AB 1195 — Relating to: creating an Office of Civil Legal Aid to be overseen by a Civil Legal Aid Board, providing a right to the appointment of counsel at state expense for residential tenants in eviction actions, and making an appropriation. (FE)

Summary

An Act to renumber and amend 799.20 (4); to amend 704.17 (4), 799.09, 799.12 (6) (c) (intro.), 799.14 (2), 799.16 (3) (b), 799.16 (4) (c) (title), 799.20 (title), 799.20 (1), 799.206 (3), 799.207 (1) (a), 799.207 (1) (b), 799.21 (2), 799.22 (2) and 799.41 (1); to create 20.640, 20.923 (4) (f) 2g., 230.08 (2) (qm), 704.145, 758.10, chapter 759, 799.05 (8), 799.16 (4) (d), 799.20 (3), 799.20 (4) (a), 799.22 (4) (b) 4., 799.40 (4) (c) and 799.425 of the statutes;

Bill Text

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Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a right to counsel at public expense for tenants in eviction actions and creates an Office of Civil Legal Aid to oversee this program.

• 799.20 (4)

  If it appears to the court or circuit court commissioner that the defendant claims a defense to the action, the court or circuit court commissioner shall schedule a trial of all the issues involved in the action, unless the parties stipulate otherwise or the action is subject to immediate dismissal. In a residential eviction action, the court or circuit court commissioner shall hold and complete a court or jury trial of the issue of possession of the premises involved in the action within 30 days of the return date of the summons or any adjourned date thereof, unless the parties stipulate otherwise or the action is subject to immediate dismissal. → If it appears to the court or circuit court commissioner that the defendant claims a defense to the action, the court or circuit court commissioner shall schedule a trial of all issues involved in the action, unless the parties stipulate otherwise or the action is subject to immediate dismissal. In a residential eviction action, the court or circuit court commissioner shall hold and complete a trial of the issue of possession of the premises involved in the action within 30 days of the return date of the summons or any adjourned date thereof, unless the parties stipulate otherwise or the action is subject to immediate dismissal.

  Changes the language for clarity but maintains the existing procedures for scheduling trials in eviction actions.

• 704.17 (4)

  ORM OF NOTICE AND MANNER OF GIVIN. Notice must be in writing and given as specified in s. 704.21. If so given, and unless ordered otherwise by a court in an eviction action under ch. 799, the tenant is not entitled to possession or occupancy of the premises after the date of termination specified in the notice. → FORM OF NOTICE AND MANNER OF GIVING. Notice must be in writing and given as specified in s. 704.21. If so given, and unless ordered otherwise by a court in an eviction action under ch. 799, the tenant is not entitled to possession or occupancy of the premises after the date of termination specified in the notice.

  Corrects typographical errors in the current law regarding the form of notice.

• 799.09

  The Civil Legal Aid Board shall ensure that information regarding the right to counsel is disseminated to all tenants involved in eviction actions.

  Introduces a requirement for the Civil Legal Aid Board to inform tenants about their right to counsel in eviction proceedings.

• 799.12 (6) (c)

  If the defendant’s post-office address cannot be ascertained with reasonable diligence, the mailing may be omitted and service may be made by publishing as a class 1 notice under ch. 985 a notice in substantially the following form, except as provided in s. 799.22 (4) (b) 3.:

  Eliminates outdated language regarding service by publication.

• 799.425

  A tenant whose residential tenancy has been terminated for any reason shall have a right to counsel at public expense in any eviction action.

  Establishes a clear right to counsel at public expense for tenants in eviction actions.

Action History

1. March 23, 2026

   Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

2. March 19, 2026

   Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary

3. March 19, 2026

   Introduced by Representatives Clancy, Hong, Madison, Joers, Moore Omokunde, Palmeri, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Stubbs, Arney, Bare, Goodwin, Mayadev, McCarville, Roe, Stroud, Tenorio, Anderson and Subeck; cosponsored by Senators Roys, Larson and Drake

Sponsors

• Moore Omokunde · Cosponsor
• Roys · Cosponsor
• Larson · Cosponsor
• Drake · Cosponsor
• Ryan Clancy · Primary
• Francesca Hong · Cosponsor
• Darrin Madison · Cosponsor
• Alex Joers · Cosponsor
• Lori Palmeri · Cosponsor
• Christine Sinicki · Cosponsor
• Lee Snodgrass · Cosponsor
• Shelia Stubbs · Cosponsor
• Margaret Arney · Cosponsor
• Mike Bare · Cosponsor
• Russell Goodwin · Cosponsor
• Renuka Mayadev · Cosponsor
• Maureen McCarville · Cosponsor
• Ann Roe · Cosponsor
• Angela Stroud · Cosponsor
• Angelito Tenorio · Cosponsor
• Clinton Anderson · Cosponsor
• Lisa Subeck · Cosponsor

Subjects