Wisconsin’s 2025–26 plate-reader bills failed to pass without a listed hearing or vote

AB 576: a ban with exceptions and a warrant rule

Assembly Bill 576 was introduced on October 24, 2025 by Representative Clancy and six other representatives and referred to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. The Legislative Reference Bureau analysis printed with the bill says it would ban the use of automatic registration plate readers, with exceptions that include parking enforcement, controlling access to nonpublic areas and the regulation of commercial vehicles. Users under an exception would be limited to plate numbers, date, time, location and pictures, would have to keep the data confidential, and would have to destroy it within 90 days of collection. [1] [2]

The same analysis says the bill would bar a law enforcement agency from using plate-reader data, or data from a privately owned security camera such as a doorbell camera, without a search warrant. The exception is an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury, where the data could prevent the death or injury or mitigate the injury. An officer who violated that prohibition would be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of up to $10,000. The bill text also creates a warrant process for the data. [2]

AB 300 and SB 299: a state grant program for purchases

Assembly Bill 300 was introduced on June 6, 2025 by Representative Novak and 13 other representatives, with Senators James and Wanggaard as cosponsors, and referred to the same Assembly committee. It would have directed the Department of Justice to award grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase automated registration plate reader systems, and to ensure that at least 50 percent of grant money went to agencies in rural areas. The bill defines a rural area as a city, town or village of under 20,000 people that is at least 15 miles from any place of 20,000 or more. Its definition of a law enforcement agency excludes state agencies, and the introduced text states no grant amount. [3] [4]

The AB 300 history points to Senate Bill 299 as a related bill. SB 299 has the same relating clause. Senators James and Wanggaard introduced it on May 30, 2025, with the same 14 representatives as cosponsors, and it was referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. This report did not review SB 299’s text separately. [3] [5] [6]

How the bills are recorded

Each committee record lists only the referral and one later entry, dated March 19, 2026: “Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.” The bill histories record the same disposition on March 23, 2026. None of the committee records or histories lists a public hearing, an executive session, a committee vote or a floor vote. [1] [3] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Senate Joint Resolution 1 set the 2025–26 session schedule. It placed the last general-business floorperiod from March 17 to 19, 2026, which matches the committee records’ date. The failure entries cite that schedule rather than a recorded vote on any of the bills. [6] [7] [8] [9]

What these records do not establish

Each bill is recorded as failing to pass in March 2026, and no retained record lists its enactment. The records do not explain why no hearing is listed, show how individual legislators viewed the bills, or show whether similar proposals will follow. This report does not cover events after the September 2026 retrieval of these records, later bills or local agency policies. [1] [3] [5]

Sources

1. Wisconsin Legislature, 2025 Assembly Bill 576 historyHistory table: 10/24/2025 introduction and referral; 3/23/2026 failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1Source URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/ab576
2. 2025 Assembly Bill 576, as introduced (LRB-0423/1)PDF pp. 1-2, Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau; p. 3, s. 86.107 90-day destruction and penalty; pp. 3-6, s. 968.376 warrant processSource URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/proposals/ab576.pdf
3. Wisconsin Legislature, 2025 Assembly Bill 300 historyHistory table: 6/6/2025 introduction and referral; 3/23/2026 failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1; See Also, 2025 Senate Bill 299Source URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/ab300
4. 2025 Assembly Bill 300, as introduced (LRB-2599/1)PDF p. 1, introduction line and Legislative Reference Bureau analysis; p. 2, s. 165.985 (1)(b)-(c) definitions and (2)-(3) grant termsSource URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/proposals/ab300.pdf
5. Wisconsin Legislature, 2025 Senate Bill 299 historyRelating clause; History table: 5/30/2025 introduction, cosponsors and referral; 3/23/2026 failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1Source URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/sb299
6. Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Record of Committee Proceedings, 2025 Senate Bill 299PDF p. 1: sponsors; May 30, 2025 referral; March 19, 2026 failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1Source URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/senate/judiciary_and_public_safety/1986214.pdf
7. Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Record of Committee Proceedings, 2025 Assembly Bill 576PDF p. 1: October 24, 2025 referral; March 19, 2026 failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1Source URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/assembly/criminal_justice_and_public_safety/1985416.pdf
8. Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Record of Committee Proceedings, 2025 Assembly Bill 300PDF p. 1: June 6, 2025 referral; March 19, 2026 failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1Source URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/assembly/criminal_justice_and_public_safety/1985432.pdf
9. 2025 Enrolled Senate Joint Resolution 1, 2025-2026 session schedulePDF p. 2, section 1(3)(u), last general-business floorperiod March 17-19, 2026Source URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/enrolled/sjr1.pdf