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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 519

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: the operation of drones over school property and providing a penalty.

Aviation Indians and tribal issues Parochial and private schools School — Administration School — Building School — Charter school

  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

Current law prohibits the operation of a drone over a correctional institution without the express authorization of the secretary of corrections for a state facility or of the sheriff of the county for a county facility. A person who violates this prohibition is subject to a forfeiture of up to $5,000.

This bill prohibits the operation of a drone over a property owned by a public, private, or tribal school or on which a public, private, or tribal school is located with the following exceptions: 1) with the express authorization of the school board, governing body, or governing board with jurisdiction over the school; and 2) for limited purposes at the direction of the chief of a public protective services agency with jurisdiction over the territory on which the school property is located. The penalty for a violation of this prohibition is the same as for a violation of the restriction of operating a drone over a correctional institution.

Sponsors

Introduced by: James (R) , Marklein (R) , Tomczyk (R)

20 cosponsors

Behnke (R) , Dittrich (R) , Franklin (R) , Goodwin (D) , Gundrum (R) , J. Jacobson (D) , Kitchens (R) , Knodl (R) , Melotik (R) , Murphy (R) , Mursau (R) , O'Connor (R) , Penterman (R) , Piwowarczyk (R) , Sheehan (D) , Sinicki (D) , Steffen (R) , Stroud (D) , Stubbs (D) , Wichgers (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 8, Noes 0

Passed 8–0 Mar 12, 2026 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 8, Noes 0

Passed 8–0 Mar 12, 2026 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. Oct 9, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators James, Marklein and Tomczyk; cosponsored by Representatives Kitchens, Franklin, Steffen, Behnke, Dittrich, Goodwin, Gundrum, Knodl, Melotik, Murphy, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Sheehan, Sinicki, Stroud and Wichgers

  2. Oct 9, 2025 · Senate

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

  3. Oct 29, 2025 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Nov 4, 2025 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator James

  5. Nov 19, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Stubbs added as a cosponsor

  6. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  7. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0

  8. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0

  9. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  10. Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

    Representative J. Jacobson added as a cosponsor

  11. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1