Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: To Executive 11 R cosponsors

AB 19 — Relating to: increased penalties for crimes against adults at risk; restraining orders for adults at risk; freezing assets of a defendant charged with financial exploitation of an adult at risk; sexual assault of an adult at risk; and providing a penalty.

Last action — Published 4-3-2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 06, 2025. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 13 sponsors

    1 primary, 12 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (11 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

An Act to renumber 940.198 (1) (a) and 971.109 (1) (a); to renumber and amend 939.623 (1); to amend 343.12 (7) (c) 9j., 813.12 (5b), 813.123 (6g), 813.125 (5b), 911.01 (4) (c), 939.623 (title), 939.623 (2) (intro.), 939.623 (3), 940.198 (title), 940.198 (1) (b), 940.198 (2) (a), 940.198 (2) (b), 940.198 (2) (c), 940.198 (3) (a), 940.198 (3) (b), 940.198 (3) (c), 940.198 (4), 971.109 (title), 971.109 (2) (a) and 971.109 (2) (c); and to create 813.12 (1) (ab), 813.125 (1) (am) 2., 939.623 (1) (b), 940.198 (1) (ag), 940.225 (1) (e) and 971.109 (1) (ac) of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

199 added · 38 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Assembly Bill 19 adjust the legal definitions and penalties surrounding crimes against adults at risk, particularly concerning sexual assault. Notably, sexual misconduct that previously qualified as second-degree sexual assault will now be classified as first-degree if the victim is identified as an adult at risk. Additionally, the bill clarifies that defendants can only be penalized if they had actual knowledge that the victim was an adult at risk, distinguishing it from how penalties apply to crimes against elder victims, where the defendant's knowledge of the victim's age does not matter. These changes aim to strengthen protections for vulnerable populations and ensure appropriate legal consequences for offenders.

