Senate Bill 188
Reduction of penalty surcharge when certain fines or forfeitures reduced. (FE)
Topics: Court: Fee, Fines, Forfeiture
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 9, 2026. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Apr 14, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Nov 18, 2025
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jan 20, 2026
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2025 Wisconsin Act 213
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 9, 2026: “Published 4-9-2026”
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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 188. 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, when a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for certain violations of state law or municipal or county ordinances, a penalty surcharge in the amount of 26 percent of the amount of the fine or forfeiture is also imposed. Current law provides that when a fine or forfeiture is suspended in whole or in part, the penalty surcharge must be reduced in proportion to the suspension. This bill requires the same rule to be applied for reduction of a fine or forfeiture. Under the bill, when a fine or forfeiture to which the penalty surcharge applies is reduced, the penalty surcharge must also be reduced in proportion to the reduction.
Who's behind it
Dan Feyen, a Republican, is its .
11 more lawmakers .
See all 12 names Hide the names
Author (1)
- Dan Feyen · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (11)
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Madison, Phelps and Clancy
- Clint Moses · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Todd Novak · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Melissa Ratcliff · Democrat, Senate
- Christine Sinicki · Democrat, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote to recommend it
Passed, 8 to 0 · May 8, 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 and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 9, 2026
The new law was published.
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Apr 9, 2026
The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 213.
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Apr 2, 2026
Sent to the governor.
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Jan 20, 2026
The Assembly passed it too.
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Jan 16, 2026
3 more representatives signed on in support.
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Jan 14, 2026
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Nov 19, 2025
The Assembly received it.
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Nov 18, 2025
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Nov 18, 2025
The Senate passed it.
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Oct 15, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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May 8, 2025
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 8 to 0.
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Apr 30, 2025
The committee held a public hearing.
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Apr 14, 2025
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
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Apr 14, 2025
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Apr 14, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senator Feyen; cosponsored by Representatives Brooks, Knodl, Behnke, Moses, Mursau, Novak, Sinicki, Wichgers and O'Connor
- Apr 14, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Apr 30, 2025 · Senate
Public hearing held
- May 8, 2025 · Senate
Executive action taken
- May 8, 2025 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0
- May 8, 2025 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Oct 15, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Nov 14, 2025 · Senate
Placed on calendar 11-18-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Nov 18, 2025 · Senate
Read a second time
- Nov 18, 2025 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 18, 2025 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Nov 18, 2025 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Nov 18, 2025 · Senate
Senator Ratcliff added as a coauthor
- Nov 18, 2025 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Jan 14, 2026 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Jan 14, 2026 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 1-20-2026 by Committee on Rules
- Jan 16, 2026 · Assembly
Representatives Madison, Phelps and Clancy added as cosponsors
- Jan 20, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Jan 20, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jan 20, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 20, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jan 20, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Jan 20, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 20, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Jan 22, 2026 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Apr 2, 2026 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026
- Apr 9, 2026 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 4-8-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 213
- Apr 9, 2026 · Senate
Published 4-9-2026
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