointment of an undersheriff.
3. Specifies that the undersheriff performs the duties of the sheriff when the office of sheriff is vacant or upon incapacity of the sheriff.
4. Provides position protection for sheriff’s deputies appointed undersheriff in counties without civil service.
5. Provides that in order for a deputy sheriff accused of misconduct to receive a disciplinary hearing, the deputy sheriff must request such a hearing within two weeks of receiving notice of charges.
6. Removes the prohibition on a deputy sheriff being suspended or dismissed without pay or benefits until the matter that is the subject of the suspension or dismissal is finally resolved.
7. Requires that, if a deputy sheriff was subject to a suspension, demotion, or discharge prior to a final determination of disciplinary charges and the charges are not ultimately sustained or the charges are otherwise withdrawn, the deputy sheriff be reinstated and entitled to pay as though in continuous service.
8. Removes the authority of the county board to establish traffic officer positions outside of the office of the sheriff.
The bill also provides that when the sheriff is a party to an action, the county clerk is responsible for service of process and the performance of duties usually performed by the sheriff related to service of process. Under current law, these duties are performed by the coroner. Also under the bill, a medical examiner is appointed by the county executive or county administrator, if the county has either of these offices, or by the county board, if not. The bill also specifies that a medical examiner is removable at will by the appointing authority.
Who's behind it
11 representatives are its . All 11 are Republicans.
6 more lawmakers .
See all 17 names Hide the names
Authors (11)
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Lindee Brill · Republican, Assembly
- Chanz Green · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Tony Kurtz · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Melotik · Republican, Assembly
- Todd Novak · Republican, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Piwowarczyk · Republican, Assembly
- Ron Tusler · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (6)
- Brienne Brown · Democrat, Assembly
- Jodi Emerson · Democrat, Assembly
- Dan Feyen · Republican, Senate
- Jeff Smith · Democrat, Senate
- Patrick Testin · Republican, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · 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.
How lawmakers voted
There were 4 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Local Government vote on an amendment
Passed, 10 to 0 · Feb 5, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Local Government, Ayes 10, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly Committee on Local Government vote to recommend it
Passed, 9 to 1 · Feb 5, 2026
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 Local Government, Ayes 9, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Mar 2, 2026
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 Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. 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
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Apr 3, 2026
The new law was published.
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Apr 3, 2026
The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 196.
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Apr 2, 2026
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 17, 2026 to Mar 19, 2026
1 more representative and 1 senator signed on in support.
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Mar 17, 2026
The Senate passed it too.
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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)
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Mar 6, 2026
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Mar 2, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Feb 25, 2026
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.
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Feb 23, 2026
The Senate received it.
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Feb 19, 2026
The Assembly passed it.
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Feb 19, 2026
The Assembly adopted it.
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Feb 5, 2026
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Feb 5, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 9 to 1.
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Feb 3, 2026
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Jan 21, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 16, 2026
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Local Government.
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Jan 16, 2026
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 16, 2026 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Tusler, Behnke, Green, Knodl, Kurtz, Melotik, Novak, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Wichgers and Brill; cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard, Testin and Feyen
- Jan 16, 2026 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Local Government
- Jan 21, 2026 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Jan 30, 2026 · Assembly
LRB correction
- Feb 3, 2026 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Feb 3, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Tusler
- Feb 4, 2026 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Feb 5, 2026 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Local Government, Ayes 10, Noes 0
- Feb 5, 2026 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Local Government, Ayes 9, Noes 1
- Feb 5, 2026 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 11:37 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 23, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Feb 25, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation and Local Government
- Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Representative Brown added as a coauthor
- 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 19, 2026 · Assembly
Representative Emerson added as a coauthor
- Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly
LRB correction
- Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 3-23-2026
- 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 196
- 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