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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 738

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: using an absentee ballot drop box or the U.S. mail or a commercial carrier to commit election fraud and providing a penalty.

Crime and criminals — Felony Elections — Ballots Fraud Fuel Legislature — Criminal penalties joint review committee on Legislature — Employment relations joint committee on Postage and postal service

  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

Under current law, the severest punishment for election fraud is generally a Class I felony, the penalty for which is a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed three years and six months, or both. Generally, mail fraud is punishable as a Class H felony, the penalty for which is a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed six years, or both.

Under this bill, it is a Class H felony to use an absentee ballot drop box or the U.S. mail or a commercial carrier in the course of committing election fraud.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Tomczyk (R) , Wanggaard (R) , Wimberger (R)

11 cosponsors

B. Jacobson (R) , Behnke (R) , Dittrich (R) , Gundrum (R) , Kitchens (R) , Knodl (R) , Moses (R) , Murphy (R) , O'Connor (R) , Piwowarczyk (R) , Steffen (R)

Registered lobbying interests · 1

Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record

Full history

  1. Dec 12, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Wimberger, Tomczyk and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives O'Connor, Behnke, Dittrich, Gundrum, B. Jacobson, Kitchens, Knodl, Moses, Murphy, Piwowarczyk and Steffen

  2. Dec 12, 2025 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development

  3. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1