AB 73 — Relating to: statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets.
Last action — Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Assembly
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✓Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 24, 2025. It awaits signature.
Vetoed by Governor Tony Evers (Democratic) on August 11, 2025.
Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.
Odds of enactment
Low chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low 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
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To Executive
Current position in the legislative process.
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8 sponsors
1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (6 R).
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 5 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 create chapter 798 of the statutes;
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
209 added · 367 removedPlain-language change summary
The updated version of Assembly Bill 73 includes a new section that formally recognizes specialized treatment courts and commercial court dockets in Wisconsin. This change matters because it emphasizes the importance of addressing underlying issues such as addiction and mental health, while also streamlining the court process for commercial cases. The inclusion of various types of treatment courts, like juvenile and family dependency courts, reflects a commitment to holistic and specialized approaches to justice, aiming to reduce recidivism and better meet the needs of vulnerable individuals.
-Date 2026of LEGISLATUREenactment: LRB-1313/1 SWB:emw ASSEMBLY BILL 73 February 24, 2025 - Introduced by RepresentativesUSLER , B.
ACOBSONAssembly ,Bill BROOKS,73 KDate NODL,of Mpublication*: URPHY and O'C ONNOR , cosponsored by Senators J ACQUE and W IMBERGER .
ReferredWISCONSIN toACT CommitteeA onN MentalA HealthCT andto Substancecreate Abusechapter Prevention.798 of the statutes;
A N A CT to create chapter 798 of the statutes;
AnalysisThe bypeople of the Legislativestate Referenceof BureauWisconsin, Thisrepresented billin statutorilysen- recognizesrecognize specialized dockets for treatment courtscourts. and for commercial cases.
Theate bill recognizes in statute treatment courts, which are defined in the bill to include adult drug treatment court, juvenile drug treatment court, operating while intoxicated treatment court, mental health treatment court, family dependency treatment court, veterans treatment court, hybrid treatment court, and tribalassembly, healingdo toenact wellnessas court.follows:
TheTreatment billcourts alsoare statutorilydesigned recognizesto aoperate specializedwithin docketthe forSECTION commercial1. cases.
UnderChapter the798 bill, the chief justice of the Wisconsinstatutes Supremeis Court,created takingto intoframework consideration recommendations from the relevant chief judges of the judicialexisting administrativestate districts,court mustsystem selectand circuitspecifi- courtcally judgesaddress whounderlying willissues berelating assigned to thecriminal commercialbe- courtread: docket upon each judge’s agreement to serve.
Thehavior. bill provides that a judge who presides over cases on the commercial court docket is not prohibited from working on any other assigned docket.
UnderTreatment thecourts bill,provide certaintreatment commercialwhile casework- typesCHAPTER must798 beSPECIALTY assignedCOURTS toing thewith commerciala courtmultidisciplinary docket,team includingto casesdeploy involvinga allrange of the798.01 following:Legislative findings.
1)The legislature finds graduated rewards and sanctions with the governancegoal orof internalengag- affairsall of businessthe organizations;following:
2)ing tortiousparticipants orin statutorilytreatment prohibitedlong businessenough activity,to unfairsuccessfully competition,address any addiction or antitrustmental claims;health issues and end (1) Specialized dockets for treatment courts and for the cycle of recidivism.
3)commercial thecases sale,have consolidation,existed orin mergerthis ofstate aand businessacross organization(2) orD theEFINITION conversion,. share - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-1313/1 SWB:emw ASSEMBLY BILL 73 S ECTION 1 exchange, or sale of substantially all of the assets of a business organization;
4)In this section, Xtreatment courtY the issuance,country sale,for ora transfernumber of securities;years in recognition of the fact that the interests of justice in general, and of liti- includes all of the following:
5) intellectual property rights;
6) the relationship between a franchisor and franchisee or similar distribution relationship;
7) certain claims or disputes involving the Uniform Commercial Code, when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000;
8) receiverships in excess of $250,000;
9) confirmation of arbitration awards and compelling or enforcing arbitration awards when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000;
and 10) real estate construction disputes when the amount in controversy exceeds $250,000.
The bill provides that certain types of cases are ineligible for assignment to the commercial court docket, including small claims cases, cases involving a governmental entity or political subdivision seeking to enforce a statutory or regulatory restriction or prohibition, or disputes between landlords and tenants.
The commercial court docket created under the bill is a commercial case docket that generally involves disputes between commercial entities rather than individuals and does not include actions typically involving individuals such as personal injury suits, products liability, malpractice, or other tort claims or landlord and tenant disputes or similar claims.
Under the bill, parties may jointly move for discretionary assignment of a case to the commercial court docket if the case is one that is not identified under the mandatory criteria but is not otherwise ineligible for assignment.
The bill provides that a decision granting or denying a motion for a discretionary assignment of a case to the commercial court docket is final and nonappealable.
The bill also allows that parties to a case that is filed in a judicial administrative district that does not have a dedicated commercial court docket may, in certain circumstances, jointly petition for transfer of the case to a commercial court docket.
Under the bill, no party may withdraw a request for transfer to the commercial court docket after a judicial assignment of the case has been made.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 798 of the statutes is created to read:
CHAPTER 798 SPECIALTY COURTS 798.01 Legislative findings.