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- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBa0602/1 MJW:klm ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT 1, TO ASSEMBLY BILL 19 November 17, 2025 - Offered by RepresentatiREIBIC.
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-1798/1 MJW:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 19 February 6, 2025 - Introduced by RepresentativesREIBICH, ALLEN, BEHNKE , D ITTRIC, D ONOVAN, G UNDRUM , KNODL , MURPHY , MURSAU , TUSLER and W ICHGERS, cosponsored by Senators ACQUE and CARPENTER .
At the locations indicated, amend the bill as follows:
Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.
1.
A N A CT to renumber 940.198 (1) (a) and 971.109 (1) (a);
Page 5, line 3:
to renumber and amend 939.623 (1);
delete the material beginning with that line and ending with line 7 and substitute:
to amend 343.12 (7) (c) 9j., 813.12 (5b), 813.123 (6g), 813.125 (5b), 911.01 (4) (c), 939.623 (title), 939.623 (2) (intro.), 939.623 (3), 940.198 (title), 940.198 (1) (b), 940.198 (2) (a), 940.198 (2) (b), 940.198 (2) (c), 940.198 (3) (a), 940.198 (3) (b), 940.198 (3) (c), 940.198 (4), 971.109 (title), 971.109 (2) (a) and 971.109 (2) (c);
“SECTION 12g.
and to create 813.12 (1) (ab), 813.125 (1) (am) 2., 939.623 (1) (b), 940.198 (1) (ag), 940.225 (1) (e) and 971.109 (1) (ac) of the statutes;
939.623 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 939.623 (3) (a) and amended to read:
relating to:
939.623 (3) (a) This section applies to a crime involving an elder person crime victim irrespective of whether the defendant had actual knowledge of the crime victim’s age.
increased penalties for crimes against adults at risk;
A mistake regarding the crime victim’s age is not a defense to an increased penalty under this section.
restraining orders for adults at risk;
S ECTION 12r.
freezing assets of a defendant charged with financial exploitation of an adult at risk;
939.623 (3) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
sexual assault of an adult at risk;
939.623 (3) (b) This section applies to a crime involving an adult at risk crime - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRBa0602/1 MJW:klm victim only if the defendant had actual knowledge that the crime victim is an adult at risk.”.
and providing a penalty.
2.
- 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-1798/1 MJW:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 19 Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau SEXUAL ASSAULT OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under this bill, any act of sexual misconduct that is currently a second degree sexual assault is a first degree sexual assault if the victim is an adult at risk.
Page 6, line 21:
Under current law, if a person engages in any of the specified acts of sexual misconduct, he or she is guilty of a Class C felony.
delete the material beginning with “irrespective of whether” and ending with “paragraph” on page 7, line 2, and substitute “only if the defendant had actual knowledge that the victim is an adult at risk”.
Under the bill, he or she is guilty of a Class B felony if the victim is an adult at risk, regardless of whether or not he or she knew the victim’s status as an adult at risk.
3.
FREEZING OF ASSETS Under current law, there is a procedure for a court to freeze or seize assets from a defendant who has been charged with a financial exploitation crime when the victim is an elder person.
Page 7, line 2:
The procedure allows a court to freeze the funds, assets, or property of the defendant in an amount up to 100 percent of the alleged value of the property involved in the defendant’s pending criminal proceeding for purposes of preserving the property for future payment of restitution to the crime victim.
deleECTION24m and substitute:
This bill allows the court to apply the same procedure to freeze or seize assets when the crime victim an adult at risk.
“SECTION 24q.
PHYSICAL ABUSE OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, there is a set of penalties that apply to physical abuse of an elder person, which range from a Class I felony to a Class C felony depending on the severity of the conduct.
940.66 (4) (title) of the statutes, as affected by 2025 Wisconsin Act 24, is amended to read:
This bill applies those same penalties to physical abuse of an adult at risk.
940.66 (4) (titleNOWLEDGE OF AGE NOT REQUIRED .
INCREASED PENALTIES This bill allows a term of imprisonment that is imposed for a criminal conviction to be increased in length if the crime victim was an adult at risk.
S ECTION 24r.
Under the bill, a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less may be increased to two years;
940.66 (4) of the statutes, as affected by 2025 Wisconsin Act 24, is renumbered 940.66 (4) (a) and amended to read:
a maximum term of imprisonment of one to 10 years may be increased by up to four years;
940.66 (4) (a) This section applies to a crime involving an elder person victim irrespective of whether the defendant had actual knowledge of the victim’s age.
and a maximum term of imprisonment of more than 10 years may be increased by up to six years.
A mistake regarding the victim’s age is not a defense to a prosecution under this section.
Under the bill, the term of imprisonment may be lengthened irrespective of whether the defendant knew that the crime victim was an adult at risk.
S ECTION 24s.
RESTRAINING ORDERS FOR AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, a person seeking a domestic violence, individual-at-risk, or harassment restraining order must appear in person in the courtroom at a hearing to obtain a restraining order.
940.66 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
This bill allows an adult at risk who is seeking a domestic violence, individual- at-risk, or harassment restraining order to appear in a court hearing by telephone or live audiovisual means.
940.66 (4) (b) This section applies to a crime involving an adult at risk victim only if the defendant had actual knowledge that the victim is an adult at risk.”.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, - 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-1798/1 MJW:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 19 S ECTION 1 the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.
(END )
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
343.12 (7) (c) 9j.
of the statutes is amended to read:
343.12 (7) (c) 9j.
Physical abuse of an elder person or an adult at risk under s.
940.198 (2).
SECTION 2.
813.12 (1) (ab) of the statutes is created to read:
813.12 (1) (ab) “Adult at risk” has the meaning given in s.
55.01 (1e).
SECTION 3.
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813.12 (5b) of the statutes is amended to read:
813.12 (5b) ELDER PERSON OR ADULT AT-RISK PETITIONER.
If the petitioner is an elder person or an adult at risk, the court shall permit the petitioner to participate in hearings under this section by telephone or live audiovisual means.
SECTION 4.
813.123 (6g) of the statutes is amended to read:
813.123 (6g) ELDER ADULT -AT-RISK NDIVIDUAL -AT-RISK PETITIONE.
If the petitioner is an elder adult individual at risk, the court shall permit the petitioner to participate in hearings under this section by telephone or live audiovisual means.
SECTION 5.
813.125 (1) (am) 2.
of the statutes is created to read:
813.125 (1) (am) 2.
“Adult at risk” has the meaning given in s.
55.01 (1e).
SECTION 6.
813.125 (5b) of the statutes is amended to read:
813.125 (5b) LDER PERSON OR ADULT -AT-RISK PETITIONE.
