AB 903 — An Act to amend 48.14 (2) (a), 48.14 (2) (b) and 48.185 (2); to create 48.417 (1m) of the statutes;

-Date 2026of LEGISLATUREenactment: LRB-5822/1 MDE:cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 903 January 23, 2026 - Introduced by Representatives M OSES, D ITTRICH, DOYLE , GUNDRUM , HURD , KNODL , MAXEY, NEDWESKI , O'ONNOR and P IWOWARCZYK , cosponsored by Senators J AMES and J ACQUE .

ReferredAssembly toBill Committee903 onDate Childrenof andpublication*: Families.

WISCONSIN ACT A N A CT to amend 48.14 (2) (a), 48.14 (2) (b) and 48.185 (2);

AnalysisThe bypeople of the Legislativestate Referenceof BureauWisconsin, Underrepresented currentin law,sen- aless parentthe maychild’s relinquishcounty aof newbornresidence childhas whochanged is 72 hours old or younger to a law enforcement officer, emergency medical services practitioner, or hospital staff member, and that person is required to protect the healthparent and safety of the child andhas deliverresided thein childa todifferent thecounty intakeof workerate forand theassembly, juveniledo court.enact as follows:

OnceSECTION the1. child is in the custody of the intake worker, the juvenile court must determine whether to continue to hold the newborn child in custody and, within 30 days of that determination, to establish a permanency plan for the child that ensures a placement or home for the child that provides long-term stability.

Under48.14 current(2) law,(a) the juvenile court may terminate parental rights of the parentsstatutes ofis aamended childthis whostate hasfor been6 relinquished.months.

ThisIn laweither iscase, commonlythe referredVenue tofor asany theto saferead: haven law.

Underproceeding thisunder bill,s. the district attorney, corporation counsel, or other official designated by a county is required to file a petition to terminate the parental rights of a relinquished newborn child or, if a petition has already been filed, to join the petition.

Under48.13 the(2m) bill,concerning thea petition must be filed in the county in which the relinquishment occurred no sooner than 30 days after the date on which the child -whose 2026custody Legislaturehas -been 2 - LRB-5822/1 MDE:cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 903 SECTION 1 was relinquished andunder nos. later than 60 days after the date on which the juvenile court found probable cause to believe that the child was relinquished.

For48.195 further48.14 information(2) see(a) theFor statea andminor, localwhere fiscalparental estimate,rights whichhave willshall be printedin asthe ancounty appendixin towhich thisthe bill.relinquishment oc- been terminated under subch.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

S ECTION 1.

48.14 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

48.14 (2) (a) For a minor, where parental rights have been terminated under subch.

Scurred. ECTION 2.

Notwithstanding the venue specified in this sub- SECTION 2.

section, the court may, upon a motion and for good 48.14 (2) (b) The appointment and removal of a cause shown, transfer the case any action or proceeding specified in this subsection, along with all appropriate guardian of the person for a child under ss.

48.427, 48.43,records, 48.831,to 48.832,the 48.839county (4)of (a),residence 48.977,of andthe 48.978, and for a child found to be in need of protection or servicesparent. under s.

48.1348.43, because48.831, the48.832, child48.839 is(4) without(a), parent48.977, orand guardianSECTION or4. because custody of the child has been relinquished under s.

48.417 (1m) of the statutes is created to 48.978, and for a child found to be in need of protection or services under s.

48.13 because the child is without read:

48.417 (1m) R ELINQUISHED CHILD ;WHEN PETITION parent or guardian or because custody of the child has REQUIRED .

If the court has found that a parent of the been relinquished under s.

Schild ECTIONhas relinquished custody of the child as described SECTION 3.

48.185 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:in s.

48.18548.13 (2)(2m), GUARDIANSHIPthe ANDdistrict TERMINATIONattorney, OFcorporation PARENTALcoun- RIGHTSread: PROCEEDINGS.

sel, or other appropriate official designated under s.

48.185 (2) G UARDIANSHIP AND TERMINATION OF 48.09 of the county in which the relinquishment oc- PARENTAL RIGHTS PROCEEDINGS .

48.41,curred venue shall befile ina the county where the birth parent or child resides at the time that the petition isunder filed.s.

Subject48.42 (1) to sub.terminate 48.41, venue shall be in the county where the birth par- the parental rights of the parent or parents of the child ent or child resides at the time that the petition is filed.

or, if a petition under s.

48.42 (1) to terminate those Subject to sub.

parental rights has already been filed, shall join in the 48.977 or any proceeding under subch.

VIII when the petition no earlier than 30 days after the date on which child has been placed outside the home pursuant to a the child was relinquished and no later than 60 days after dispositional order under s.

48.345 or 48.347, shall be in the countydate whereon which the dispositionalcourt orderfound wasthat issued, unless the child’schild countywas ofre- residence has changed or the parentcounty ofwhere the childdispositional hasorder residedwas inissued, aun- differentlinquished, countyas ofdescribed thisin states. for 6 months.

In48.13 either(2m). case, the Venue for any proceeding under s.

48.13* (2m)Section concerning991.11, aISCONSINSTATUTES child: whose custody has been - 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-5822/1 MDE:cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 903 SECTION 3 relinquished under s.

48.195Effective shalldate beof inacts. the county in which the relinquishment occurred.

Notwithstanding“Every theact venueand specifiedevery inportion thisof subsection,an act enacted by the courtlegislature may,over uponthe agov- motionernor's andpartial forveto goodwhich causedoes shown,not transferexpressly prescribe the casetime anywhen actionit ortakes proceedingeffect specifiedshall intake thiseffect subsection,on alongthe withday allafter appropriateits records,date toof thepublication.” countyWisconsin ofAct residence- of2 the- child2025 orAssembly parent.Bill 903 SECTION 5.

S ECTION 4.