Wisconsin Senate Bill SB911

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

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

Caption

An Act to amend 165.845 (1r) (a) 1., 939.632 (1) (e) 1. and 939.632 (1) (e) 3. of the statutes; Relating to: fixing a cross-reference in a definition of “violent crime” and updating terminology to reflect changes in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (suggested as remedial language by the Department of Justice).

Summary

SB911 is a remedial bill introduced by the Law Revision Committee at the request of the Department of Justice. It makes two technical corrections to Wisconsin statutes. First, it updates a reporting reference in the law governing crime data submitted to federal agencies so that it refers to the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, reflecting the FBI’s current national crime-reporting standard rather than the older Uniform Crime Reports terminology. Second, the bill corrects the statutory definition of “violent crime” for purposes of the school-zone offense. It moves one offense from the misdemeanor list to the felony list because it was placed in the wrong category, and it removes a stalking reference from the misdemeanor list because stalking is not classified as a misdemeanor offense. The bill is described as making minor substantive changes that are intended to align the statutes with current law and terminology.

Impact

The bill would amend three statutory provisions: s. 165.845 (1r) (a) 1. and s. 939.632 (1) (e) 1. and 3. It would not create a new program or offense, but would clarify how law enforcement crime data is reported and how certain offenses are categorized within the definition of “violent crime” in a school zone. The practical effect is to correct a cross-reference, update federal reporting language, and ensure the school-zone violent-crime list matches the actual classification of the underlying offenses.

Sentiment

The available materials indicate generally neutral-to-supportive sentiment. The bill was presented as remedial language requested by the Department of Justice and introduced by the Law Revision Committee, which suggests it was intended as a housekeeping measure rather than a controversial policy change. The prefatory note states that the committee determined the bill makes minor substantive changes that are desirable as a matter of public policy. No committee transcript or vote record is available in the provided materials, and the bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Contention

The only notable point of contention apparent from the text is the distinction between technical correction and substantive change. Although the bill is framed as remedial, the prefatory note acknowledges that it makes minor substantive changes, which can matter because the bill changes which offenses are treated as violent crimes in a school zone. The specific correction involving felony stalking and the removal of a stalking reference from the misdemeanor list are the substantive elements most likely to draw attention, though no recorded opposition or debate is provided in the materials.