Van H. Wanggaard, Wisconsin State Senator from 21st district | Official Website
Van H. Wanggaard, Wisconsin State Senator from 21st district | Official Website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "interpreter action by telephone or live audiovisual means in civil or criminal proceedings".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill allows for interpreters to participate remotely via telephone or live audiovisual means in any civil or criminal proceeding, including trials, upon request by any party involved. Previously, interpreters could only provide remote services in proceedings that were not trials. By removing this exclusion, the bill enables greater flexibility and accessibility for interpreters and participants in the legal process. The changes apply to sections 807.14 and 967.09 of the statutes, effectively updating the rules to accommodate remote interpretation in all types of court proceedings, ensuring broader access to language services.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Cindi Duchow (Republican-97th District) Senator Cory Tomczyk (Republican-29th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Scott Allen (Republican-82nd District), Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), and Representative Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), along 16 other co-sponsors.
Van H. Wanggaard has authored or co-authored another 52 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Wanggaard graduated from Gateway Technical College.
Wanggaard, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2015 to represent the state's 21st Senate district, replacing previous state senator John Lehman.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB147 | 03/21/2025 | Interpreter action by telephone or live audiovisual means in civil or criminal proceedings |
| SB146 | 03/21/2025 | Prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty |
| SB138 | 03/21/2025 | Prostitution crime surcharge and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB133 | 03/14/2025 | Maximum life and allocation period for Tax Incremental District Number 9 in the village of DeForest and the total value of taxable property that may be included in tax incremental financing districts created in the village of DeForest. (FE) |
| SB130 | 03/14/2025 | The distribution of certain material on the Internet |
| SB100 | 03/07/2025 | The requirement that first class cities and first class city school districts place school resource officers in schools. (FE) |
| SB99 | 03/07/2025 | Spinal cord injury research grants and symposia and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB82 | 02/26/2025 | Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device |
| SB66 | 02/21/2025 | Registration plate concealment devices and providing a penalty |
| SB65 | 02/21/2025 | Impoundment of vehicles used in certain reckless driving offenses. (FE) |
| SB64 | 02/21/2025 | Injuring or killing a police or fire animal and providing a penalty |
| SB39 | 02/12/2025 | Establishment of a Palliative Care Council. (FE) |
| SB34 | 02/12/2025 | Withdrawal of candidacy for certain offices filled at the general election and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB30 | 02/12/2025 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) |
| SB12 | 02/03/2025 | A sales and use tax exemption for the sale of gun safes. (FE) |
| SB6 | 01/24/2025 | Impoundment of vehicles used in certain traffic offenses |
| SB5 | 01/24/2025 | Battery or threat to jurors and providing a penalty |
Alerts Sign-up