Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: To Executive 2 R cosponsors

SB 485 — Relating to: video monitoring or recording in residential care centers for children and youth, group homes, and shelter care facilities.

Last action — Published 4-4-2026

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

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced October 02, 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 74% · moderate confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 11 sponsors

    1 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 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 51.61 (1) (o); to create 48.672 of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

90 added · 55 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of SB 485 introduces provisions allowing group homes and child welfare agencies to use video surveillance in common areas without needing consent from the children being recorded, though they must inform the children and their guardians about the surveillance. Additionally, it clarifies that while this surveillance can help monitor safety, it cannot replace personal monitoring for children at high risk of self-harm. These changes are significant as they aim to enhance the safety and oversight within facilities caring for vulnerable youth while ensuring that the privacy of video footage is maintained.

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Previous
Latest
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBs0435/1 EHS:skw ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 485 February 17, 2026 - Offered by RepresentatITTRICH.
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-4746/1 EHS:cjs&cdc SENATE BILL 485 October 2, 2025 - Introduced by Senators J AMES and C ABRAL -GUEVARA , cosponsored by Representatives D ITTRICH , PETERSEN , BEHNKE , GUNDRUM , M ELOTIK, M URSAU , PENTERMAN , PIWOWARCZYK and W ICHGERS.
Referred to Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill authorizes group homes, shelter care facilities, and child welfare agencies that operate a residential care center for children and youth to use video surveillance and recordings in common areas, entrances, and exits without the consent of the child being surveilled or recorded, but must inform the child and the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian, or Indian custodian about the video surveillance and recording.
The bill requires all child welfare agencies that operate a residential care center for children and youth, all group homes, and all shelter care facilities to adopt a policy for monitoring safety, which may include the use of video surveillance and recording in common areas, entrances, and exits.
The bill provides that the video surveillance and recording authorized under the bill may not be used as a substitute for one-on-one monitoring of a child who is at high risk for self-harm.
The bill provides that, generally, such video data is confidential and not open to public inspection.
However, the bill provides that all exceptions to confidentiality that apply under current law with respect to records and information kept by DCF, county departments of human or social services, licensed child welfare agencies, - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-4746/1 EHS:cjs&cdc SENATE BILL 485 SECTION 1 and licensed child care centers about individuals in their care or legal custody also apply to this video data.
Under the bill, DCF may review any authorized video recording.
Under current law, generally, an individual who is receiving services for mental illness, developmental disability, alcoholism, or drug dependency (patient) has a right not to be filmed or taped unless the patient signs an informed and voluntary consent.
This includes an individual who is admitted to a treatment facility or detained, committed, or placed under the Children’s Code.
Under the bill, a patient placed in a residential care center for children and youth, group home, or shelter care facility, may be subject to video surveillance or recording in common areas, entrances, and exits without the patient’s consent as authorized under the bill.
The group home, shelter care facility, or child welfare agency shall inform the child - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRBs0435/1 EHS:skw SECTION 1 and the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian, or Indian custodian about the video surveillance and recording.
The group home, shelter care facility, or child welfare agency shall inform the child and the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian, or Indian custodian about the video surveillance and recording.
(4) Video recording data under this section is confidential and not open to public inspection, except that the exceptions to the confidentiality of records that apply to agencies under s.
- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-4746/1 EHS:cjs&cdc SENATE BILL 485 SECTION 1 (4) Video recording data under this section is confidential and not open to public inspection, except that the exceptions to the confidentiality of records that apply to agencies under s.
980, - 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRBs0435/1 EHS:skw SECTION 2 or a patient who is in the legal custody of or under the supervision of the department of corrections, may be subject to video surveillance or filmed or taped without the patient’s consent, except that such a patient may not be filmed in patient bedrooms or bathrooms without the patient’s consent unless the patient is engaged in dangerous or disruptive behavior.
980, or a patient who is in the legal custody of or under the supervision of the department of corrections, may be subject to video surveillance or filmed or taped without the patient’s consent, except that such a patient may not be filmed in patient bedrooms or bathrooms without the patient’s consent unless the patient is engaged in dangerous or disruptive behavior.
A treatment activity involving a patient committed or detained under ch.
A treatment activity involving a patient - 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRB-4746/1 EHS:cjs&cdc SENATE BILL 485 S ECTION 2 committed or detained under ch.
S ECTION 3.
END )
Effective date.
(1) This act takes effect 30 days after publication.
(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 184

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

  4. Report correctly enrolled

  5. Action ordered immediately messaged

  6. Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 32, Noes 1

  7. Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  8. Point of order that Senate Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 was not germane well taken

  9. Senate Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senators Smith, Habush Sinykin, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Hesselbein, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Roys, Spreitzer, Wall and Wirch

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

  11. Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  12. Ordered immediately messaged

  13. Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 79, Noes 20

  14. Rules suspended

  15. Ordered to a third reading

  16. Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  17. Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Dittrich

  18. Read a second time

  19. Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up

  20. Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representative Haywood

  21. Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Haywood

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

  23. Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  24. Received from Senate

