Wisconsin Senate Bill SB894

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/27/26
• Refer: 1/27/26
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to create 20.455 (5) (dm) and 165.925 of the statutes; Relating to: a victim protective services grant program and making an appropriation. (FE)

Summary

SB 894 creates a new crime victim protective services grant program within the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The program would provide grants to law enforcement agencies and prosecutorial units to support protective services for crime victims, expressly including temporary housing for victims. The bill defines key terms such as “crime victim,” “law enforcement agency,” and “prosecutorial unit,” and directs DOJ to administer the program using the new appropriation. The bill also makes a biennial GPR appropriation of $5,147,000 for the program and increases DOJ’s authorized staffing by 1.0 GPR grants specialist position to administer the grants. DOJ would be required to develop grant-awarding criteria, but those criteria would not need to be promulgated as administrative rules under chapter 227. In effect, the bill adds a new statutory funding stream and administrative structure for victim services tied to criminal justice agencies.

Impact

SB 894 would amend the state budget and create a new statutory grant program in the Wisconsin statutes, adding s. 165.925 and a corresponding appropriation line in s. 20.455. It would direct state funds to local law enforcement agencies and prosecutorial units for victim protective services, potentially expanding access to temporary housing and related support for crime victims. The bill also authorizes an additional DOJ position to manage the program, affecting agency staffing and administration.

Sentiment

The available record shows the bill was introduced with bipartisan-style sponsorship from multiple senators and representatives, suggesting broad interest in victim support services. However, there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided materials, so there is no detailed public debate to gauge support or opposition. The bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, indicating it did not advance to enactment despite its supportive framing.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are likely to have been the new state expenditure, the expansion of DOJ administrative responsibilities, and the decision to allow DOJ to set grant criteria without formal rulemaking under chapter 227. Those features could raise concerns about cost, oversight, and transparency. On the other hand, supporters would likely emphasize the need for flexible, timely assistance for crime victims, especially temporary housing and other protective services.