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Bills from the 2025–26 session

Senate Bill 862

The administration of the office of county sheriff and the appointment of county medical examiners. (FE)

Topics: Coroner, County: Officers, Sheriff

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

    Jan 23, 2026

  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 866. That version became law.

What it would have done

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill makes various changes related to the administration of the county sheriff’s office. Among the changes, the bill does all of the following:

1. Provides a procedure for temporarily filling a vacancy in the office of sheriff when there is no undersheriff. Under the procedure, the presiding judge of the county’s circuit court makes the appointment subject to certain requirements. Under current law, such a vacancy would be filled by the coroner.

Read the full summary

2. Provides procedural requirements related to the appointment of an undersheriff.

3. Specifies that the undersheriff performs the duties of the sheriff when the office of sheriff is vacant or upon incapacity of the sheriff.

4. Provides position protection for sheriff’s deputies appointed undersheriff in counties without civil service.

5. Provides that in order for a deputy sheriff accused of misconduct to receive a disciplinary hearing, the deputy sheriff must request such a hearing within two weeks of receiving notice of charges.

6. Removes the prohibition on a deputy sheriff being suspended or dismissed without pay or benefits until the matter that is the subject of the suspension or dismissal is finally resolved.

7. Requires that, if a deputy sheriff was subject to a suspension, demotion, or discharge prior to a final determination of disciplinary charges and the charges are not ultimately sustained or the charges are otherwise withdrawn, the deputy sheriff be reinstated and entitled to pay as though in continuous service.

8. Removes the authority of the county board to establish traffic officer positions outside of the office of the sheriff.

The bill also provides that when the sheriff is a party to an action, the county clerk is responsible for service of process and the performance of duties usually performed by the sheriff related to service of process. Under current law, these duties are performed by the coroner. Also under the bill, a medical examiner is appointed by the county executive or county administrator, if the county has either of these offices, or by the county board, if not. The bill also specifies that a medical examiner is removable at will by the appointing authority.

Who's behind it

3 senators are its ⁠. All 3 are Republicans.

12 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 15 names

Authors (3)

Signed on in support (12)

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 Transportation and Local Government vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Mar 2, 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 Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 0 · Mar 2, 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 Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 23, 2026

    The session ended, and the bill died with it.

  2. Mar 6, 2026 to Mar 19, 2026

    2 more representatives signed on in support.

  3. Mar 2, 2026

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.

  4. Mar 2, 2026

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  5. Feb 12, 2026

    The committee held a public hearing.

  6. Feb 4, 2026

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  7. Jan 23, 2026

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.

  8. Jan 23, 2026

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 23, 2026 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, Testin and Feyen; cosponsored by Representatives Tusler, Melotik, Behnke, Penterman, Knodl, Wichgers, Piwowarczyk, Kurtz, Green and Novak

  2. Jan 23, 2026 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government

  3. Jan 30, 2026 · Senate

    LRB correction

  4. Feb 3, 2026 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  5. Feb 4, 2026 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Feb 12, 2026 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  7. Mar 2, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  8. Mar 2, 2026 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  9. Mar 2, 2026 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  10. Mar 2, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  11. Mar 6, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Brown added as a cosponsor

  12. Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Emerson added as a cosponsor

  13. 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