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Bills from the 2025–26 session

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 ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 16, 2026

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 19, 2026

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Mar 17, 2026

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2025 Wisconsin Act 196

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 3, 2026: “Published 4-4-2026”

Read the bill

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The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 862. That version died when the session ended.

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

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a final determination of disciplinary charges and the charges are not ultimately sustained or the charges are otherwise withdrawn, the deputy sheriff be reinstated and entitled to pay as though in continuous service.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

Authors (11)

Signed on in support (6)

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

  1. Apr 3, 2026

    The new law was published.

  2. Apr 3, 2026

    The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 196.

  3. Apr 2, 2026

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 17, 2026 to Mar 19, 2026

    1 more representative and 1 senator signed on in support.

  5. Mar 17, 2026

    The Senate passed it too.

  6. 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)

  7. Mar 6, 2026

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  8. Mar 2, 2026

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.

  9. Feb 25, 2026

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.

  10. Feb 23, 2026

    The Senate received it.

  11. Feb 19, 2026

    The Assembly passed it.

  12. Feb 19, 2026

    The Assembly adopted it.

  13. Feb 5, 2026

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  14. Feb 5, 2026

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 9 to 1.

  15. Feb 3, 2026

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  16. Jan 21, 2026

    The committee held a public hearing.

  17. Jan 16, 2026

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Local Government.

  18. Jan 16, 2026

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. 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

  2. Jan 16, 2026 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Local Government

  3. Jan 21, 2026 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  4. Jan 30, 2026 · Assembly

    LRB correction

  5. Feb 3, 2026 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Feb 3, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Tusler

  7. Feb 4, 2026 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  8. Feb 5, 2026 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Local Government, Ayes 10, Noes 0

  9. Feb 5, 2026 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Local Government, Ayes 9, Noes 1

  10. Feb 5, 2026 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  11. Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 11:37 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14

  12. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  13. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  14. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  15. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  16. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  17. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  18. Feb 23, 2026 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  19. Feb 25, 2026 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation and Local Government

  20. Mar 2, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  21. Mar 2, 2026 · Senate

    Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  22. Mar 2, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  23. Mar 6, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Brown added as a coauthor

  24. Mar 16, 2026 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  25. Mar 16, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  26. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Read a second time

  27. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  28. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  29. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in

  30. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Senator Smith added as a cosponsor

  31. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  32. Mar 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  33. Mar 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Representative Emerson added as a coauthor

  34. Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly

    LRB correction

  35. Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 3-23-2026

  36. Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026

  37. Apr 3, 2026 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 4-3-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 196

  38. 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

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

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