Kenosha Reporter

A new bill authored by State Sen. Wanggaard in the Wisconsin Senate seeks to standardize lighting on police vehicles to enhance visibility and safety during emergency situations, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "requirements for lighting on police vehicles".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the requirements for lighting on police vehicles in Wisconsin. It mandates that for marked police vehicles equipped with an exterior light bar, the blue light must be mounted on the roof of the passenger side, and the red light on the roof of the driver side. If the lights are mounted inside the vehicle, blue lights should be displayed on the interior of the passenger side and red lights on the driver side. Additionally, a combination of blue and red lights may also be mounted on the front, sides, or rear of the vehicle if it features the roof or interior lights as required. These lights must be visible from 500 feet in normal sunlight and darkness. The use of these warning lights is restricted to emergency situations, pursuit of violators, responding to but not returning from fire alarms, or when parked in hazardous positions on highways.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Brent Jacobson (Republican-87th District) Senator Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Calvin T. Callahan (Republican-35th District), and Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), along five other co-sponsors.

Van H. Wanggaard has authored or co-authored another 54 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
SB159	03/27/2025	Requirements for lighting on police vehicles
SB155	03/21/2025	Requiring periodic inspections of parking structures
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