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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 266

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: human trafficking and trafficking of a child and providing a penalty.

Children Crime and criminals Crime and criminals — Felony Legislature — Criminal penalties joint review committee on

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Senate, not reached
  3. Passes Assembly, 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

This bill increases the penalty for human trafficking from a Class D felony to a Class C felony, increases the penalty for trafficking a child from a Class C felony to a Class B felony, and creates a mandatory minimum term of confinement in prison of 10 years for human trafficking and 15 years for trafficking a child.

Under current law, a Class D felony is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and a term of imprisonment not to exceed 25 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 15 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 10 years; a Class C felony is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and a term of imprisonment not to exceed 40 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 25 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 15 years; and a Class B felony is punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 60 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 40 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 20 years. Under current law, there is no mandatory minimum term of confinement for human trafficking or trafficking of a child.

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.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Wanggaard (R)

17 cosponsors

B. Jacobson (R) , Behnke (R) , Dittrich (R) , Duchow (R) , Knodl (R) , Kreibich (R) , Moses (R) , Murphy (R) , Mursau (R) , O'Connor (R) , Penterman (R) , Piwowarczyk (R) , Snyder (R) , Steffen (R) , Subeck (D) , VanderMeer (R) , Wittke (R)

Registered lobbying interests · 4

Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record

Votes

Senate: Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3

Passed 5–3 Oct 22, 2025 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3

Passed 5–3 Oct 22, 2025 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Full history

  1. May 20, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senator Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Wittke, O'Connor, B. Jacobson, Snyder, VanderMeer, Steffen, Moses, Penterman, Dittrich, Murphy, Knodl, Behnke, Piwowarczyk, Mursau and Kreibich

  2. May 20, 2025 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  3. Sep 10, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Duchow added as a cosponsor

  4. Sep 15, 2025 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  5. Sep 17, 2025 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  6. Oct 13, 2025 · Senate

    LRB correction

  7. Oct 15, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Subeck added as a cosponsor

  8. Oct 22, 2025 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  9. Oct 22, 2025 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  10. Oct 22, 2025 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3

  11. Oct 22, 2025 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3

  12. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1