The legislature finds all of the following:
(1) Specialized dockets for treatment courts and for commercial cases have existed in this state and across the country for a number of years in recognition of - 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-1313/1 SWB:emw ASSEMBLY BILL 73 S ECTION 1 the fact that the interests of justice in general, and of litigants in particular, are substantially enhanced when judges and other court personnel commit to take specific training in the subject matter areas of a particular specialized docket and then apply that training and expertise to the unique issues before the court.
The use of specialized dockets increases efficiencies and improve outcomes in the handling of these cases.
(2) The commercial court docket has existed in this state for over 7 years as a pilot project in a number of counties and judicial districts and has been shown to reduce substantially the time it takes to obtain a decision and increase the level of satisfaction of the parties with the results in commercial disputes.
798.05 Treatment court dockets.
(1) P URPOSE ;AUTHORITY .
The purpose of this section is to statutorily recognize specialized dockets for treatment courts.
Treatment courts are designed to operate within the framework of the existing state court system and specifically address underlying issues relating to criminal behavior.
Treatment courts provide treatment while working with a multidisciplinary team to deploy a range of graduated rewards and sanctions with the goal of engaging participants in treatment long enough to successfully address any addiction or mental health issues and end the cycle of recidivism.
(2) DEFINITION.
Show all 294 changed lines (254 more)
In this section, “treatment court” includes all of the following:
gants in particular, are substantially enhanced when (b) Juvenile drug treatment court.
judges and other court personnel commit to take specific (c) Operating while intoxicated treatment court.
-training 2026in Legislaturethe -subject 4matter -areas LRB-1313/1of SWB:emwa ASSEMBLYparticular BILLspe- 73 S ECTION 1 (d) Mental health treatment court.
(e)cialized Familydocket dependencyand treatmentthen apply that training and exper- tise to the unique issues before the court.
The use of (e) Family dependency treatment court.
specialized dockets increases efficiencies and improve (g) Hybrid treatment court.
outcomes in the handling of these cases.
(2) The commercial court docket has existed in this 798.15 Commercial court docket.
(1) P URPOSE ;AUTHORITY; .
Thestate purposefor ofover this7 sectionyears isas to statutorily recognize a specializedpilot docketproject forin commerciala casesnumber inof stateAUTHORITY circuit. courts.
The commercialpurpose courtof docketthis section is designed to operatestatutorily withincounties theand frameworkjudicial ofdistricts theand existinghas statebeen courtshown systemto withre- minimalrecognize impacta onspecialized docket for commercial cases in duce substantially the balancetime ofit courttakes operations.to obtain a decision state circuit courts.
ItThe iscommercial intendedcourt todocket leverageis judicialde- expertiseand inincrease commercialthe lawlevel andof disputessatisfaction withof commercialthe litigants’parties desirewith signed to tailoroperate casewithin managementthe practicesframework bestof suitedthe forexisting resolvingthe substantialresults businessin disputescommercial fairlydisputes. and expeditiously.
(2)state DEFINITIONS.court system with minimal impact on the balance 798.05 Treatment court dockets.
(1) P URPOSE ;
of court operations.
It is intended to leverage judicial AUTHORITY .
The purpose of this section is to statutorily expertise in commercial law and disputes with commer- * Section 991.11, ISCONSINSTATUTES:
Effective date of acts.
XEvery act and every portion of an act enacted by the legislature over the gov- ernor's partial veto which does not expressly prescribe the time when it takes effect shall take effect on the day after its date of publication.Y Wisconsin Act - 2 - 2025 Assembly Bill 73 cial litigants[ desire to tailor case management practices (4) M ANDATORY ASSIGNMENT OF CASES TO THE best suited for resolving substantial business disputes COMMERCIAL COURT DOCKET .
(a) Any case of a type fairly and expeditiously.
described under par.
(b) that is filed in a circuit court in (2) D EFINITIONS .
(a)which “Businessa organization”commercial includescourt adocket solehas proprietorship,been corporation,established partnership,(a) limitedXBusiness liabilitycompany,organizationY limitedincludes partnership,a professionalsole association,propri- benefitsshall corporation,be serviceassigned corporation,to jointthe venture,commercial bank,court savingsdocket bank,as savingspro- andetorship, loancorporation, association,partnership, orlimited businessliability trust.com- vided under sub.
A “business organization” excludes an individual, a family trust, or a political subdivision or governmental entity.
(b) “Consumer contract or transaction” means a consumer contract or transaction that is primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.
(3) SCOPE .
(a) The commercial court procedures outlined in this section apply to judicial administrative districts that have established specialized dockets - 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRB-1313/1 SWB:emw ASSEMBLY BILL 73 SECTION 1 for commercial cases on the effective date of this paragraph ....
[LRB inserts date], and to any commercial court docket established after the effective date of this paragraph ....
[LRB inserts date], beginning on the date that docket is established.
Courts with specialized dockets for commercial cases shall be referred to as the “commercial court.” (b) 1.
The chief justice of the supreme court, after considering the recommendation of the chief judge of the encompassing judicial administrative district, shall select the circuit court judges in the judicial administrative districts who will be assigned to the commercial court docket upon each judge’s agreement to so serve.
The chief justice of the supreme court shall select at least all of the following to participate in the commercial court under this section:
a.
No fewer than 4 circuit court judges within the 2nd judicial administrative district.
b.