  25. Senator Smith added as a coauthor

  26. Ordered immediately messaged

  27. Read a third time and passed

  28. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  29. Ordered to a third reading

  30. Read a second time

  31. Placed on calendar 11-18-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  32. Available for scheduling

  33. Report passage recommended by Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  34. Executive action taken

  35. Public hearing held

  36. Read first time and referred to Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families

  37. Introduced by Senators James and Cabral-Guevara; cosponsored by Representatives Dittrich, Petersen, Behnke, Gundrum, Melotik, Mursau, Penterman, Piwowarczyk and Wichgers

Sponsors

  • Jesse James · Primary
  • Rachael Cabral-Guevara · Cosponsor
  • Dittrich · Cosponsor
  • Petersen · Cosponsor
  • Behnke · Cosponsor
  • Gundrum · Cosponsor
  • Melotik · Cosponsor
  • Mursau · Cosponsor
  • Penterman · Cosponsor
  • Piwowarczyk · Cosponsor
  • Wichgers · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 30 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (10)

  • Cabral-Guevara, Rachael Republican
  • Dittrich
  • Petersen
  • Behnke
  • Gundrum
  • Melotik
  • Mursau
  • Penterman
  • Piwowarczyk
  • Wichgers

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"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

Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate

Passed 18 Yea · 15 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 18000
Democrat 01200
Unaffiliated 0300
Total 181500
% of votes cast 55%45%0%0%
How each member voted (33)
Member Party Vote
JOHNSON — Nay
DASSLER-ALFHEI — Nay
HABUSH SINYKIN — Nay
Carpenter, Tim Democrat Nay
Drake, Dora Democrat Nay
Hesselbein, Dianne Democrat Nay
Keyeski, Sarah Democrat Nay
Larson, Chris Democrat Nay
Pfaff, Brad Democrat Nay
Ratcliff, Melissa Democrat Nay
Roys, Kelda Democrat Nay
Smith, Jeff Democrat Nay
Spreitzer, Mark Democrat Nay
Wall, Jamie Democrat Nay
Wirch, Robert Democrat Nay
Bradley, Julian Republican Yea
Cabral-Guevara, Rachael Republican Yea
Felzkowski, Mary Republican Yea
Feyen, Dan Republican Yea
Hutton, Rob Republican Yea
Jacque, André Republican Yea
Jagler, John Republican Yea
James, Jesse Republican Yea
Kapenga, Chris Republican Yea
LeMahieu, Devin Republican Yea
Marklein, Howard Republican Yea
Nass, Steve Republican Yea
Quinn, Romaine Republican Yea
Stafsholt, Rob Republican Yea
Testin, Patrick Republican Yea
Tomczyk, Cory Republican Yea
Wanggaard, Van Republican Yea
Wimberger, Eric Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Read a third time and concurred in as amended

Passed 79 Yea · 20 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 53000
Democrat 251800
Unaffiliated 1200
Total 792000
% of votes cast 80%20%0%0%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
JOHNSON — Nay
MOORE OMOKUNDE — Nay
SPEAKER — Yea
Anderson, Clinton Democrat Yea
Andraca, Deb Democrat Yea
Arney, Margaret Democrat Yea
Bare, Mike Democrat Nay
Billings, Jill Democrat Nay
Brown, Brienne Democrat Yea
Clancy, Ryan Democrat Nay
Cruz, Angelina Democrat Nay
DeSanto, Karen Democrat Yea
DeSmidt, Ben Democrat Nay
Doyle, Steve Democrat Yea
Emerson, Jodi Democrat Nay
Fitzgerald, Joan Democrat Yea
Goodwin, Russell Democrat Yea
Haywood, Kalan Democrat Nay
Hong, Francesca Democrat Nay
Hysell, Andrew Democrat Nay
Jacobson, Jenna Democrat Yea
Joers, Alex Democrat Yea
Kirsch, Karen Democrat Yea
Madison, Darrin Democrat Nay
Mayadev, Renuka Democrat Yea
McCarville, Maureen Democrat Yea
McGuire, Tip Democrat Yea
Miresse, Vincent Democrat Yea
Neubauer, Greta Democrat Yea
Ortiz-Velez, Sylvia Democrat Nay
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 Nay
Snodgrass, Lee Democrat Nay
Spaude, Ryan Democrat Yea
Stroud, Angela Democrat Nay
Stubbs, Shelia Democrat Yea
Subeck, Lisa Democrat Nay
Taylor, Sequanna Democrat Yea
Tenorio, Angelito Democrat Nay
Udell, Randy Democrat Yea
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 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 healthcare labor
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 SB 485 do?
An Act to amend 51.61 (1) (o); to create 48.672 of the statutes;
Who sponsors SB 485?
SB 485 is sponsored by James, Jesse (Republican), Cabral-Guevara, Rachael (Republican), Dittrich, Petersen, Behnke, Gundrum, Melotik, Mursau, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, and Wichgers.
What is the current status of SB 485?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced October 02, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track SB 485?
Track SB 485 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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