Gov. Evers Takes Action on 19 Bills

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today took action on 19 bills in addition to 2025 Wisconsin Act 42 as announced earlier today. The bills signed by the governor today include providing safeguards for 911 call centers and dispatchers when transferring a call to the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, creating a statewide general prohibition on student electronic device use in the classroom, and allowing law enforcement to impound and retain vehicles used to drive recklessly until all outstanding fees, fines, and forfeitures are paid, among others.

Senate Bill 309, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 41:

• Specifies that 911 call centers and dispatchers who transfer a caller to the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline are generally immune from civil liability for any outcomes resulting from the transfer; and
• Specifies that this immunity does not apply if the injury claimed to have resulted from the transfer is the result of an act or omission that constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct by the dispatcher or public safety answering point.

“Our 911 dispatchers play a vital role in the safety and security of our state, but they often don’t have the time or resources available to provide the response necessary for somebody experiencing a mental health crisis,” said Gov. Evers. “By offering much-needed protection to 911 dispatchers who transfer calls to the 988 Lifeline, this bill allows for a better and safer crisis response by ensuring crisis calls go to the service providers who are trained to provide appropriate care and resources to those who need it most.”

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, over 196,000 calls have been answered by the 988 Lifeline since the service started in 2022, and counselors resolved 99.6 percent of calls by providing emotional support, reducing callers’ stress, offering coping strategies, and/or connecting callers with local resources. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the purpose of 911 is to provide quick response to an emergency in the form of law enforcement, fire, and medical services. While these services are critical in life-threatening emergencies, public safety answering points do not always have the resources to respond to a mental health crisis, as mental health emergencies require a response that prioritizes time, listening, connection to care, and follow-up.

Assembly Bill 78, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 46:

• Enables political subdivisions to implement ordinances that, at the discretion of a law enforcement officer, immediately impound a vehicle used to drive recklessly and retain the vehicle until all outstanding fees, fines, and forfeitures owed by the vehicle’s owners are paid; and
• Requires law enforcement to determine if the impounded vehicle is stolen, and if the impounded vehicle is found to be stolen, the vehicle shall be released to the owner without payment of a fee.

“Wisconsinites should feel safe in their homes, in our neighborhoods, and on our streets, roads, and highways. Whether it’s distracted driving, speeding, or erratic and aggressive behaviors, reckless driving puts our kids, families, and communities in harm’s way,” said Gov. Evers. “Tackling reckless driving has been a bipartisan goal in recent years, and I’m glad to see this trend has continued this session. This bill will help hold bad actors accountable to keep our roads and communities safe while also providing local governments and law enforcement additional tools needed to respond. I look forward to continuing to work with the Legislature to keep Wisconsinites safe on our roads and streets.”

Senate Bill 66, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 37:

• Combats the use of devices that prevent the quick or accurate identification of stolen vehicles or vehicles that criminals are using with the intent of evading law enforcement; and
• Prohibits the possession, sale, or use of a registration plate concealment device and creates a penalty for violations of a fine of not more than $1,000, imprisonment of not more than 90 days, or both, and the possible impoundment of the vehicle.

Senate Bill 84, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 38:

• Removes a financial barrier to homeownership by exempting real estate transfers between grandparents and grandchildren from the real estate transfer fee, making it easier to keep property in the family.

Senate Bill 159, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 39:

• Clarifies the placement of blue and red flashing lights on the roof or inside of a marked police vehicle; and
• Allows blue and red lights on the front, rear, and sides of police vehicles in addition to the main lights on the roof of the car to help improve the visibility of police vehicles and enhance safety.

Senate Bill 189, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 40:

• Allows a court, if certain conditions are met, to enter a judgment of divorce or legal separation based on an affidavit signed by each party, helping victims of interspousal battery or domestic abuse and improving judicial efficiency by requiring fewer in-person hearings, which could help with caseloads and reduce costs.

Assembly Bill 35, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 43:

• Allows a candidate for office at a general election or partisan primary to withdraw their candidacy and not be included on the ballot by filing a sworn statement with and paying a fee to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, excluding district attorney candidates.

Assembly Bill 65, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 44:

• Adds intent to commit misdemeanor battery, or battery to an unborn child, to the crime of burglary, better aligning the penalties associated with property crimes and crimes against bodily security.

Assembly Bill 75, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 45:

• Requires the Wisconsin Department of Justice to collect certain criminal justice-related information, create an interactive dashboard on its website that includes the collected information, and submit an annual report to the Legislature summarizing the collected information.

Assembly Bill 149, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 47:

• Requires the chairperson of the state committee of a political party to nominate the party’s presidential electors in the event of a political party not having a candidate for state Senate or Assembly, a state officer, or a holdover state senator;
• Extends the current law requirements that there needs to be one presidential elector from each congressional district and two electors from the state at large to the chairperson’s nominations; and
• Requires the chairperson to certify the names of the nominees to the chairperson of the Elections Commission.

In addition to signing the above bills, Gov. Evers also vetoed several bills. The governor’s veto messages are available below.

Veto Message for Senate Bill 25
Veto Message for Senate Bill 76
Veto Message for Senate Bill 184
Veto Message for Assembly Bill 5
Veto Message for Assembly Bill 39
Veto Message for Assembly Bill 146
Veto Message for Assembly Bill 162
Veto Message for Assembly Bill 168
Veto Message for Assembly Bill 169

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.