Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: To Executive Bipartisan · 11 R · 2 D cosponsors

AB 768 — Relating to: operation of drones over certain utility facilities and providing a penalty.

Last action — Published 4-4-2026

  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 December 17, 2025. It awaits signature.

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

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate 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 90% · high confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 15 sponsors

    1 primary, 14 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (11 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

  • 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 renumber 114.045 (1); to renumber and amend 114.045 (3); to create 114.045 (1) (b) and 114.045 (3) (b) of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

69 added · 24 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill AB 768 clarifies what is considered a "facility" relevant to drone operations. It specifically excludes electric transmission lines and stipulates that "management" only pertains to operations related to service delivery, not sales or administration. These changes are important because they better define the rules around drone usage near utility facilities, helping to ensure safety while preventing unnecessary restrictions on drone operators.

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Previous
Latest
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBa0743/1 EVM:ajk ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT 1, TO ASSEMBLY BILL 768 January 16, 2026 - Offered by RepresentatONOVAN .
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-1994/1 EVM:skw&cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 768 December 17, 2025 - Introduced by RepresentativesONOVAN , ITTRICH , OODWIN , K NODL, M AXEY, MELOTIK, M URPHY, NOVAK , O'CONNOR , ENTERMAN , SINICK, TITTL and W ICHGERS, cosponsored by Senators OMCZYK and JAMES .
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 114.045 (1);
Page 1, line 6:
to renumber and amend 114.045 (3);
after “114.045 (1) (b) 1.” insert “In this paragraph:
to create 114.045 (1) (b) and 114.045 (3) (b) of the statutes;
relating to:
operation of drones over certain utility facilities and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Current law prohibits the unauthorized, noncommercial operation of a drone over a correctional institution.
Any person who violates this prohibition may be required to forfeit not more than $5,000.
This bill prohibits the unauthorized operation of a drone at an altitude of less than 300 feet over or within 500 feet of a parcel on which certain water reclamation, power, telecommunications, and water system facilities are located.
The penalty for a violation of this prohibition is the same as for unauthorized operation of a drone over a correctional institution.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
114.045 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 114.045 (1) (a).
SECTION 2.
114.045 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
114.045 (1) (b) 1.
Except as provided in subd.
2.
or 3., no person may operate - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-1994/1 EVM:skw&cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 768 SECTION 2 a drone, as defined in s.
941.292 (1), at an altitude of less than 300 feet, over or within 500 feet of a parcel on which of any of the following facilities are located:
“Facility” does not include an electric transmission line or any other equipment or structure used solely to carry electric power or another product.
A water reclamation facility or a building designed for the purpose of water reclamation conveyance management.
“Management” means operations related to the generation or delivery of the service or product provided.
A gas or electric power plant, generating station, electric substation, natural gas gate station, or storage facility or a building designed for the purpose of gas or electric power management.
“Management” does not include sales of the service or product or administration of the entity providing the service or product.
c.
1m.”.
A telecommunications carrier plant, equipment used to furnish telecommunications services, or a building designed for the purpose of telecommunications management.
d.
A public water system facility or a building designed for the purpose of public water system management.
Page 2, line 8:
Subdivision 1.
delete the material beginning with “, equipment” and ending with “services,” on line 9.
does not prohibit the operation of a drone at the direction of any of the following for official business:
a.
The owner or operator of the facility for the purpose of monitoring, inspecting, operating, or maintaining the facility.
b.
A county, city, village, or town in which the parcel is located in any area under its jurisdiction.
Page 2, line 10:
Subdivision 1.
after that line insert:
does not prohibit the operation of a drone for a commercial purpose if the done is operated in compliance with federal aviation administration regulations, authorizations, or exemptions.
“cm.
S ECTION 3.
A facility of a provider of Internet service, a video service provider, as - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRBa0743/1 EVM:ajk defined in s.
114.045 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 114.045 (3) (a) and amended to read:
196.01 (12r), or a provider of cable service, as defined in s.
114.045 (3) (a) A law enforcement officer investigating an alleged violation of - 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-1994/1 EVM:skw&cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 768 SECTION 3 sub.
196.01 (1p).”.
(1) (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.
4.
(1) (a).
Show all 51 changed rows (11 more)
Previous
Latest
Page 2, line 13:
S ECTION 4.
on lines 13 and 19, delete “1.” and substitute “1m.”.
114.045 (3) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
(END )
114.045 (3) (b) A law enforcement officer investigating an alleged violation of sub.
(1) (b) shall seize and do all of the following with any photograph, motion picture, or 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) (b):
1.
Transfer the materials to the law enforcement agency that has primary responsibility for providing police protective services in the city, village, or town in which the violation occurred.
2.
Upon completion of any enforcement proceeding related to an alleged violation of sub.
(1) (b), provide copies of the materials to each city, village, town, or county in which the violation occurred.
(END)
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Action History

  1. Published 4-4-2026

  2. Report approved by the Governor on 4-3-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 194

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

  4. Report correctly enrolled on 3-23-2026

  5. Received from Senate concurred in

  6. Ordered immediately messaged

  7. Senator Smith added as a cosponsor

  8. Read a third time and concurred in

  9. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  10. Ordered to a third reading

  11. Read a second time

  12. Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 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. Available for scheduling

  15. Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0

  16. Executive action taken

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

  18. Received from Assembly

  19. Ordered immediately messaged

  20. Read a third time and passed, Ayes 85, Noes 14

  21. Rules suspended

  22. Ordered to a third reading

  23. Assembly Amendment 2 adopted

  24. Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  25. Read a second time

  26. Representative Ortiz-Velez added as a coauthor

  27. Withdrawn from Committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 2-17-2026

  28. Representative McCarville added as a coauthor

  29. Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representative Donovan

  30. Referred to committee on Rules

  31. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 13, Noes 2

  32. Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Ayes 15, Noes 0

  33. Executive action taken

  34. Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Donovan

  35. Public hearing held

  36. LRB correction

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

  38. Introduced by Representatives Donovan, Dittrich, Goodwin, Knodl, Maxey, Melotik, Murphy, Novak, O'Connor, Penterman, Sinicki, Tittl and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Tomczyk and James

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 14 co-sponsors · 117 not signed on · 13 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (14)

Not signed on (117)

117 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 117 →

"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 85 Yea · 14 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 53000
Democrat 301300
Unaffiliated 2100
Total 851400
% of votes cast 86%14%0%0%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
JOHNSON — Yea
MOORE OMOKUNDE — Nay
SPEAKER — Yea
Anderson, Clinton Democrat Yea
Andraca, Deb Democrat Yea
Arney, Margaret Democrat Nay
Bare, Mike Democrat Nay
Billings, Jill Democrat Yea
Brown, Brienne Democrat Yea
Clancy, Ryan Democrat Nay
Cruz, Angelina Democrat Nay
DeSanto, Karen Democrat Yea
DeSmidt, Ben Democrat Yea
Doyle, Steve Democrat Yea
Emerson, Jodi Democrat Nay
Fitzgerald, Joan Democrat Yea
Goodwin, Russell Democrat Yea
Haywood, Kalan Democrat Yea
Hong, Francesca Democrat Nay
Hysell, Andrew Democrat Yea
Jacobson, Jenna Democrat Yea
Joers, Alex Democrat Nay
Kirsch, Karen Democrat Yea
Madison, Darrin Democrat Nay
Mayadev, Renuka Democrat Yea
McCarville, Maureen Democrat Yea
McGuire, Tip Democrat Yea
Miresse, Vincent Democrat Nay
Neubauer, Greta Democrat Yea
Ortiz-Velez, Sylvia Democrat Yea
Palmeri, Lori Democrat Yea
Phelps, Christian Democrat Nay
Prado, Priscilla Democrat Yea
Rivera-Wagner, Amaad Democrat Yea
Roe, Ann Democrat Yea
Sheehan, Joe Democrat Yea
Sinicki, Christine Democrat Yea
Snodgrass, Lee Democrat Yea
Spaude, Ryan Democrat Yea
Stroud, Angela Democrat Nay
Stubbs, Shelia Democrat Yea
Subeck, Lisa Democrat Yea
Taylor, Sequanna Democrat Nay
Tenorio, Angelito Democrat Nay
Udell, Randy Democrat Yea
Vining, Robyn Democrat Yea
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
Zimmerman, Shannon Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety transportation technology energy
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 768 do?
An Act to renumber 114.045 (1); to renumber and amend 114.045 (3); to create 114.045 (1) (b) and 114.045 (3) (b) of the statutes;
Who sponsors AB 768?
AB 768 is sponsored by Tomczyk, James, Donovan, Bob (Republican), Dittrich, Barbara (Republican), Goodwin, Russell (Democrat), Knodl, Daniel (Republican), Maxey, Dave (Republican), Melotik, Paul (Republican), Murphy, David (Republican), Novak, Todd (Republican), O'Connor, Jerry (Republican), Penterman, William (Republican), Sinicki, Christine (Democrat), Tittl, Paul (Republican), and Wichgers, Chuck (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 768?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced December 17, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track AB 768?
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