If the petitioner is an elder person or an adult at risk, the court shall permit the petitioner to participate in hearings under this section by telephone or live audiovisual means.
SECTION 7.
911.01 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
- 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRB-1798/1 MJW:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 19 SECTION 7 911.01 (4) (c) Miscellaneous proceedingsProceedings for extradition or rendition;
sentencing, granting or revoking probation, modification of a bifurcated sentence under s.
302.113 (9g), or adjustment of a bifurcated sentence under s.
973.195 (1r) or 973.198;
hearings for the freezing of assets of a person charged with financial exploitation of an elder person or adult at risk under s.
971.109;
issuance of subpoenas or warrants under s.
968.375, arrest warrants, criminal summonses, and search warrants;
hearings under s.
980.09 (2);
proceedings under s.
971.14 (1r) (c);
proceedings with respect to pretrial release under ch.
969 except where habeas corpus is utilized with respect to release on bail or as otherwise provided in ch.
969;
or proceedings under s.
165.76 (6) to compel provision of a biological specimen for deoxyribonucleic acid analysis.
S ECTION 8.
939.623 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
939.623 (title) Increased penalty for elder person or adult-at-risk victims.
S ECTION 9.
939.623 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 939.623 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:
939.623 (1) (intro.) In this section, “elder:
(c) “Elder person” means any individual who is 60 years of age or older.
S ECTION 10.
939.623 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
939.623 (1) (b) “Adult at risk” has the meaning given in s.
55.01 (1e).
S ECTION 11.
939.623 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
939.623 (2) (intro.) If the crime victim is an elder person or an adult at risk, and the present conviction is for any crime for which imprisonment may be - 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRB-1798/1 MJW:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 19 S ECTION 11 imposed, the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed by law for that crime may be increased as follows:
S ECTION 12.
939.623 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
939.623 (3) This section applies irrespective of whether the defendant had actual knowledge of the crime victim’s age or that the crime victim was an adult at risk at the time of the crime.
A mistake regarding the crime victim’s age or status as an adult at risk is not a defense to an increased penalty under this section.
S ECTION 13.
940.198 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
940.198 (title) Physical abuse of an elder person or an adult at risk.
S ECTION 14.
940.198 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 940.198 (1) (ar).
S ECTION 15.
940.198 (1) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
940.198 (1) (ag) “Adult at risk” has the meaning given in s.
55.01 (1e).
S ECTION 16.
940.198 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
940.198 (1) (b) “Recklessly” means conduct that creates a situation of unreasonable risk of harm to and demonstrates a conscious disregard for the safety of the elder person.
S ECTION 17.
940.198 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
940.198 (2) (a) Whoever intentionally causes great bodily harm to an elder person or an adult at risk is guilty of a Class C felony.
S ECTION 18.
940.198 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
940.198 (2) (b) Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm to an elder person or an adult at risk is guilty of a Class H felony.
S ECTION 19.
940.198 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
- 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRB-1798/1 MJW:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 19 S ECTION 19 940.198 (2) (c) Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm to an elder person or an adult at risk under circumstances or conditions that are likely to produce great bodily harm is guilty of a Class F felony.
S ECTION 20.
940.198 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
940.198 (3) (a) Whoever recklessly causes great bodily harm to an elder person or an adult at risk is guilty of a Class E felony.
S ECTION 21.
940.198 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
940.198 (3) (b) Whoever recklessly causes bodily harm to an elder person or an adult at risk is guilty of a Class I felony.
S ECTION 22.
940.198 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
940.198 (3) (c) Whoever recklessly causes bodily harm to an elder person or an adult at risk under circumstances or conditions that are likely to produce great bodily harm is guilty of a Class H felony.
S ECTION 23.
940.198 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
940.198 (4) K NOWLEDGE OF AGE OR AT RISK STATUS NOT REQUIRED .
This section applies irrespective of whether the defendant had actual knowledge of the victim’s age or status as an adult at risk.
A mistake regarding the victim’s age or status as an adult at risk is not a defense to a prosecution under this section.
S ECTION 24.
940.225 (1) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
940.225 (1) (e) Commits a violation under sub.
(2) against an adult at risk, as defined in s.
55.01 (1e)This paragraph applies irrespective of whether the defendant had actual knowledge of the victim’s status as an adult at risk.
A - 2026 Legislature - 7 - LRB-1798/1 MJW:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 19 S ECTION 24 mistake regarding the victim’s status as an adult at risk is not a defense to a prosecution under this paragraph.
S ECTION 25.
971.109 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
971.109 (title) Freezing assets of a person charged with financial exploitation of an elder person or an adult at risk.
S ECTION 26.
971.109 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 971.109 (1) (am).
S ECTION 27.
971.109 (1) (ac) of the statutes is created to read:
971.109 (1) (ac) “Adult at risk” has the meaning given in s.
55.01 (1e).
S ECTION 28.
971.109 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
971.109 (2) (a) If a defendant is charged with a crime that is financial exploitation, the crime involves the taking or loss of property valued at more than $2,500, and the crime victim is an elder person or an adult at risk, a prosecuting attorney may file a petition with the court in which the defendant has been charged to freeze the funds, assets, or property of the defendant in an amount up to 100 percent of the alleged value of funds, assets, or property in the defendant’s pending criminal proceeding for purposes of restitution to the crime victim.
The hearing on the petition may be held ex parte.
The rules of evidence do not apply in a hearing under this paragraph.
S ECTION 29.
971.109 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
971.109 (2) (c) The court’s order shall prohibit the sale, gifting, transfer, or wasting of the funds, assets, or real or personal property of the elder person or adult at risk that are owned by or vested in the defendant without the express permission of the court.
The court’s order shall be binding upon a financial institution, as - 2026 Legislature - 8 - LRB-1798/1 MJW:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 19 S ECTION 29 defined in s.
943.80 (2), and any 3rd party that is in possession of the funds, assets, or property.
END )
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Action History

