Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Senate Bill SB845

Introduced
1/15/26  
Refer
1/15/26  
Report Pass
3/3/26  

Caption

An Act to repeal 23.33 (4p) (a) 3., 30.684 (1) (c), 343.305 (3) (ar), 343.305 (3) (b) and 350.104 (1) (c); to amend 23.33 (4p) (a) 2. b., 23.33 (4p) (c) 1., 23.33 (4p) (e) 3., 23.33 (13) (b) 2., 23.33 (13) (b) 3., 30.684 (1) (b) 2., 30.684 (3) (a), 30.684 (5) (c), 30.80 (6) (a) 2., 30.80 (6) (a) 3., 30.80 (6) (a) 4., 30.80 (6) (a) 5., 343.305 (2), 343.305 (3) (a), 343.305 (4), 343.305 (5) (a), 343.305 (5) (b), 343.305 (6) (b) 3., 343.305 (8) (c) 1., 343.305 (9) (a) 1., 343.305 (9) (c), 350.104 (1) (b) 2., 350.104 (3) (a), 350.104 (5) (c), 350.11 (3) (a) 2. and 350.11 (3) (a) 3.; to repeal and recreate 343.305 (3) (title) of the statutes; Relating to: repealing unconstitutional provisions related to operating while intoxicated.

Impact

If enacted, SB845 would lead to significant changes in how OWI cases are prosecuted within the state. It seeks to eliminate provisions that are considered unconstitutional, which could potentially reduce the number of wrongful convictions and unfair sentencing observed in previous cases. The repeal could also lead to a broader reassessment of related traffic safety laws and the legal thresholds for OWI offenses.

Summary

SB845 is a legislative proposal aimed at repealing certain unconstitutional provisions related to operating while intoxicated (OWI). The bill addresses existing laws that have been deemed overly punitive or legally ambiguous, thereby providing an opportunity to clarify and reform traffic-related offenses. The primary motivation behind SB845 is to enhance fairness in the legal process for individuals charged with OWI, ensuring that punitive measures are legally and ethically justified.

Conclusion

Overall, SB845 represents a critical step towards reforming traffic laws related to OWI in the state. By addressing constitutional concerns in a legal and reformative manner, the bill seeks to balance public safety with individual rights. The outcomes of its implementation and the ongoing discussions from both proponents and opponents will play a crucial role in shaping the future of traffic regulations in the state.

Contention

During discussions surrounding SB845, several points of contention emerged. Advocates of the bill argue that the current laws surrounding OWI are disproportionately harsh and contribute to the criminalization of individuals who might benefit from rehabilitation rather than punishment. On the other hand, opponents express concerns that repealing these provisions could undermine efforts to maintain road safety and could lead to increased instances of driving under the influence.

Companion Bills

WI AB856

Crossfiled An Act to repeal 23.33 (4p) (a) 3., 30.684 (1) (c), 343.305 (3) (ar), 343.305 (3) (b) and 350.104 (1) (c); to amend 23.33 (4p) (a) 2. b., 23.33 (4p) (c) 1., 23.33 (4p) (e) 3., 23.33 (13) (b) 2., 23.33 (13) (b) 3., 30.684 (1) (b) 2., 30.684 (3) (a), 30.684 (5) (c), 30.80 (6) (a) 2., 30.80 (6) (a) 3., 30.80 (6) (a) 4., 30.80 (6) (a) 5., 343.305 (2), 343.305 (3) (a), 343.305 (4), 343.305 (5) (a), 343.305 (5) (b), 343.305 (6) (b) 3., 343.305 (8) (c) 1., 343.305 (9) (a) 1., 343.305 (9) (c), 350.104 (1) (b) 2., 350.104 (3) (a), 350.104 (5) (c), 350.11 (3) (a) 2. and 350.11 (3) (a) 3.; to repeal and recreate 343.305 (3) (title) of the statutes; Relating to: repealing unconstitutional provisions related to operating while intoxicated.

