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Bills from the 2025–26 session

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.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 21, 2025

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, stopped here

    Stopped here. The full Senate never voted on it.

  4. Assembly vote, not reached

  5. Governor, not reached

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 23, 2026: “Failed to pass pursuant to ⁠”

Read the bill

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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 78. That version became law.

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

Authors (2)

Signed on in support (26)

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

  1. Mar 23, 2026

    The session ended, and the bill died with it.

  2. Jan 23, 2026 to Mar 19, 2026

    4 more representatives signed on in support.

  3. Apr 15, 2025

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 1.

  4. Apr 15, 2025

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 1” (the official wording)

  5. Mar 24, 2025

    1 more senator signed on in support.

  6. Mar 19, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  7. Mar 13, 2025

    The committee held a public hearing.

  8. Feb 21, 2025

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

  9. Feb 21, 2025

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. 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

  2. Feb 21, 2025 · Senate

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

  3. Mar 13, 2025 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  4. Mar 13, 2025 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  5. Mar 19, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Mar 24, 2025 · Senate

    Senator Carpenter added as a coauthor

  7. Apr 15, 2025 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  8. Apr 15, 2025 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 1

  9. Apr 15, 2025 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 1

  10. Apr 15, 2025 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  11. Jan 23, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Doyle added as a cosponsor

  12. Mar 6, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Brown added as a cosponsor

  13. Mar 10, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Billings added as a cosponsor

  14. Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Emerson added as a cosponsor

  15. 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.

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

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

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

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