Kenosha Reporter

The new bill authored by State Sen. Wanggaard seeks to update and clarify privacy protections for judicial officers, aiming to balance transparency with personal data security, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "privacy protections for judicial officers".

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

In essence, this bill revises privacy protections for judicial officers established by 2023 Wisconsin Act 235, effective April 1, 2025. It mandates notarization of judicial officers' written requests to prevent publication of personal information. It requires officers to describe, with particularity, records containing their personal data, and specifies that requests must be directed to designated officers within government agencies. "Designated officer" is defined, and the bill clarifies that a home address is personal information only if connected with the officer's name. Judicial officers must update such requests within 90 days of address changes. The bill exempts direct communications from the definition of "publicly post or display" and creates exceptions to privacy protections, like legal obligations to post. Changes also facilitate third-party access to protected documents and provide liability cover for agencies and employees, barring reckless conduct. The bill permits information sharing between government agencies and redefines the rules for deeds and land records, excluding judiciary-run websites. The act takes effect the day after its publication or April 1, 2025, whichever is later.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Ron Tusler (Republican-3rd District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Representative Rick Gundrum (Republican-58th District), and Representative Rob Kreibich (Republican-28th District), along five other co-sponsors.

Van H. Wanggaard has authored or co-authored another 55 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
SB169	04/03/2025	Privacy protections for judicial officers
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