Previously Filed As

WI H4189

DHEC Restructuring

WI HB548

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-413.01, 8.01-622.1, 18.2-369, 32.1-127, 32.1-127.1:03, 32.1-138.1, 32.1-162.16, 32.1-162.18, 32.1-291.21, 32.1-309.1, 32.1-325, 37.2-804.2, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 37.2-805.1, 37.2-817.01, 37.2-817.1, 37.2-837, 37.2-838, 37.2-1101, 37.2-1108, 53.1-133.04, 54.1-2807.02, 54.1-2818.1, 54.1-2818.5, 54.1-2970.1, 54.1-2987.1, 54.1-2988.1, 54.1-2993.1, 54.1-2995, 63.2-501, 63.2-1605, 64.2-2000, 64.2-2002, 64.2-2003, 64.2-2009, and 64.2-2019 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 29 of Title 54.1 an article numbered 8.1, consisting of sections numbered 54.1-2993.2 through 54.1-2993.31; and to repeal §§ 54.1-2981, 54.1-2982, 54.1-2983, 54.1-2983.2 through 54.1-2987, 54.1-2988, and 54.1-2989 through 54.1-2993 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Uniform Health Care Decisions Act; civil penalty.

WI AB104

An act to amend the Budget Act of 2025 (Chapters 4 and 5 of the Statutes of 2025) by amending Items 0540-103-0001, 0690-301-0001, 0977-401, 1700-001-0001, 3125-301-0140, 3125-301-6088, 3540-001-0001, 3790-111-0577, 3825-002-6088, 3970-492, 5180-101-0890, 5180-151-0001, 5180-151-0890, 6100-107-0001, 6440-001-0001, 6610-001-0001, 6870-101-0001, 6870-194-0001, and 7760-101-0001 of, adding Items 3340-490, 5225-493, 5225-494, 6100-492, and 6870-403 to, repealing Item 3125-301-0720 of, Section 2.

WI SB104

An act relating to the Budget Act of 2025.

WI AB103

An act relating to the Budget Act of 2025.

WI HB642

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2499.8, 2.2-2818, 2.2-2905, 2.2-3114, 2.2-3711, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 2.2-3802, 2.2-4024, 3.2-4112, 3.2-4113, 3.2-4116, 3.2-4126, 3.2-5145.1, 3.2-5145.2:1, 3.2-5145.4, 4.1-103, 4.1-105, 4.1-352, 4.1-600, 4.1-601, 4.1-603, 4.1-604, 4.1-606, 4.1-607, 4.1-611, 4.1-614, 4.1-621, 4.1-1100, 4.1-1101, 4.1-1121, 4.1-1402, 4.1-1500, 4.1-1501, 4.1-1502, 4.1-1600 through 4.1-1603.2, 4.1-1604, 5.1-13, 9.1-1101, 15.2-912.4, 16.1-69.40:1, 16.1-260, 16.1-273, 16.1-278.9, 18.2-46.1, 18.2-247, 18.2-248, 18.2-248.01, 18.2-251, 18.2-251.03, 18.2-251.1:1, 18.2-251.1:2, 18.2-251.1:3, 18.2-252, 18.2-254, 18.2-255, 18.2-255.1, 18.2-255.2, 18.2-258, 18.2-258.02, 18.2-258.1, 18.2-265.1, 18.2-265.2, 18.2-265.3, 18.2-287.2, 18.2-308.012, 18.2-308.4, 18.2-371.2, 18.2-460, 18.2-474.1, 19.2-66, 19.2-81, 19.2-81.1, 19.2-83.1, 19.2-188.1, 19.2-303.01, 19.2-386.22 through 19.2-386.25, 19.2-389, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 19.2-389.3, 19.2-392.02, 19.2-392.6 and 19.2-392.12:1, as they shall become effective, 22.1-206, 22.1-277.08, 23.1-1301, 46.2-105.2, 46.2-347, 48-17.1, 53.1-231.2, 54.1-2903, 54.1-3401, 54.1-3443, 58.1-301, and 59.1-200 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Subtitle II of Title 2.2 a part labeled D, containing a chapter numbered 61, consisting of a section numbered 2.2-6100, by adding in Chapter 6 of Title 4.1 sections numbered 4.1-629 and 4.1-630, by adding in Title 4.1 chapters numbered 7 through 10, consisting of sections numbered 4.1-700 through 4.1-1010, by adding sections numbered 4.1-1102 through 4.1-1105, 4.1-1106, 4.1-1106.1, 4.1-1113, 4.1-1114, 4.1-1115, 4.1-1117, 4.1-1118, and 4.1-1119, by adding in Title 4.1 a chapter numbered 12, consisting of sections numbered 4.1-1200 through 4.1-1206, by adding in Chapter 13 of Title 4.1 sections numbered 4.1-1300, 4.1-1301, and 4.1-1303 through 4.1-1309, by adding in Chapter 14 of Title 4.1 sections numbered 4.1-1403 through 4.1-1407, by adding a section numbered 4.1-1602.1, by adding in Title 4.1 a chapter numbered 17, consisting of sections numbered 4.1-1700 through 4.1-1705, by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 6.2 a section numbered 6.2-108, and by adding in Chapter 44 of Title 54.1 a section numbered 54.1-4426; and to repeal Article 4 (§§ 3.2-4122 through 3.2-4126) of Chapter 41.1 of Title 3.2 and §§ 3.2-5145.4:1, 4.1-1101.1, 4.1-1105.1, 18.2-248.1, and 18.2-251.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to cannabis control; retail market; penalties.

