Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: custody of the county jail and its inmates (first consideration).
Constitutional amendments — First consideration County — Board Jail Sheriff Shoreland zoning
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Adopted, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has held that the county sheriff has the inherent constitutional authority to exercise custody of the county jail and its inmates. See
State
ex rel.
Kennedy v. Brunst
, 26 Wis. 412 (1870);
Kocken v. Wisconsin Council of Churches 40
, 2007 WI 72. This proposed constitutional amendment, proposed to the 2025 legislature on first consideration, amends the Wisconsin Constitution to provide that the sheriff has custody of the county jail and its inmates except to the extent the county board of supervisors delegates that authority to another public officer or public entity designated by the county board.
A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it can become effective.
Sponsors
Full history
- Dec 2, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senator Larson; cosponsored by Representatives Clancy, Madison, Arney, Hong, Phelps, Stubbs and Tenorio
- Dec 2, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Dec 3, 2025 · Senate
Representative Neubauer added as a cosponsor
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Representative Moore Omokunde added as a cosponsor
- Mar 20, 2026 · Senate
Representative Mayadev added as a cosponsor
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to adopt pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1