Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: restitution orders following a conviction for human trafficking and restoration of the right to vote to a person barred from voting as a result of a felony conviction. (FE)
Court — Fee Crime and criminals — Felony Crime victim Fines Parole or probation Voting Wage — Minimum
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, when a defendant is sentenced or placed on probation for a crime, the court must order the defendant to pay restitution to the victim of the crime to pay for costs incurred by the victim or the victim’s estate as a result of the crime. The court may require that restitution be paid immediately, within a specified time, or in specified installments. The court may not set the time limit to be later than the end of the defendant’s term of probation, parole, or extended supervision. When the defendant has completed the term, any outstanding restitution is enforceable in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action. The victim may use civil court actions to collect the restitution, including seeking a wage garnishment or an execution against the defendant’s property (a court order to the sheriff to seize property, sell it, and use the money toward the outstanding restitution). Under this bill, if the defendant is sentenced or placed on probation for human trafficking, the court must require restitution be paid immediately and, if the defendant fails to pay immediately, the court must issue an execution against the defendant’s property.
Under current law, a person convicted of treason, felony, or bribery may not vote unless the person’s right to vote is restored through a pardon or through completion of the term of imprisonment, including parole or extended supervision, or probation for the crime that led to the disqualification. Under the bill, in addition to completing his or her term of imprisonment or probation for the crime, a person must have paid all fines, costs, fees, surcharges, and restitution, and have completed any court-ordered community service, imposed in connection with the crime.
What it would cost
Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs
Sponsors
Registered lobbying interests · 9
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 passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3
Passed 5–3 Jun 5, 2025 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Full history
- Mar 7, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senator Feyen; cosponsored by Representatives Sortwell, Brill, Dittrich, Duchow, Gundrum, Knodl, Murphy, Mursau, O'Connor and Penterman
- Mar 7, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Mar 17, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 1, 2025 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jun 4, 2025 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jun 5, 2025 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3
- Jun 5, 2025 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1