No fewer than 4 circuit court judges within the 3rd judicial administrative district.
c.
No fewer than 4 circuit court judges within the 5th judicial administrative district.
d.
No fewer than 4 circuit court judges within the 8th judicial administrative district.
e.
No fewer than 4 circuit court judges within the 10th judicial administrative district.
f.
No fewer than 4 circuit court judges within any judicial administrative district that adds a commercial court docket.
- 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRB-1313/1 SWB:emw ASSEMBLY BILL 73 SECTION 1 2.
A judge who presides in a commercial court docket is not prohibited from working on any other assigned docket.
3.
The chief justice of the supreme court may add additional judicial administrative districts to the commercial court docket upon the recommendation of the director of state courts.
(4) M ANDATORY ASSIGNMENT OF CASES TO THE COMMERCIAL COURT DOCKET .
(a) Any case of a type described under par.
(b) that is filed in a circuit court in which a commercial court docket has been established shall be assigned to the commercial court docket as provided under sub.
pany, limited partnership, professional association, ben- (b) The commercial court shall have jurisdiction efits corporation, service corporation, joint venture, over all of the following types of cases:
bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, or 1.
Cases involving the governance or internal affairs of business organizations,trust. including all of the following:
a.A Xbusiness organizationY excludes an of business organizations, including all of the following:
Claimsindividual, betweena orfamily amongtrust, owners or constituentsa ofpolitical asubdivision businessor organization.a.
b.Claims between or among owners or constituents governmental entity.
Claims against officers, directors, or managers of a business organization.
(b) XConsumer contract or transactionY means a b.
Claims against officers, directors, or managers of consumer contract or transaction that is primarily for a business organization.
personal, family, or household purposes.
Claims involving the indemnity of owners, officers,offi- directors,(3) orS managersCOPE of. a business organization.
d.(a) The commercial court procedures cers, directors, or managers of a business organization.
Claimsoutlined involvingin thethis interpretationsection ofapply theto rightsjudicial andadministrative obligationsd. under the law governing business organizations, such as chs.
178Claims toinvolving 181,the 183,interpretation 185,of 204,the 214,rights 215,districts andthat 221have toestablished 223,specialized ordockets anyfor similarand statuteobligations orunder the law fromgoverning anotherbusiness jurisdiction.orga- commercial cases on the effective date of this paragraph nizations, such as chs.
e.178 to 181, 183, 185, 204, 214, ....
Claims[LRB involvinginserts thedate], interpretation of the rights and obligationsto under any agreementcommercial governingcourt a215, businessand organization,221 suchto as223, theor articlesany ofsimilar incorporation,statute -or 2026law Legislaturefrom -docket 7established -after LRB-1313/1the SWB:emweffective ASSEMBLYdate BILL 73 SECTION 1 bylaws, operating agreements, membership agreements, or partnership agreement of thethis businesspara- organization.another jurisdiction.
2.graph ....
Cases[LRB involvinginserts tortiousdate], orbeginning statutorilyon prohibitedthe businessdate activity,that unfaire. competition, or antitrust, including all of the following:
a.Claims involving the interpretation of the rights docket is established.
Courts with specialized dockets and obligations under any agreement governing a busi- for commercial cases shall be referred to as the Xcom- ness organization, such as the articles of incorporation, mercial court.Y bylaws, operating agreements, membership agreements, (b) 1.
The chief justice of the supreme court, after or partnership agreement of the business organization.
considering the recommendation of the chief judge of 2.
Cases involving tortious or statutorily prohibited the encompassing judicial administrative district, shall business activity, unfair competition, or antitrust, in- select the circuit court judges in the judicial administra- cluding all of the following:
tive districts who will be assigned to the commercial a.
court docket upon each judge[s agreement to so serve.
The chief justice of the supreme court shall select at c.
least all of the following to participate in the commercial d.
Claims of tortious interference with a business organization.court under this section:
e.organization.
Claimsa. involving restrictive covenants and agreements not to compete or solicit.
f.No fewer than 4 circuit court judges within the e.
Claims involving restrictive covenants and agree- 2nd judicial administrative district.
ments not to compete or solicit.
b.
No fewer than 4 circuit court judges within the f.
3rd judicial administrative district.
Cases involving the sale, consolidation, or merger ofc. a business organization or the conversion, share exchange, or sale of substantially all of the assets of a business organization.
No fewer than 4 circuit court judges within the 5th of a business organization or the conversion, share ex- judicial administrative district.
change, or sale of substantially all of the assets of a busi- d.
No fewer than 4 circuit court judges within the ness organization.
8th judicial administrative district.
Cases involving the issuance, sale, or transfer of securities,e. including claims for securities fraud under ch.
551,No orfewer anythan similar4 statutecircuit orcourt lawjudges fromwithin anotherthe jurisdiction.securities, including claims for securities fraud under 10th judicial administrative district.
5.ch.
Cases551, involvingor intellectualany propertysimilar rights,statute includingor alllaw offrom theanother following:f.
a.No fewer than 4 circuit court judges within any ju- jurisdiction.
Claimsdicial toadministrative determinedistrict thethat use,adds ownership,a orcommercial status5. of trademarks, trade secrets, or copyrights.
Cases involving intellectual property rights, in- court docket.
cluding all of the following:
2.
A judge who presides in a commercial court a.
Claims to determine the use, ownership, or status docket is not prohibited from working on any other as- of trademarks, trade secrets, or copyrights.
signed docket.
c.3.
ClaimsThe involvingchief anyjustice agreementof relating to the licensingsupreme ofcourt anymay intellectualadd propertyc. right, including patent rights.
-Claims 2026involving Legislatureany -agreement 8relating -to LRB-1313/1the SWB:emwli- ASSEMBLYadditional BILLjudicial 73administrative SECTIONdistricts 1to 6.the com- censing of any intellectual property right, including mercial court docket upon the recommendation of the patent rights.
Casesdirector involving the relationship between a franchisor and franchisee or similar distribution relationship, including all of thestate following:courts.
a.6.
ClaimsCases arisinginvolving fromthe ch.relationship between a fran- Assembly Bill 73 - 3 - 2025 Wisconsin Act chisor and franchisee or similar distribution relation- cases, except as provided in sub.
135 or any similar statute or law from another jurisdiction.
b.
Claims arising from s.
134.93 or any similar statute or law from another jurisdiction.
c.
Claims arising from ch.
553 or any similar statute or law from another jurisdiction.
7.
Cases involving claims or disputes under ch.
402, 403, 404, 405, or 409, or any similar statute or law from another jurisdiction, when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney fees.
8.
Cases involving receiverships in excess of $250,000.
9.
Cases involving confirmation of arbitration awards and compelling or enforcing arbitration awards when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000.
10.
Cases involving commercial real estate construction disputes when the amount in controversy exceeds $250,000.
(5) D ISCRETIONARY ASSIGNMENT OF CASES TO THE COMMERCIAL COURT DOCKET.
(a) In addition to the cases identified under sub.
(4) and that are not otherwise excluded under sub.
(6), parties to a case in a judicial administrative district in which there is a commercial court docket may jointly move the chief judge of that judicial administrative district for discretionary assignment of the case to that commercial court docket.If the motion for discretionary assignment is granted, the case may be assigned to a commercial court docket.
- 2026 Legislature - 9 - LRB-1313/1 SWB:emw ASSEMBLY BILL 73 SECTION 1 (b) In deciding a motion for discretionary assignment of a case to a commercial court docket, the chief judge of the encompassing judicial administrative district shall consider the parties to the dispute, the nature of the dispute, the complexity of the issues presented, and whether the commercial court’s resolution of the case will provide needed guidance to influence future commercial behavior or assist in resolving future disputes.
The decision granting or denying a motion for a discretionary assignment of a case to a commercial court docket is final and nonappealable.
(6) INELIGIBLE CASE TYPE.
The following cases may not be assigned to the commercial court docket:
(a) Cases involving small claims under ch.
799.
(b) Cases involving a governmental entity or political subdivision seeking to enforce a statutory or regulatory restriction or prohibition.
(c) Unless the claim or dispute identified in this subsection is ancillary and incidental to a case assigned to the commercial court docket under sub.
(4), cases involving a consumer contract or transaction;
disputes between landlords and tenants;
domestic relations claims;
labor claims;
receivership, insolvency, or liquidation cases, except as provided in sub.
malpractice claims;ship, including all of the following:
claims;
civila. rights claims;
Claims arising from ch.
135 or any similar statute civil rights claims;
cases seeking to compel arbitration or tolaw affirmfrom oranother disaffirmjurisdiction. an arbitration award, except as provided in sub.
arbitration or to affirm or disaffirm an arbitration award, b.
Claims arising from s.
134.93 or any similar except as provided in sub.
construction claims,statute exceptor aslaw providedfrom inanother sub.jurisdiction.
claims, except as provided in sub.
or environmentalenviron- claims.c.
(7)Claims IDENTIFICATIONarising ANDfrom ASSIGNMENTch. OF CASES TO COMMERCIAL COURT - 2026 Legislature - 10 - LRB-1313/1 SWB:emw ASSEMBLY BILL 73 SECTION 1 DOCKET.
553 or any similar statute mental claims.
or law from another jurisdiction.
(7) IDENTIFICATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF CASES TO 7.
Cases involving claims or disputes under ch.
402, COMMERCIAL COURT DOCKET .
At 403, 404, 405, or 409, or any similar statute or law from the time of the filing of the complaint under s.
801.02 another jurisdiction, when the amount in controversy ex- (1), the plaintiff in a civil action shall state on the face of ceeds $100,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney the complaint whether the case qualifies for the commercialcom- courtfees. docket under sub.
(4)mercial andcourt isdocket not ineligible for assignment under sub.
(4) and is not ineligible 8.
Cases involving receiverships in excess of for assignment under sub.
$250,000.
For cases filed in which a9. circuit court judge in that county has already been assigned a commercial court docket, the clerk of court shall assign the case to the commercial court docket and to one of the judges designated for the commercial court docket.
InCases theinvolving eventconfirmation of arbitration a requestcircuit forcourt judicialjudge substitution,in thethat casecounty shallhas bealready transferredbeen toas- anotherawards circuitand courtcompelling judgeor whoenforcing isarbitration assignedawards tosigned thea commercial court docketdocket, inthe thatclerk judicialof administrativecourt district.when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000.
2.shall assign the case to the commercial court docket and 10.
WithinCases ainvolving judicial administrative district participating in the commercial courtreal docket,estate butcon- in which no circuit court judge has been assigned to theone commercial court docket, upon the filing of a qualifying case, the clerkjudges ofdesignated courtfor shall notify the chief judge of the encompassing judicial administrative district, and the chief judge shall assign one of the commercial court docketstruction judgesdisputes fromwhen the otheramount counties in thecontroversy judicialex- administrativedocket. district.
TheIn chiefthe judge’sevent selectionof shalla berequest madefor pursuantjudicial tosubstitution, s.ceeds $250,000.
the case shall be transferred to another circuit court (5) D ISCRETIONARY ASSIGNMENT OF CASES TO THE judge who is assigned to the commercial court docket in COMMERCIAL COURT DOCKET .
(a) In addition to the that judicial administrative district.
cases identified under sub.
(4) and that are not otherwise 2.
Within a judicial administrative district partici- excluded under sub.
(6), parties to a case in a judicial ad- pating in the commercial court docket, but in which no ministrative district in which there is a commercial court circuit court judge has been assigned to the commercial docket may jointly move the chief judge of that judicial court docket, upon the filing of a qualifying case, the administrative district for discretionary assignment of clerk of court shall notify the chief judge of the encom- the case to that commercial court docket.
If the motion passing judicial administrative district, and the chief for discretionary assignment is granted, the case may be judge shall assign one of the commercial court docket assigned to a commercial court docket.
judges from the other counties in the judicial adminis- (b) In deciding a motion for discretionary assign- trative district.
The chief judge[s selection shall be made ment of a case to a commercial court docket, the chief pursuant to s.
In the event a request for substitutionsub- judge of the encompassing judicial administrative dis- stitution is filed regarding the judge chosen by the chief trict shall consider the parties to the dispute, the nature judge of the encompassing judicial administrative district,dis- of the dispute, the complexity of the issues presented, trict, the chief judge shall then assign another judge and whether the commercial court[s resolution of the from the judicial administrative district who has been case will provide needed guidance to influence future appointed for commercial court cases.
commercial behavior or assist in resolving future dis- (c) Omission by plaintiff;
defendant’sdefendant[s and 3rd-party defendant’sputes. rights and prerogatives of the circuit court.
InThe thedecision eventgranting theor dutiesdenying seta forthmotion infor par.a defendant[s rights and prerogatives of the circuit court.
(a)discretionary areassignment not met, the circuit court may sua sponte, or upon a motion filed by a defendant or a 3rd - 2026 Legislature - 11 - LRB-1313/1 SWB:emw ASSEMBLY BILL 73 SECTION 1 party with his or her or its responsive pleading or responsive motion, order the transfer of a case to thea commercial courtIn docket if the courtevent determines that the caseduties meetsset theforth mandatoryin criteriapar. of sub.
(a) are not met, court docket is final and nonappealable.
the circuit court may sua sponte, or upon a motion filed (6) I NELIGIBLE CASE TYPES .
The following cases by a defendant or a 3rd party with his or her or its re- may not be assigned to the commercial court docket:
sponsive pleading or responsive motion, order the trans- (a) Cases involving small claims under ch.
799.
fer of a case to the commercial court docket if the court (b) Cases involving a governmental entity or politi- determines that the case meets the mandatory criteria of cal subdivision seeking to enforce a statutory or regula- sub.
tory restriction or prohibition.
(c) Unless the claim or dispute identified in this sub- (d) Action number assignment.
On assignment of anysection matteris ancillary and incidental to thea commercialcase courtassigned docket,to theany matter shallto retain the civilcommercial actioncourt numberdocket, assignedthe tomatter it by the clerkcommercial of court upondocket theunder filingsub. of the complaint.
(8)(4), DISPUTEScases REGARDINGin- ASSIGNMENTSshall OFretain CASESthe TOcivil THEaction COMMERCIALnumber COURTassigned DOCKET.to it by the volving a consumer contract or transaction;
(a)disputes Contestingbe- theclerk assignment of acourt caseupon to the commercialfiling courtof docket.the complaint.
1.tween landlords and tenants;
Afterdomestic assignmentrelations ofclaims; a case to the commercial court docket, the judge assigned to the case may sua sponte, or upon motion of any party, reconsider whether assignment of that case to the commercial court docket is appropriate under the requirements of sub.
(4)(8) andD isISPUTES notREGARDING ineligibleASSIGNMENTS forOF assignmentCASES underlabor sub.claims;
receivership, insolvency, or liquidation TO THE COMMERCIAL COURT DOCKET .
(a) Contesting Wisconsin Act - 4 - 2025 Assembly Bill 73 the assignment of a case to the commercial court docket.
(c) The procedure for a joint petition for transfer 1.
After assignment of a case to the commercial court shall be as follows:
docket, the judge assigned to the case may sua sponte, or 1.
When parties petition for the transfer of a com- upon motion of any party, reconsider whether assign- mercial court case from a district that does not then have ment of that case to the commercial court docket is ap- a commercial court docket, they shall file that petition propriate under the requirements of sub.
(4) and is not with the clerk of court in the county where the case is ineligible for assignment under sub.
Any party filingfil- originally filed and also file a copy of that petition with the court administrative officer designated by the direc- ing a reconsideration motion under this paragraph shall file the motion no later than the earlier of the following:
a.tor of state courts.
BeforeThe anysupervising judicialcommercial rulingcourt isa. rendered on any issue of material substance in the case.
b.Before any judicial ruling is rendered on any issue judge shall determine where the case should be trans- of material substance in the case.
Twentyferred daysbased afterupon theworkload caseand is assigned to the commercialreasonable courtconve- docket.b.
Twenty days after the case is assigned to the com- nience of the parties and shall confer with the chief judge of that judicial administrative district as to which mercial court docket.
If the assigned commercial court judge concludes thatcommercial thecourt casejudge doesis notbest qualifyable for assignment to theaccept commercialthat courtaddi- docket,that the judgecase shalldoes returnnot thequalify casefor assignment to the generalcom- civiltional caseworkload docket.assignment.
(b)The Review.parties requesting the mercial court docket, the judge shall return the case to assignment to the commercial court docket shall agree that the judge assigned to the case may direct that all the general civil case docket.
matters, other than trial, be held either in the assigned (b) Review.
(a) may request thejudge[s chiefhome judgecourtroom ofor theby judicialelectronic -means. 2026 Legislature - 12 - LRB-1313/1 SWB:emw ASSEMBLY BILL 73 SECTION 1 administrative district in which the commercial court sits to review the reconsideration decision.
ATrials decision by the chief judge of the judicial administrative district resolvingin shall be held in the questioncounty ofin which docketthe shallcase bewas assignedorigi- which the casecommercial iscourt finalsits andto nonappealable.review the reconsid- nally filed.
(9)The TRANSFERRINGclerk Aof CASEthe TOcircuit Acourt COMMERCIALof COURTthe DOCKET.county where the case was originally filed shall continue to be eration decision.
(a)A Partiesdecision fromby judicialthe administrativechief districtsjudge thatof dothe notju- haveresponsible ato dedicatedaccept commercialfilings, courtclerk on the record pro- dicial administrative district resolving the question of which docket mayshall petitionbe toassigned havethe theircase casesis administeredfinal withinand aceedings, commercialand courtperform docket.all other duties applicable to that nonappealable.
Tocase. facilitate consideration of such petitions, the director of state courts shall periodically designate a district court administrator to be the court administrative officer for the commercial court docket and shall also designate a circuit court judge serving as a commercial court judge at the time of designation to be the supervising commercial court judge.
(b)Any Partiesjudgments describedrendered underas par.a result of such pro- ceedings shall be docketed in the county in which the (9) TRANSFERRING A CASE TO A COMMERCIAL matter was originally filed, and any appeal shall be COURT DOCKET .
(a) mayParties jointlyfrom petitionjudicial foradministrative transfermade to the court of aappeals casein tothe appellate district districts that do not have a dedicated commercial court docket ifmay allpetition ofto have their cases administered where the followingcase arewas true:originally filed.
within a commercial court docket.
To facilitate consid- 2.
The supervising commercial court docket judge shall consider the caseload of the judges designated for eration of such petitions, the director of state courts the commercial court docket, the nature of the case for shall periodically designate a district court administrator which the petition was submitted, and the work require- to be the court administrative officer for the commercial court docket and shall also designate a circuit court ments for cases already pending in the commercial court docket when determining whether to allow the transfer judge serving as a commercial court judge at the time of of a case under this paragraph.
designation to be the supervising commercial court 3.
The supervising commercial court docket judge judge.
shall, upon allowing a transfer, assign the case to the (b) Parties described under par.
(a) may jointly peti- tion for transfer of a case to a commercial court docket if commercial court docket and to one of the judges desig- nated for the commercial court docket in a participating all of the following are true:
judicial administrative district.
(4) and is not ineligible4. for assignment to a commercial court docket under sub.
In the event of a request for judicial substitution ineligible for assignment to a commercial court docket in a case transferred under this subsection and assigned under sub.
to the commercial court docket, the chief judge of the ju- 2.
The parties agree to use the forms and procedures dicial administrative district in which the assignment is developed for use in the commercial court docket.
made shall then assign another judge from the judicial 3.
The parties agree that all proceedings will be conductedcon- administrative district who has been appointed for com- ducted in the courtroom of the judge to which the case is assignedmercial undercourt par.cases.
(c),assigned exceptunder thatpar. if the case proceeds to trial, the trial will be conducted in the county where the case was originally filed.
(c)(c), Theexcept procedurethat forif athe jointcase petitionproceeds (d) No party may withdraw a request for transfer shallto to trial, the trial will be asconducted follows:in the county where the commercial court docket after a judicial assignment the case was originally filed.
-has 2026been Legislaturemade -under 13par. - LRB-1313/1 SWB:emw ASSEMBLY BILL 73 SECTION 1 1.
When parties petition for the transfer of a commercial court case from a district that does not then have a commercial court docket, they shall file that petition with the clerk of court in the county where the case is originally filed and also file a copy of that petition with the court administrative officer designated by the director of state courtsThe supervising commercial court judge shall determine where the case should be transferred based upon workload and the reasonable convenience of the parties and shall confer with the chief judge of that judicial administrative district as to which commercial court judge is best able to accept that additional workload assignment.
The parties requesting the assignment to the commercial court docket shall agree that the judge assigned to the case may direct that all matters, other than trial, be held either in the assigned judge’s home courtroom or by electronic means.
Trials shall be held in the county in which the case was originally filed.
The clerk of the circuit court of the county where the case was originally filed shall continue to be responsible to accept filings, clerk on the record proceedings, and perform all other duties applicable to that case.
Any judgments rendered as a result of such proceedings shall be docketed in the county in which the matter was originally filed, and any appeal shall be made to the court of appeals in the appellate district where the case was originally filed.
2.
The supervising commercial court docket judge shall consider the caseload of the judges designated for the commercial court docket, the nature of the case for which the petition was submitted, and the work requirements for cases already pending in the commercial court docket when determining whether to allow the transfer of a case under this paragraph.
- 2026 Legislature - 14 - LRB-1313/1 SWB:emw ASSEMBLY BILL 73 SECTION 1 3.
The supervising commercial court docket judge shall, upon allowing a transfer, assign the case to the commercial court docket and to one of the judges designated for the commercial court docket in a participating judicial administrative district.
4.
In the event of a request for judicial substitution in a case transferred under this subsection and assigned to the commercial court docket, the chief judge of the judicial administrative district in which the assignment is made shall then assign another judge from the judicial administrative district who has been appointed for commercial court cases.
(d) No party may withdraw a request for transfer to the commercial court docket after a judicial assignment has been made under par.
(END)
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View plain text versions (2)
- Enrolled Text as Enrolled pdf
- Bill Text View text Current pdf
Action History
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Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82
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Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
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Report vetoed by the Governor on 8-8-2025
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Presented to the Governor on 8-7-2025
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Report correctly enrolled on 5-16-2025
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Received from Senate concurred in
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Ordered immediately messaged
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Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15
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Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
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Ordered to a third reading
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Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate, Ayes 18, Noes 15
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Point of order that Senate Amendment 1 was not germane well taken
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Read a second time
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Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Roys, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Spreitzer, Habush Sinykin, Dassler-Alfheim, Smith, Drake, Larson, Carpenter, Wirch and Hesselbein
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Placed on calendar 5-15-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
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Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
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Available for scheduling
-
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3
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Executive action taken
-
Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
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Received from Assembly
-
Ordered immediately messaged
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Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 42, Paired 2
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Rules suspended
-
Ordered to a third reading
-
Read a second time
-
Placed on calendar 4-22-2025 by Committee on Rules
-
Referred to committee on Rules
-
Report passage recommended by Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention, Ayes 7, Noes 2
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Executive action taken
-
Representative Dittrich added as a coauthor
-
Public hearing held
-
Read first time and referred to Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention
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Introduced by Representatives Tusler, B. Jacobson, Brooks, Knodl, Murphy and O'Connor; cosponsored by Senators Jacque and Wimberger
Sponsors
- Jacque · Cosponsor
- Wimberger · Cosponsor
- Ron Tusler · Primary
- Brent Jacobson · Cosponsor
- Robert Brooks · Cosponsor
- Daniel Knodl · Cosponsor
- David Murphy · Cosponsor
- Jerry O'Connor · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 124 not signed on · 53 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- Tusler, Ron Republican
Co-sponsors (7)
- Jacque
- Wimberger
- Jacobson, Brent Republican
- Brooks, Robert Republican
- Knodl, Daniel Republican
- Murphy, David Republican
- O'Connor, Jerry Republican
Not signed on (124)
