Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: Introduced Bipartisan · 1 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 470 — Relating to: increasing the maximum fee for court costs collectible in a municipal court action. (FE)

Last action — Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced October 02, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 17 sponsors

    1 primary, 16 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (1 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 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 amend 814.65 (1) of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

36 added · 8 removed

Plain-language change summary

The proposed changes to Senate Bill 470 include increasing the maximum court costs that a municipal court can impose on individuals from $38 to $48. Additionally, the term "judge" was replaced with "judge court" in the text of the bill, likely to clarify the role of the court in the municipal system. This increase in fees is significant as it could help municipalities cover rising costs associated with court operations, potentially improving local court services.

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Latest
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBa0534/1 SWB:emw SENATE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 470 October 20, 2025 - Offered by SenatANGGAARD .
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-4775/1 SWB:emw SENATE BILL 470 October 2, 2025 - Introduced by Senators W ANGGAARD and D ASSLER -ALFHEIM , cosponsored by Representatives KAUFERT , GUNDRUM , MAXEY, B.
At the locations indicated, amend the bill as follows:
ACOBSON , ARMSTRONG , TEFFEN , ALLEN, DITTRICH, PIWOWARCZYK , MURPHY , O'CONNOR , M URSAU , OEBEN , KITCHENS and B RILL.
1.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
Page 2, line 2:
A N A CT to amend 814.65 (1) of the statutes;
delete XjudgeY and substitute Xjudge courtY.
relating to:
2.
increasing the maximum fee for court costs collectible in a municipal court action.
Page 2, line 6:
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under current law, with certain exceptions, the municipal judge in a municipal court action must collect a fee of not less than $15 nor more than $38 on each separate matter.
delete XjudgeY and substitute Xjudge courtY.
The fee is to be imposed whether there is a default of appearance, there is a plea of guilty or no contest, on issuance of a warrant or summons, or the action is tried as a contested matter.
Current law requires that the municipal treasurer pay monthly $5 from each fee received to the secretary of administration for deposit in the general fund and retain the balance for the use of the municipality.
The bill increases the maximum fee on each separate matter from $38 to $48.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
814.65 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
814.65 (1) COURT COSTS .
In a municipal court action, except for a financial - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-4775/1 SWB:emw SENATE BILL 470 S ECTION 1 responsibility violation under s.
344.62 (2) or for a violation of an ordinance in conformity with s.
343.51 (1m) (b) or 347.48 (2m), the municipal judge shall collect a fee of not less than $15 nor more than $38 $48 on each separate matter, whether it is on default of appearance, a plea of guilty or no contest, on issuance of a warrant or summons, or the action is tried as a contested matter.
Of each fee received by the judge under this subsection, the municipal treasurer shall pay monthly $5 to the secretary of administration for deposit in the general fund and shall retain the balance for the use of the municipality.
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Action History

  1. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. Fiscal estimate received

  3. Available for scheduling

  4. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0

  5. Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 8, Noes 0

  6. Executive action taken

  7. Public hearing held

  8. Senator James added as a coauthor

  9. Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  10. Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  11. Introduced by Senators Wanggaard and Dassler-Alfheim; cosponsored by Representatives Kaufert, Gundrum, Maxey, B. Jacobson, Armstrong, Steffen, Allen, Dittrich, Piwowarczyk, Murphy, O'Connor, Mursau, Goeben, Kitchens and Brill

Sponsors

  • Van Wanggaard · Primary
  • Kristin Dassler-Alfheim · Cosponsor
  • B. Jacobson · Cosponsor
  • Kaufert · Cosponsor
  • Gundrum · Cosponsor
  • Maxey · Cosponsor
  • Armstrong · Cosponsor
  • Steffen · Cosponsor
  • Allen · Cosponsor
  • Dittrich · Cosponsor
  • Piwowarczyk · Cosponsor
  • Murphy · Cosponsor
  • O'Connor · Cosponsor
  • Mursau · Cosponsor
  • Goeben · Cosponsor
  • Kitchens · Cosponsor
  • Brill · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 16 co-sponsors · 115 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (16)

  • Dassler-Alfheim, Kristin Democrat
  • B. Jacobson
  • Kaufert
  • Gundrum
  • Maxey
  • Armstrong
  • Steffen
  • Allen
  • Dittrich
  • Piwowarczyk
  • Murphy
  • O'Connor
  • Mursau
  • Goeben
  • Kitchens
  • Brill

Not signed on (115)

115 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 115 →

"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

Subjects

public-safety finance
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 470 do?
An Act to amend 814.65 (1) of the statutes;
Who sponsors SB 470?
SB 470 is sponsored by Wanggaard, Van (Republican), Dassler-Alfheim, Kristin (Democrat), B. Jacobson, Kaufert, Gundrum, Maxey, Armstrong, Steffen, Allen, Dittrich, Piwowarczyk, Murphy, O'Connor, Mursau, Goeben, Kitchens, and Brill.
What is the current status of SB 470?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced October 02, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 470?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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