Senate Bill 65
Impoundment of vehicles used in certain reckless driving offenses. (FE)
Topics: Forfeiture, Motor vehicle: Regulation, Motor vehicle: Theft, Ordinance, Police
Stopped before the full Senate voted
The recommended passing it, but the full Senate never voted on it. The last day for votes this session was Mar 19, 2026. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
-
Introduced, passed
Feb 21, 2025
-
Committee, passed
Approved
-
Senate vote, stopped here
Stopped here. The full Senate never voted on it.
-
Assembly vote, not reached
-
Governor, not reached
-
Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 23, 2026: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.
Embed this on your site
Paste this code into your page. The card shows the latest record each time it loads. Preview the card
The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 78. That version became law.
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
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.
Under current law, a political subdivision may enact an ordinance authorizing law enforcement officers to impound vehicles used in reckless driving offenses if the person cited for reckless driving is the owner of the vehicle and the person has a prior reckless driving conviction for which a forfeiture was imposed that has not been fully paid. Under this bill, such an ordinance may authorize the impoundment of any vehicle used in a reckless driving offense regardless of ownership of the vehicle or prior record of the operator. The bill also provides that a local ordinance may authorize impounding such a vehicle until outstanding fines and forfeitures owed by the vehicle’s owner are fully paid.
Also under the bill, upon impounding a vehicle under such an ordinance, the law enforcement officer must attempt to determine if the vehicle has been reported as stolen, and if so, the officer or the impounding political subdivision must attempt to contact the owner. If the vehicle is reported as stolen, the vehicle must be released to the owner without the payment of a fee or charge.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
26 more lawmakers .
See all 28 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Cory Tomczyk · Republican, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (26)
- Scott Allen · Republican, Assembly
- Jill Billings · Democrat, Assembly
- Brienne Brown · Democrat, Assembly
- Tim Carpenter · Democrat, Senate
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Donovan · Republican, Assembly
- Steve Doyle · Democrat, Assembly
- Cindi Duchow · Republican, Assembly
- Jodi Emerson · Democrat, Assembly
- Russell Goodwin · Democrat, Assembly
- Rick Gundrum · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Maxey · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Melotik · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Todd Novak · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez · Democrat, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Piwowarczyk · Republican, Assembly
- Jessie Rodriguez · Republican, Assembly
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Tittl · Republican, Assembly
- Ron Tusler · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
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 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote on an amendment
Passed, 7 to 1 · Apr 15, 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 Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote to recommend it
Passed, 7 to 1 · Apr 15, 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 Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
-
Mar 23, 2026
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
-
Jan 23, 2026 to Mar 19, 2026
4 more representatives signed on in support.
-
Apr 15, 2025
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 1.
-
Apr 15, 2025
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 1” (the official wording)
-
Mar 24, 2025
1 more senator signed on in support.
-
Mar 19, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
-
Mar 13, 2025
The committee held a public hearing.
-
Feb 21, 2025
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
-
Feb 21, 2025
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Feb 21, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Wanggaard and Tomczyk; cosponsored by Representatives Donovan, Rodriguez, Allen, Dittrich, Duchow, Goodwin, Gundrum, Knodl, Maxey, Melotik, Murphy, Mursau, Novak, O'Connor, Ortiz-Velez, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Steffen, Tittl, Tusler and Wichgers
- Feb 21, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Mar 13, 2025 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard
- Mar 13, 2025 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 19, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 24, 2025 · Senate
Senator Carpenter added as a coauthor
- Apr 15, 2025 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Apr 15, 2025 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 1
- Apr 15, 2025 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 1
- Apr 15, 2025 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jan 23, 2026 · Senate
Representative Doyle added as a cosponsor
- Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Representative Brown added as a cosponsor
- Mar 10, 2026 · Senate
Representative Billings added as a cosponsor
- Mar 19, 2026 · Senate
Representative Emerson added as a cosponsor
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
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
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
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