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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 678

Became law Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: the use of oral fluids for preliminary screening of a person suspected of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

Boat Drunken driving Motorcycle Police Recreation vehicle Snowmobile Social work

  1. Introduced, completed
  2. Passes Senate, completed
  3. Passes Assembly, completed
  4. Governor signs, completed
  5. Law, completed

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, no person may operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, with a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in their blood, or with a prohibited alcohol concentration (OWI). If a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that a person has committed an OWI violation, the officer may request the person to provide a sample of his or her breath for a preliminary breath screening test. The result of this test is not admissible in any action or proceeding except to show probable cause for an arrest or to prove that additional chemical tests are required.

This bill provides that a law enforcement officer may request a sample of a person’s breath or oral fluids, or both, for a preliminary screening for OWI.

Sponsors

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

14 cosponsors

B. Jacobson (R) , Brill (R) , Brown (D) , Callahan (R) , Dittrich (R) , Emerson (D) , Kreibich (R) , Melotik (R) , Murphy (R) , O'Connor (R) , Palmeri (D) , Penterman (R) , Piwowarczyk (R) , Spaude (D)

Registered lobbying interests · 8

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 2 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 1

Passed 7–1 Jan 13, 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 without recommendation, pursuant to Senate Rule 27 (4)(a), by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 4, Noes 4

Failed 4–4 Jan 13, 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. Nov 20, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators James, Marklein, Tomczyk and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Dittrich, Brill, Callahan, Kreibich, Melotik, Murphy, O'Connor, Penterman and Piwowarczyk

  2. Nov 20, 2025 · Senate

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

  3. Dec 2, 2025 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator James

  4. Dec 9, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Palmeri added as a cosponsor

  5. Dec 17, 2025 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  6. Jan 6, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Spaude added as a cosponsor

  7. Jan 12, 2026 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senator James

  8. Jan 13, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  9. Jan 13, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  10. Jan 13, 2026 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 1

  11. Jan 13, 2026 · Senate

    Report passage without recommendation, pursuant to Senate Rule 27 (4)(a), by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 4, Noes 4

  12. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Representative B. Jacobson added as a cosponsor

  13. Feb 16, 2026 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 offered by Senator James

  14. Feb 17, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-18-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  15. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Read a second time

  16. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 adopted

  17. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 adopted

  18. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  19. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  20. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed

  21. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  22. Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  23. Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  24. Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 11:28 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14

  25. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  26. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  27. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  28. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  29. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  30. Feb 23, 2026 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  31. Feb 25, 2026 · Senate

    LRB correction (Senate Amendment 2)

  32. Feb 25, 2026 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  33. Mar 6, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Brown added as a cosponsor

  34. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 3-12-2026

  35. Mar 13, 2026 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-13-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 99

  36. Mar 13, 2026 · Senate

    Published 3-14-2026

  37. Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Emerson added as a cosponsor