Senate Bill 522
The appointment of a guardian ad litem in a proceeding to grant reasonable visitation rights to a nonparent. (FE)
Topics: Children: Protection and services, Court: Procedure, Family: Support
Passed the Senate, then stopped
The Senate passed it on Feb 18, 2026, but the Assembly never voted on it. A bill has to . The last day for votes this session was Mar 19, 2026. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Oct 9, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed 32 to 1
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Assembly vote, stopped here
Stopped here. The Assembly never voted on it.
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 23, 2026: “Failed to concur in pursuant to ”
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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 519. That version died when the session ended.
Terms on this page
Second chamber's vote
A bill has to pass both the Assembly and the Senate in the same form before it goes to the governor.
Official term: Concurrence. More in the glossary
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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 would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill permits a court to appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) for a minor child in an action affecting the family where a petition for visitation rights has been filed by a grandparent, great-grandparent, stepparent, or person who has maintained a relationship similar to a parent-child relationship with the child. In any such filing where the petitioner has pled a prima facie case for visitation, the bill requires the court to appoint a GAL for the minor child.
Under current law, a court is required to appoint a GAL for a minor child in an action affecting the family if the court has reason for special concern as to the welfare of the child or, with certain exceptions, if legal custody or physical placement of the child is contested. Current law also allows appointment of a GAL for a minor child if legal custody or physical placement is stipulated to be with any person or agency other than a parent of the child or, if at the time of the action, the child is in the legal custody of or physically placed with a person or agency other than the child’s parent.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
10 more lawmakers .
See all 12 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Cory Tomczyk · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (10)
- Dave Armstrong · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Kreibich · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Melotik · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Melissa Ratcliff · Democrat, Senate
- Lisa Subeck · 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 were 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Mental Health vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 3, 2026
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 Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Passed, 32 to 1 · Feb 18, 2026
See how each of the 33 senators voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (32)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Bob Wirch (D, 22)
- Brad Pfaff (D, 32)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Chris Larson (D, 7)
- Cory Tomczyk (R, 29)
- Dan Feyen (R, 20)
- Devin LeMahieu (R, 9)
- Dianne Hesselbein (D, 27)
- Dora Drake (D, 4)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Jamie Wall (D, 30)
- Jeff Smith (D, 31)
- Jesse James (R, 23)
- Jodi Habush Sinykin (D, 8)
- John Jagler (R, 13)
- Julian Bradley (R, 28)
- Kelda Roys (D, 26)
- Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D, 18)
- LaTonya Johnson (D, 6)
- Mark Spreitzer (D, 15)
- Mary Felzkowski (R, 12)
- Melissa Ratcliff (D, 16)
- Patrick Testin (R, 24)
- Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R, 19)
- Rob Hutton (R, 5)
- Rob Stafsholt (R, 10)
- Romaine Quinn (R, 25)
- Sarah Keyeski (D, 14)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Tim Carpenter (D, 3)
- Van Wanggaard (R, 21)
No (1)
- Eric Wimberger (R, 2)
Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 23, 2026
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Feb 18, 2026
The Assembly received it.
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Feb 18, 2026
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Feb 18, 2026
The Senate passed it, 32 to 1.
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Feb 3, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Jan 27, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Nov 3, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 10, 2025
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Oct 9, 2025
Sent to the Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families.
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Oct 9, 2025
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Oct 9, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Jacque and Tomczyk; cosponsored by Representatives Dittrich, Armstrong, Brooks, Kreibich, Melotik, Mursau, Penterman and Wichgers
- Oct 9, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families
- Oct 10, 2025 · Senate
Representative Subeck added as a cosponsor
- Nov 3, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Jan 27, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-18-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 32, Noes 1
- Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Senator Ratcliff added as a coauthor
- Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly
Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Second chamber's vote
A bill has to pass both the Assembly and the Senate in the same form before it goes to the governor.
Official term: Concurrence. More in the glossary
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
Second chamber's vote
A bill has to pass both the Assembly and the Senate in the same form before it goes to the governor.
Official term: Concurrence
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
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