WI HB863

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.2-4212, 4.1-302, 16.1-253.2, 18.2-36.1, 18.2-36.2, 18.2-46.3:3, 18.2-51.1, 18.2-53.1, 18.2-57, 18.2-60.4, 18.2-61, 18.2-67.1, 18.2-67.2, 18.2-67.5:2, 18.2-67.5:3, 18.2-154, 18.2-186.4, 18.2-248, 18.2-248.01, 18.2-248.03, 18.2-248.1, 18.2-248.5, 18.2-255, 18.2-255.2, 18.2-270, 18.2-308.1, 18.2-308.2, 18.2-308.2:2, 18.2-308.4, 18.2-374.1, 18.2-374.1:1, 18.2-374.3, 19.2-160.1, 19.2-297.1, 46.2-341.28, 46.2-391, 53.1-116, and 53.1-203 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elimination of mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses.

WI SB0049

Labor: health and safety; revisions to the occupational safety and health act; provide for. Amends title & secs. 4, 13, 14, 14a, 14e 14f, 14j, 14n, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 36, 37, 41, 45, 46, 52, 54, 55, 56, 63, 65 & 91 of 1974 PA 154 (MCL 408.1004 et seq.) & repeals sec. 1035a of 1974 PA 154 (MCL 408.1035a).

WI HB271

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-203.3, 2.2-401.01, 2.2-511, 2.2-614.3, 2.2-3705.3, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 2.2-3705.6, 2.2-3705.7, 2.2-3711, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 2.2-3802, 2.2-4002, 2.2-4346, 3.2-102, 3.2-6201, 4.1-100, 4.1-206.3, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 4.1-226, 6.2-603.1, 8.01-216.3, 8.01-534, 11-16.1, 11-16.2, 15.2-912.2, 15.2-2825, 18.2-513, 19.2-66, 19.2-215.1, 19.2-389, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 19.2-390, 22.1-140.1, 37.2-304, 37.2-314.2, 52-53, 52-54, 58.1-3, 58.1-439, 58.1-460, 58.1-3510, 58.1-3732.1, and 59.1-542.1 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a title numbered 29.5, containing a subtitle numbered I, consisting of chapters numbered 1 through 6, containing sections numbered 29.5-100 through 29.5-650, a subtitle numbered II, consisting of chapters numbered 7 and 8, containing sections numbered 29.5-700 through 29.5-814, and a subtitle numbered III, consisting of a chapter numbered 9, containing sections numbered 29.5-900 through 29.5-913; and to repeal §§ 2.2-2455 and 2.2-2456, Article 1 (§§ 18.2-325 through 18.2-340) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, Article 1.1:1 (§§ 18.2-340.15 through 18.2-340.37) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, Chapter 40 (§§ 58.1-4000 through 58.1-4048) of Title 58.1, Chapter 41 (§§ 58.1-4100 through 58.1-4141) of Title 58.1, Chapter 29 (§§ 59.1-364 through 59.1-405) of Title 59.1, Chapter 29.1 (§ 59.1-405.1) of Title 59.1, and Chapter 51 (§§ 59.1-556 through 59.1-570) of Title 59.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Gaming Commission established; penalties.

WI SB103

Budget Acts of 2022, 2023, and 2024.

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