Senate Bill 766
Operation of drones over certain utility facilities and providing a penalty
Topics: Aviation, Electric utility, Police, Public utility, Telecommunications, Waterworks
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.
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Introduced, passed
Dec 12, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, stopped here
Stopped here. The full Senate never voted on it.
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Assembly vote, not reached
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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 pass pursuant to ”
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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 768. 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
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.
Current law prohibits the unauthorized, noncommercial operation of a drone over a correctional institution. Any person who violates this prohibition may be required to forfeit not more than $5,000. This bill prohibits the unauthorized operation of a drone at an altitude of less than 300 feet over or within 500 feet of a parcel on which certain water reclamation, power, telecommunications, and water system facilities are located. The penalty for a violation of this prohibition is the same as for unauthorized operation of a drone over a correctional institution.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
15 more lawmakers .
See all 17 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Jesse James · Republican, Senate
- Cory Tomczyk · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (15)
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Donovan · Republican, Assembly
- Russell Goodwin · Democrat, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Maxey · Republican, Assembly
- Maureen McCarville · Democrat, Assembly
- Paul Melotik · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Todd Novak · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez · Democrat, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Christine Sinicki · Democrat, Assembly
- Paul Tittl · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
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 3 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote on an amendment
Passed, 8 to 0 · Mar 3, 2026
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 8, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote on an amendment
Passed, 8 to 0 · Mar 3, 2026
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 2 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote to recommend it
Passed, 8 to 0 · Mar 3, 2026
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 8, Noes 0”. 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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Mar 3, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 8 to 0.
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Mar 3, 2026
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Mar 3, 2026
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Feb 11, 2026 to Feb 13, 2026
2 more representatives signed on in support.
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Jan 7, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Dec 12, 2025
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
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Dec 12, 2025
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Dec 12, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Tomczyk and James; cosponsored by Representatives Donovan, Dittrich, Goodwin, Knodl, Maxey, Melotik, Murphy, Novak, O'Connor, Penterman, Sinicki, Tittl and Wichgers
- Dec 12, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Jan 6, 2026 · Senate
LRB correction
- Jan 7, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 16, 2026 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Tomczyk
- Jan 30, 2026 · Senate
Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senator Tomczyk
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Representative McCarville added as a cosponsor
- Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Representative Ortiz-Velez added as a cosponsor
- Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0
- Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0
- Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0
- Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- 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
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote