Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: To Executive 9 R cosponsors

AB 629 — Relating to: police authority to disable drones threatening public safety and providing a penalty.

Last action — Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  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 November 07, 2025. It awaits signature.

Vetoed by Governor Tony Evers (Democratic) on April 03, 2026.

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

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • 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 (9 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 5 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill allows police to disable drones posing a public safety threat.

This legislation enables law enforcement to disrupt or disable drones that threaten public safety, subject to certain regulations. It includes specific training and compliance requirements for officers involved.

Summary

An Act to renumber and amend 114.045; to create 114.045 (1m), 114.045 (2m) (bm) and 114.045 (3m) of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

44 added · 71 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recently updated AB 629 introduces new regulations around the operation of drones, particularly focusing on those equipped with weapons. It now explicitly prohibits flying drones over correctional institutions without authorization, with violators facing harsher penalties, including a Class H felony for using weaponized drones. Additionally, law enforcement is granted authority to disable drones deemed a threat to public safety using various methods, without liability for any resulting damage. These changes aim to enhance safety and control concerning potentially dangerous drone activities in Wisconsin.

→
Previous
Latest
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-5006/1 ZDW:klm ASSEMBLY BILL 629 November 7, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives ICHGERS , BEHNKE , DITTRICH, GOEBEN , K NODL, KURTZ , MELOTIK , MURPHY and M URSAU, cosponsored by Senators BRADLEY , ACQUE , MARKLEIN and NASS .
Date of enactment:
Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.
Assembly Bill 629 Date of publication*:
A N A CT to renumber and amend 114.045;
WISCONSIN ACT A N A CT to renumber and amend 114.045;
police authority to disable drones threatening public safety and providing a penalty.
police authority to act to mitigate the threat posed by certain drones and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill provides that a law enforcement officer may do any of the following to mitigate the threat posed by a drone that the officer reasonably suspects poses an imminent threat to public safety:
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in sen- (a) “Drone” has the meaning given in s.
1) detect, track, and identify the drone;
and 2) intercept, disable, or destroy the drone through any lawful method, including jamming, hacking, or physically capturing the drone.
The bill provides that neither the law enforcement officer nor the agency that employs them is financially liable for damage to or loss of a drone that is intercepted, disabled, or destroyed.
Under current law, no person may operate a drone over a correctional institution without the express permission of the secretary of corrections.
A person who violates this prohibition is subject to a forfeiture of $5,000.
This bill provides that a person who violates this prohibition by use of a weaponized drone, the use of which poses a threat to public safety, is guilty of a Class H felony.
“Weaponized drone” is defined to mean a drone equipped with a taser, firearm, flamethrower, chemical, or explosive device.
- 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-5006/1 ZDW:klm ASSEMBLY BILL 629 SECTION 1 The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
S ECTION 1.
114.045 of the statutes is renumbered 114.045 (2m) and amended to read:
114.045 (2m) (a) No person may operate a drone, as defined in s.
941.292 (1), over a correctional institution, as defined in s.
801.02 (7) (a) 1., including any grounds of the institution, except that a person may operate a drone over an institution that is a state facility with the express authorization of the secretary of corrections or his or her designee or over an institution that is a county facility with the express authorization of the sheriff of the county or his or her designee.
(b) Any person who violates sub.
(1) par.
(a) may be required to forfeit not more than $5,000.
(c) A law enforcement officer investigating an alleged violation of sub.
(1) par.
(a) shall seize and transfer to the department of corrections or authority in charge of the correctional institution any photograph, motion picture, other visual representation, or data that represents a visual image that was created or recorded by a drone during an alleged violation of sub.
(1) par.
(a).
S ECTION 2.
114.045 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
114.045 (1m) In this section:
(a) “Drone” has the meaning given in s.
ate and assembly, do enact as follows:
(c) “Weaponized drone” means a drone that is equipped with a taser, firearm, flamethrower, chemical, or explosive device.
SECTION 1.
S ECTION 3.
114.045 of the statutes is renumbered (c) “Weaponized drone” means a drone that is 114.045 (2m) and amended to read:
114.045 (2m) (a) No person may operate a drone, as equipped with a taser, firearm, flamethrower, chemical, defined in s.
941.292 (1), over a correctional institution, or explosive device.
as defined in s.
801.02 (7) (a) 1., including any grounds SECTION 3.
- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-5006/1 ZDW:klm ASSEMBLY BILL 629 SECTION 3 114.045 (2m) (bm) Any person who violates par.
of the institution, except that a person may operate a 114.045 (2m) (bm) Any person who violates par.
(a) by use of a weaponized drone, the use of which poses a threat to public safety, is guilty of a Class H felony.
(a) drone over an institution that is a state facility with the by use of a weaponized drone, the use of which poses a express authorization of the secretary of corrections or his or her designee or over an institution that is a county threat to public safety, is guilty of a Class H felony.
S ECTION 4.
facility with the express authorization of the sheriff of SECTION 4.
Show all 66 changed rows (26 more)
Previous
Latest
114.045 (3m) (a) A law enforcement officer may do any of the following to mitigate the threat posed by a drone that the law enforcement officer reasonably suspects poses an imminent threat to public safety:
the county or his or her designee.
1.
114.045 (3m) (a) Subject to par.
Detect, track, and identify the drone.
(b), a law enforce- (b) Any person who violates sub.
(1) par.
(a) may be ment officer may take any of the following actions that required to forfeit not more than $5,000.
are necessary to mitigate a credible threat that a drone (c) A law enforcement officer investigating an al- leged violation of sub.
(1) par.
(a) shall seize and trans- poses to the safety or security of people, facilities, and assets, a venue or set of venues used for large-scale pub- fer to the department of corrections or authority in lic gatherings or events, critical infrastructure, or correc- charge of the correctional institution any photograph, tional facilities:
motion picture, other visual representation, or data that 1.
During the operation of the drone, detect, iden- represents a visual image that was created or recorded tify, monitor, and track the drone, without prior consent, by a drone during an alleged violation of sub.
(1) par.
including by means of intercept or other access of a wire (a).
communication, an oral communication, or an elec- SECTION 2.
114.045 (1m) of the statutes is created tronic communication used to control the drone.
to read:
Intercept, disable, or destroy the drone through any lawful method, including jamming, hacking, or physically capturing the drone, if the law enforcement officer reasonably believes that failure to do so would result in a greater threat to public safety than intercepting, disabling, or destroying the drone.
Warn the operator of the drone, including by pas- 114.045 (1m) In this section:
(b) Neither the law enforcement officer nor the agency that employs them shall be financially liable for damage to or loss of a drone that is intercepted, disabled, or destroyed under par.
sive or active, and direct or indirect physical, electronic, 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.” Wisconsin Act - 2 - 2025 Assembly Bill 629 radio, and electromagnetic means, and through the use 6.
(a) 2.
Use reasonable force, if necessary, to disable, of remote identification broadcast or other means.
(END)
damage, or destroy the drone.
3.
Disrupt or disable control of the drone without (b) Paragraph (a) applies only to a law enforcement prior consent.
officer or agency that acts only as authorized by 6 USC 4.
Seize or exercise control of the drone.
124n, including compliance with training, certification, 5.
Seize or otherwise confiscate the drone.
equipment, and reporting requirements.
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (4)

Action History

  1. Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

  2. Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  3. Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-3-2026

  4. Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026

  5. Report correctly enrolled on 3-25-2026

  6. LRB correction (Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Amendment 1)

  7. LRB correction (Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1)

  8. Received from Senate concurred in

  9. Ordered immediately messaged

  10. Read a third time and concurred in

  11. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  12. Ordered to a third reading

  13. Read a second time

  14. Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

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

  16. Available for scheduling

  17. Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3

  18. Executive action taken

  19. Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  20. Received from Assembly

  21. Ordered immediately messaged

  22. Read a third time and passed, Ayes 57, Noes 42

  23. Rules suspended

  24. Ordered to a third reading

  25. Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  26. Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  27. Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Wichgers

  28. Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  29. Read a second time

  30. Withdrawn from committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 2-17-2026

  31. Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Wichgers

  32. Referred to committee on Rules

  33. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 11, Noes 4

  34. Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 11, Noes 4

  35. Executive action taken

  36. Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Wichgers

  37. Senator James added as a cosponsor

  38. Public hearing held

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

  40. Introduced by Representatives Wichgers, Behnke, Dittrich, Goeben, Knodl, Kurtz, Melotik, Murphy and Mursau; cosponsored by Senators Bradley, Jacque, Marklein and Nass

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 119 not signed on · 40 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (12)

Not signed on (119)

119 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 119 →

"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Read a third time and passed

Passed 57 Yea · 42 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 52100
Democrat 43900
Unaffiliated 1200
Total 574200
% of votes cast 58%42%0%0%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
JOHNSON — Nay
MOORE OMOKUNDE — Nay
SPEAKER — Yea
Anderson, Clinton Democrat Nay
Andraca, Deb Democrat Nay
Arney, Margaret Democrat Nay
Bare, Mike Democrat Nay
Billings, Jill Democrat Yea
Brown, Brienne Democrat Nay
Clancy, Ryan Democrat Nay
Cruz, Angelina Democrat Nay
DeSanto, Karen Democrat Nay
DeSmidt, Ben Democrat Nay
Doyle, Steve Democrat Yea
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 Yea
Joers, Alex Democrat Nay
Kirsch, Karen Democrat Nay
Madison, Darrin Democrat Nay
Mayadev, Renuka Democrat Nay
McCarville, Maureen Democrat Nay
McGuire, Tip Democrat Nay
Miresse, Vincent 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 Yea
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 Nay
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
Zimmerman, Shannon Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does AB 629 do?
An Act to renumber and amend 114.045; to create 114.045 (1m), 114.045 (2m) (bm) and 114.045 (3m) of the statutes;
Who sponsors AB 629?
AB 629 is sponsored by Bradley, Jacque, Marklein, Nass, Wichgers, Chuck (Republican), Behnke, Elijah (Republican), Dittrich, Barbara (Republican), Goeben, Joy (Republican), Knodl, Daniel (Republican), Kurtz, Tony (Republican), Melotik, Paul (Republican), Murphy, David (Republican), and Mursau, Jeffrey (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 629?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced November 07, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track AB 629?
Track AB 629 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on AB 629

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of AB 629

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →