Senate Bill 172
Prohibiting filing or recording contracts for services or materials that do not improve real estate and providing a penalty. (FE)
Topics: Contracts, Court: Procedure, Legislature: Criminal Penalties, Joint Review Committee on, Real property, Register of deeds
Became law
The governor signed it on Aug 11, 2025. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Apr 3, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed May 15, 2025
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jun 24, 2025
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2025 Wisconsin Act 32
Latest entry in the official record, Nov 4, 2025: “Representative J. Jacobson added as a cosponsor”
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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 157. 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 provides that, with certain, specified exceptions, no person may file or record with, or present for filing or recording to, a register of deeds a non-improvement contract or a notice, memorandum, or other instrument related to a non-improvement contract (document) and authorizes the register of deeds to reject such a document and return it unrecorded. The bill defines “non-improvement contract” as a contract 1) under which a person agrees to perform, furnish, or procure any work, labor, service, materials, plans, or specifications that are not used or consumed for the improvement of real estate, and 2) that purports to create a lien, encumbrance, or other security interest on real estate. A person that violates the recording or filing prohibition in the bill may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than nine months, or both.
In addition, under the bill, an owner of real estate affected by such a filing or recording may bring a civil action against the person that files or records the document. If the owner prevails in the action, the court must order the real estate released from the effect of the document and may award actual damages, costs, and reasonable attorney fees.
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
6 senators are its . 3 are Democrats and 3 are Republicans.
18 more lawmakers .
See all 24 names Hide the names
Authors (6)
- Kristin Dassler-Alfheim · Democrat, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
- Romaine Quinn · Republican, Senate
- Mark Spreitzer · Democrat, Senate
- Jamie Wall · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (18)
- Scott Allen · Republican, Assembly
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Jenna Jacobson · Democrat, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Kreibich · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Maxey · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez · Democrat, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Piwowarczyk · Republican, Assembly
- Treig Pronschinske · Republican, Assembly
- Melissa Ratcliff · Democrat, Senate
- Stroud, O'Connor, Miresse and Stubbs
- Rob Summerfield · Republican, Assembly
- Duke Tucker · Republican, Assembly
- Randy Udell · Democrat, Assembly
- Bob Wirch · Democrat, 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 3 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Insurance vote on an amendment
Passed, 5 to 0 · May 9, 2025
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Insurance vote on an amendment
Passed, 5 to 0 · May 9, 2025
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Insurance vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · May 9, 2025
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 Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Nov 4, 2025
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Aug 11, 2025
The new law was published.
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Aug 11, 2025
The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 32.
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Aug 7, 2025
Sent to the governor.
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Jun 24, 2025
The Assembly passed it too.
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Jun 24, 2025
4 more representatives signed on in support.
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May 28, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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May 27, 2025
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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May 15, 2025
The Assembly received it.
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May 15, 2025
The Senate passed it.
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May 15, 2025
The Senate adopted it.
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May 15, 2025
1 more senator signed on in support.
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May 9, 2025
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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May 9, 2025
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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May 9, 2025
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Apr 25, 2025 to May 9, 2025
1 more representative and 1 senator signed on in support.
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Apr 17, 2025
The committee held a public hearing.
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Apr 16, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Apr 8, 2025 to Apr 10, 2025
3 more representatives signed on in support.
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Apr 3, 2025
Sent to the Senate Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry.
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Apr 3, 2025
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Apr 3, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Quinn, Marklein, Dassler-Alfheim, Nass, Spreitzer and Wall; cosponsored by Representatives Maxey, Piwowarczyk, Behnke, Dittrich, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, Pronschinske, Summerfield and Ortiz-Velez
- Apr 3, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry
- Apr 7, 2025 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Quinn
- Apr 8, 2025 · Senate
Representative Allen added as a cosponsor
- Apr 9, 2025 · Senate
Representative Tucker added as a cosponsor
- Apr 10, 2025 · Senate
Representative Udell added as a cosponsor
- Apr 16, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 17, 2025 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Apr 25, 2025 · Senate
Senator Wirch added as a coauthor
- May 6, 2025 · Senate
Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senator Quinn
- May 9, 2025 · Senate
Representative Penterman added as a cosponsor
- May 9, 2025 · Senate
Executive action taken
- May 9, 2025 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- May 9, 2025 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- May 9, 2025 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- May 9, 2025 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- May 13, 2025 · Senate
Placed on calendar 5-15-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- May 15, 2025 · Senate
Senator Ratcliff added as a coauthor
- May 15, 2025 · Senate
Read a second time
- May 15, 2025 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 adopted
- May 15, 2025 · Senate
Senate Amendment 2 adopted
- May 15, 2025 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- May 15, 2025 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- May 15, 2025 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- May 15, 2025 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- May 15, 2025 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- May 27, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- May 28, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Jun 20, 2025 · Assembly
Withdrawn from Committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 6-24-2025
- Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly
Representatives Stroud, O'Connor, Miresse and Stubbs added as cosponsors
- Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Jun 24, 2025 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 24, 2025 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Jun 26, 2025 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Aug 7, 2025 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 8-7-2025
- Aug 11, 2025 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 8-8-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 32
- Aug 11, 2025 · Senate
Published 8-9-2025
- Nov 4, 2025 · Senate
Representative J. Jacobson added as a cosponsor
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