124 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 124 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 18 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 55% | 45% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (33)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| JOHNSON | — | Nay |
| DASSLER-ALFHEI | — | Nay |
| HABUSH SINYKIN | — | Nay |
| Carpenter, Tim | Democrat | Nay |
| Drake, Dora | Democrat | Nay |
| Hesselbein, Dianne | Democrat | Nay |
| Keyeski, Sarah | Democrat | Nay |
| Larson, Chris | Democrat | Nay |
| Pfaff, Brad | Democrat | Nay |
| Ratcliff, Melissa | Democrat | Nay |
| Roys, Kelda | Democrat | Nay |
| Smith, Jeff | Democrat | Nay |
| Spreitzer, Mark | Democrat | Nay |
| Wall, Jamie | Democrat | Nay |
| Wirch, Robert | Democrat | Nay |
| Bradley, Julian | Republican | Yea |
| Cabral-Guevara, Rachael | Republican | Yea |
| Felzkowski, Mary | Republican | Yea |
| Feyen, Dan | Republican | Yea |
| Hutton, Rob | Republican | Yea |
| Jacque, André | Republican | Yea |
| Jagler, John | Republican | Yea |
| James, Jesse | Republican | Yea |
| Kapenga, Chris | Republican | Yea |
| LeMahieu, Devin | Republican | Yea |
| Marklein, Howard | Republican | Yea |
| Nass, Steve | Republican | Yea |
| Quinn, Romaine | Republican | Yea |
| Stafsholt, Rob | Republican | Yea |
| Testin, Patrick | Republican | Yea |
| Tomczyk, Cory | Republican | Yea |
| Wanggaard, Van | Republican | Yea |
| Wimberger, Eric | Republican | Yea |
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 0 | 41 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 53 | 42 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 55% | 43% | 0% | 2% |
How each member voted (97)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| JOHNSON | — | Nay |
| MOORE OMOKUNDE | — | Not Voting |
| SPEAKER | — | Yea |
| Anderson, Clinton | Democrat | Nay |
| Andraca, Deb | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Arney, Margaret | Democrat | Nay |
| Bare, Mike | Democrat | Nay |
| Billings, Jill | Democrat | Nay |
| Brown, Brienne | Democrat | Nay |
| Clancy, Ryan | Democrat | Nay |
| Cruz, Angelina | Democrat | Nay |
| DeSanto, Karen | Democrat | Nay |
| DeSmidt, Ben | Democrat | Nay |
| Doyle, Steve | Democrat | Nay |
| Emerson, Jodi | Democrat | Nay |
| Fitzgerald, Joan | Democrat | Nay |
| Goodwin, Russell | Democrat | Nay |
| Haywood, Kalan | Democrat | Nay |
| Hong, Francesca | Democrat | Nay |
| Hysell, Andrew | Democrat | Nay |
| Jacobson, Jenna | Democrat | Nay |
| Joers, Alex | Democrat | Nay |
| Kirsch, Karen | Democrat | Nay |
| Madison, Darrin | Democrat | Nay |
| Mayadev, Renuka | Democrat | Nay |
| McCarville, Maureen | Democrat | Nay |
| McGuire, Tip | Democrat | Nay |
| Neubauer, Greta | Democrat | Nay |
| Ortiz-Velez, Sylvia | Democrat | Nay |
| Palmeri, Lori | Democrat | Nay |
| Phelps, Christian | Democrat | Nay |
| Prado, Priscilla | Democrat | Nay |
| Rivera-Wagner, Amaad | Democrat | Nay |
| Roe, Ann | Democrat | Nay |
| Sheehan, Joe | Democrat | Nay |
| Sinicki, Christine | Democrat | Nay |
| Snodgrass, Lee | Democrat | Nay |
| Spaude, Ryan | Democrat | Nay |
| Stroud, Angela | Democrat | Nay |
| Stubbs, Shelia | Democrat | Nay |
| Subeck, Lisa | Democrat | Nay |
| Taylor, Sequanna | Democrat | Nay |
| Tenorio, Angelito | Democrat | Nay |
| Udell, Randy | Democrat | Nay |
| Vining, Robyn | Democrat | Nay |
| Allen, Scott | Republican | Yea |
| Armstrong, David | Republican | Yea |
| August, Tyler | Republican | Yea |
| Behnke, Elijah | Republican | Yea |
| Born, Mark | Republican | Yea |
| Brill, Lindee | Republican | Yea |
| Brooks, Robert | Republican | Yea |
| Callahan, Calvin | Republican | Yea |
| Dallman, Alex | Republican | Yea |
| Dittrich, Barbara | Republican | Yea |
| Donovan, Bob | Republican | Yea |
| Duchow, Cindi | Republican | Yea |
| Franklin, Benjamin | Republican | Yea |
| Goeben, Joy | Republican | Yea |
| Green, Chanz | Republican | Yea |
| Gundrum, Rick | Republican | Yea |
| Gustafson, Nate | Republican | Yea |
| Hurd, Karen | Republican | Yea |
| Jacobson, Brent | Republican | Yea |
| Kaufert, Dean | Republican | Yea |
| Kitchens, Joel | Republican | Yea |
| Knodl, Daniel | Republican | Yea |
| Kreibich, Rob | Republican | Yea |
| Krug, Scott | Republican | Yea |
| Kurtz, Tony | Republican | Yea |
| Maxey, Dave | Republican | Yea |
| Melotik, Paul | Republican | Yea |
| Moses, Clint | Republican | Yea |
| Murphy, David | Republican | Yea |
| Mursau, Jeffrey | Republican | Yea |
| Nedweski, Amanda | Republican | Yea |
| Neylon, Adam | Republican | Yea |
| Novak, Todd | Republican | Yea |
| O'Connor, Jerry | Republican | Yea |
| Penterman, William | Republican | Yea |
| Petersen, Kevin | Republican | Yea |
| Piwowarczyk, Jim | Republican | Yea |
| Pronschinske, Treig | Republican | Yea |
| Rodriguez, Jessie | Republican | Yea |
| Snyder, Patrick | Republican | Yea |
| Sortwell, Shae | Republican | Yea |
| Spiros, John | Republican | Yea |
| Steffen, David | Republican | Yea |
| Summerfield, Rob | Republican | Yea |
| Swearingen, Rob | Republican | Yea |
| Tittl, Paul | Republican | Yea |
| Tranel, Travis | Republican | Yea |
| Tucker, Duke | Republican | Yea |
| Tusler, Ron | Republican | Yea |
| VanderMeer, Nancy | Republican | Yea |
| Wichgers, Chuck | Republican | Yea |
| Wittke, Robert | Republican | Yea |
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does AB 73 do?
- An Act to create chapter 798 of the statutes;
- Who sponsors AB 73?
- AB 73 is sponsored by Jacque, Wimberger, Tusler, Ron (Republican), Jacobson, Brent (Republican), Brooks, Robert (Republican), Knodl, Daniel (Republican), Murphy, David (Republican), and O'Connor, Jerry (Republican).
- What is the current status of AB 73?
- This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 24, 2025. It awaits signature.
- Where can I track AB 73?
- Track AB 73 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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