Rep. Ron Tusler's Legislative Accomplishments

This session, I got 12 bills signed by the Governor, the most out of anyone in the Assembly!

Judicial Security Package

Threats against Judges and their families have risen in recent years. In 2022, a retired Juneau County Circuit Court Judge, John Roemer was zip-tied to a chair and executed in his home. Police said a man who was sentenced by Judge Roemer years prior killed Judge Roemer out of revenge. Judges should never fear for their safety simply because they were doing the job the people elected them to do.

The Governor recently signed three of my bills designed to protect the safety of Judges (AB 965, 966, 967). See below:

Assembly Bill 965 – Signed by Governor – Act 234

Picketing & Parading in front of Judge's Home – Prohibits picketing or parading at the residence of a judge with the intent to interfere with, obstruct, or impede the administration of justice or influence any judge

Assembly Bill 966 – Signed by Governor – Act 235

Privacy Protections for Judges - This law establishes privacy protections for judicial officers and a procedure for a judicial officer to submit to governmental and private entities a written request to keep certain personal information relating to a judicial officer and the judicial officer’s immediate family out of public view or access.

Assembly Bill 967 – Signed by Governor – Act 236

Withholding Judicial Security Profiles – Prohibits Open Records Requests for sensitive judicial Security profiles which contain information on a judge’s home in case of emergency

Other Bills:

Assembly Bill 882 – Signed by Governor – Act 218

Allowing Tactical Emergency Medical Services to Carry Firearm - allowing a tactical emergency medical services professional to carry a firearm in prohibited areas.

Assembly Bill 425 – Signed by Governor – Act 113

State Parks Pass Reform – State Parks Passes are now good for an entire year from the date-of-purchase instead of just a calendar year

Assembly Bill 505 – Signed by Governor – Act 133

Robbery of Financial Institution – Closes loophole that would allow a would-be criminal rob a bank without being charged

Senate Bill 592 – Signed by Governor – Act 182

Wheel Chair Repair Act - Specifies that the Department of Health Services (DHS) must apply a reimbursement rate under the Medical Assistance (MA) program for complex rehabilitation technology (CRT) wheelchair repair and accessories that is equal to the maximum fee paid in Wisconsin under the federal Medicare program.

Senate Bill 759 – Signed by Governor – Act 127

Trust Code Trailer Bill – Cleans up current Trust statues and modernizes them

Senate Bill 898 – Signed by Governor – Act 130

Electronic & Remote Witnessing Reform – Allows for electronic and remote witnessing for notarization of estate planning documents

Senate Bill 450 – Signed by Governor – Act 246

Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act - Adopting modifications to, and renaming, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act

Senate Bill 207 – Signed by Governor – Act 50

Eligibility for local Wildlife Control Grants – Changes definition of “urban” to include densely populated areas like Kimberly so they can qualify for DNR grants to control nuisance wildlife.

Senate Bill 29 – Signed by Governor – Act 245

Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act - The law modifies current law by removing the requirement that a declarant be outside of the jurisdiction of the United States to make an unsworn declaration.

Assembly Bill 834 – VETOED by Governor

No-Knock Search Warrants - Prohibits cities from banning the use of No-Knock Warrants by Law Enforcement

Assembly Bill 723 – Signed by Governor – Act 205

De Novo Review Reforms - Procedures for de novo review in actions affecting the family.

Assembly Bill 722 – Signed by Governor – Act 204

Stipulated Order Reforms - Stipulated orders before judgment in actions for divorce, annulment, or legal separation.

Senate Bill 566 – Signed by Governor – Act 258

ULC Omnibus Business Bill - Modernizes business statues, bringing Wisconsin in line with the Revised Uniform LLP Act and the Revised Uniform LLC Act

Assembly Bill 190 – Signed by Governor – Act 82

Reforms to Law Enforcement Standards Board - Responsibilities of the Law Enforcement Standards Board, modernizing it, giving them more power over disciplinary action against officers who violate policy. It also discloses possible violations and complaints to police departments recruiting around the state.

Assembly Bill 154 – Signed by Governor – Act 31

Hmong-Lao Veterans Day - Created Hmong-Lao Veterans Day

Senate Bill 85 – Signed by Governor – Act 28

Cyberstalking Protection Act - Updates Wisconsin’s stalking statues to explicitly clarify and ensure protection for victims of electronic stalking

Senate Bill 14 – Signed by Governor – Act 63

Marriage Officiant - Letting out-of-state judges and justices officiate weddings

Senate Bill 68 – Signed by Governor – Act 16

Closes the Child Pornography Loophole - Defines “lewd exhibition of intimate parts” to include child erotica as child pornography

Assembly Bill 58 – Signed by Governor – Act 29

Notice of Claim - Changes the requirement for service of notice of claim for lawsuits against the State

Assembly Bill 59 – Signed by Governor – Act 30

E-Service Reform Act - Grants service of certain pleadings and other papers by electronic mail

Senate Bill 320 – Signed by Governor – Act 53

Salvage Title Reform Act - Establishes a process and a reasonable set of criteria for an insurer to follow to prove ownership of a totaled vehicle, if a policyholder fails to transfer the title within 30 days of receiving notice

Senate Bill 169 – Signed by Governor – Act 59

Incentivizing Wetland Mitigation - Incentivizes the creation of wetlands needed areas, as well as, requires mitigation to occur as close as possible to the location of a discharge

Senate Bill 70 – Signed by Governor – Act 111

Closes the Jailhouse Contraband Loophole - Updates definition of contraband and closes the loophole that criminals exploit to bring unwanted contraband into a Jail or prison without penalty or prosecution

Assembly Bill 470 – Signed by Governor – Act 184

Justice System Support Initiative - Adds 12 circuit court branches to be allocated by director of state courts. Calumet County received a 2^nd Judge

Assembly Bill 451 – Signed by Governor – Act 181

Uniform Recognition and Enforcement of Canadian Domestic Violence Protection Orders Act - Wisconsin will honor restraining orders granted in Canada

Assembly Bill 547 – Signed by Governor – Act 183

Wetland Mitigation Grant Program - Wetland mitigation credits must be purchased from a mitigation bank close to the filled wetland

Senate Bill 421 – Signed by Governor – Act 71

Parks Revitalization Act - Provides $4.5 million to State Parks critical to health and safety related water infrastructure projects

Assembly Bill 581 – Signed by Governor – Act 302

Change of Venue requirements for Domestic Abuse, Child Abuse, and Harassment Cases - If a defendant works within the county circuit court, the victim can seek a restraining order in another county

Senate Bill 339 – Signed by Governor – Act 199

Probation Revocation Huber Act - While awaiting a probation revocation hearing, an inmate can apply for Huber release to save their job.

Assembly Bill 518 – Signed by Governor – Act 303

Condominium Fees and Consumer Protections Act - Requires condominium associations to cooperate with the sale of assets and limits the fees they can require

Assembly Bill 668 – Signed by Governor – Act 301

State Park Bike Lights Act - Front and back lights are necessary when operating a bicycle in a state park

Assembly Bill 667 – Signed by Governor – Act 200

Wisconsin Uniform Law Commission Membership - If there is no qualifying legislature to fill a seat, the appointing body can appoint someone from outside the legislature

Assembly Bill 153 – Signed by Governor – Act 120

Recount Reform Act - A losing candidate can only demand a recount if the candidate is within 1% of the winning candidate