  1. Published 4-3-2026

  2. Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 149

  3. Presented to the Governor on 4-1-2026

  4. Report correctly enrolled on 1-22-2026

  5. Received from Senate concurred in

  6. Ordered immediately messaged

  7. Read a third time and concurred in

  8. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  9. Ordered to a third reading

  10. Read a second time

  11. Senator Dassler-Alfheim added as a cosponsor

  12. Placed on calendar 1-21-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  13. Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  14. Representative Subeck added as a coauthor

  15. Available for scheduling

  16. Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  17. Received from Assembly

  18. Ordered immediately messaged

  19. Read a third time and passed

  20. Rules suspended

  21. Ordered to a third reading

  22. Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  23. Read a second time

  24. Placed on calendar 1-13-2026 by Committee on Rules

  25. Referred to committee on Rules

  26. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 13, Noes 1

  27. Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 14, Noes 0

  28. Executive action taken

  29. Public hearing held

  30. Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Kreibich

  31. LRB correction

  32. Read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety

  33. Introduced by Representatives Kreibich, Allen, Behnke, Dittrich, Donovan, Gundrum, Knodl, Murphy, Mursau, Tusler and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Jacque and Carpenter

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 119 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (12)

Not signed on (119)

119 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 19 do?
An Act to renumber 940.198 (1) (a) and 971.109 (1) (a); to renumber and amend 939.623 (1); to amend 343.12 (7) (c) 9j., 813.12 (5b), 813.123 (6g), 813.125 (5b), 911.01 (4) (c), 939.623 (title), 939.623 (2) (intro.), 939.623 (3), 940.198 (title), 940.198 (1) (b), 940.198 (2) (a), 940.198 (2) (b), 940.198 (2) (c), 940.198 (3) (a), 940.198 (3) (b), 940.198 (3) (c), 940.198 (4), 971.109 (title), 971.109 (2) (a) and 971.109 (2) (c); and to create 813.12 (1) (ab), 813.125 (1) (am) 2., 939.623 (1) (b), 940.198 (1) (ag), 940.225 (1) (e) and 971.109 (1) (ac) of the statutes;
Who sponsors AB 19?
AB 19 is sponsored by Jacque, Carpenter, Kreibich, Rob (Republican), Allen, Scott (Republican), Behnke, Elijah (Republican), Dittrich, Barbara (Republican), Donovan, Bob (Republican), Gundrum, Rick (Republican), Knodl, Daniel (Republican), Murphy, David (Republican), Mursau, Jeffrey (Republican), Tusler, Ron (Republican), and Wichgers, Chuck (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 19?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 06, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track AB 19?
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