An Act to repeal 175.35 (1) (b); to renumber 175.35 (2) (a), (b), (c) and (d) and 175.35 (2j); to renumber and amend 175.35 (2) (intro.) and 175.35 (2i); to amend 20.455 (2) (gr), 175.35 (title), 175.35 (1) (at), 175.35 (2g) (a), 175.35 (2g) (b) 1., 175.35 (2g) (b) 2., 175.35 (2k) (ar) 2., 175.35 (2k) (c) 2. a., 175.35 (2k) (c) 2. b., 175.35 (2k) (g), 175.35 (2k) (h), 175.35 (2L), 175.35 (2t) (a), (b) and (c), 175.35 (3) (b) 2., 175.60 (7) (d), 175.60 (15) (b) 4. b., 938.208 (1) (b), 938.34 (4m) (b) 2., 938.341, 941.237 (1) (d), 941.296 (1) (b), 968.20 (3) (b), 971.17 (1g) and 973.176 (1); to create 175.33, 175.35 (1) (br), 175.35 (2) (bm), 175.35 (2) (cm) (intro.), 175.35 (2i) (b) 2., 175.35 (2j) (b) and 941.29 (1m) (dm), (dn) and (do) of the statutes; Relating to: sales and transfers of firearms and providing a penalty. (FE)
AB325 would substantially expand Wisconsin’s firearm transfer rules. The bill creates a new general requirement that ownership of any firearm, including a frame or receiver, may not be transferred unless the transfer goes through a federally licensed firearms dealer and the transferee passes a background check. It extends the current handgun-only dealer background-check framework to firearms more broadly, while also defining “transfer” to include selling, assigning, pledging, leasing, loaning, giving away, or otherwise disposing of a firearm.
The bill includes several exceptions. Transfers to firearms dealers, law enforcement, or armed services agencies would be exempt, as would antique firearms. It also allows gifts, bequests, or inheritances to certain family members, provided the recipient is at least 18 and not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm. The bill also updates related statutes governing DOJ record checks, dealer fees, receipts, juvenile firearm restrictions, firearm possession prohibitions, and notice requirements in criminal and juvenile proceedings.
AB325 would create a new statewide transfer-through-dealer requirement for most firearm transfers and would amend numerous statutes to align Wisconsin law with that broader system. It would expand background-check procedures, authorize DOJ rulemaking for transfer documentation and review, impose a $10 record-search fee, and create new misdemeanor penalties and a two-year firearm-possession prohibition for intentional violations. The bill also updates related criminal, juvenile, and seized-weapon statutes to reference the new firearm-transfer offense and to ensure courts and agencies notify affected persons of firearm-possession restrictions.
The bill appears to have been introduced with strong support from a large group of Democratic Assembly and Senate cosponsors, suggesting a favorable stance among its authors toward universal background checks and tighter transfer controls. However, the available record shows no committee transcript or vote details, and the bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1. Overall, the legislative context indicates support among sponsors but no enacted consensus.
The main point of contention is the bill’s broad expansion from handgun-only dealer checks to nearly all firearm transfers, including private sales and gifts, which would affect ordinary gun owners as well as dealers. Likely areas of dispute include whether the dealer-only transfer requirement is too burdensome, whether the family-transfer exception is sufficient, and whether the new misdemeanor and firearm-disqualification penalties are appropriate. The bill also raises administrative and privacy issues through DOJ record searches, documentation requirements, and fee collection.