Analysis of 2025 Wisconsin Act 149 (Assembly Bill 19) Wisconsin has significantly expanded the scope of its criminal and procedural protections for vulnerable individuals with the passage of 2025 Wisconsin Act 149. Signed into law recently, this act moves beyond the traditional focus on “elderly” victims to include a broader category of individuals known as “adults at…
Analysis of 2025 Wisconsin Act 106 (Assembly Bill 89) Wisconsin has enacted a significant overhaul of its theft and retail theft statutes aimed at repeat offenders and “course of conduct” crimes. 2025 Wisconsin Act 106, signed into law in March 2026, introduces two major changes to the criminal code: it creates a “step-up” penalty enhancer for…
Analysis of 2025 Wisconsin Act 100 (Senate Bill 692) Wisconsin has significantly intensified its legal stance on synthetic opioids with the enactment of 2025 Wisconsin Act 100. Signed into law in March 2026, this legislation specifically targets carfentanil – a substance significantly more potent than fentanyl – by creating a new, graduated penalty structure for its manufacture,…
Analysis of 2025 Wisconsin Act 99 (Senate Bill 678) Wisconsin has enacted a significant update to its implied consent and intoxicated operation laws. 2025 Wisconsin Act 99, signed into law in March 2026, authorizes law enforcement officers to use oral fluid screening as a preliminary tool when investigating suspected intoxicated operation of vehicles. The legislation expands the scope…
Analysis of 2025 Wisconsin Act 92 (Senate Bill 459) Wisconsin lawmakers recently enacted 2025 Wisconsin Act 92, a law that modifies the evidentiary rule governing expert witness testimony in Wisconsin courts. The legislation revises Wisconsin’s expert testimony statute so that it more closely mirrors Federal Rule of Evidence 702, which governs expert testimony in federal courts. The amendment…
Analysis of 2025 Wisconsin Act 88 (Assembly Bill 677) Wisconsin has enacted a significant change to its criminal law involving offenses against children. 2025 Wisconsin Act 88, signed into law in March 2026, creates a new criminal offense for grooming a child for sexual activity and modifies several related areas of Wisconsin law governing sexual offenses and child…
Analysis of 2025 Wisconsin Act 90 (Senate Bill 413) Wisconsin lawmakers recently enacted 2025 Wisconsin Act 90, a law that modifies several statutes involving sexual assault victims, criminal investigations, and reporting protections. The legislation expands certain immunity protections for victims and those seeking assistance, extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting second-degree sexual assault, increases the length of…
Field sobriety tests (FSTs) are roadside exercises used by law enforcement to help determine whether a driver may be impaired. In Wisconsin OWI cases, these tests are used to establish probable cause for arrest and may later be introduced as evidence in court. However, FST results are not chemical tests, and their reliability can be…
OWI penalties in Wisconsin escalate based on three primary statutory factors: prior offenses, alcohol concentration, and aggravating circumstances such as minor passengers or injury. While a first-offense OWI is typically treated as a civil forfeiture, repeat offenses and specific enhancements can elevate a case to a criminal misdemeanor or felony with significantly increased exposure. Wisconsin’s…
In most Wisconsin OWI cases, refusing a chemical test does not prevent law enforcement from obtaining a blood sample. Officers frequently seek a warrant and obtain blood evidence even after a refusal. Refusal also triggers a separate legal proceeding that can result in license revocation and additional penalties. For many drivers, refusing testing does not…