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: "the law enforcement officers’ bill of rights".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill repeals section 164.05 of the statutes, which encompasses the law enforcement officers' bill of rights. Currently, this bill of rights safeguards certain rights of law enforcement officers, including protections related to political involvement, interrogation procedures, and the pursuit of political office. It also prevents the discharge, discipline, demotion, or denial of promotion, transfer, or reassignment based on the exercise of these rights. The protections presently apply only to officers employed by municipalities like cities, villages, towns, or counties. The bill expands these protections to include any individual employed by the state or local entities for law enforcement purposes, who is authorized to make arrests for law or ordinance violations.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Joy L. Goeben (Republican-5th District), Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator André Jacque (Republican-1st District), Senator Howard L. Marklein (Republican-17th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), and Representative Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), along seven other co-sponsors.
Van H. Wanggaard has authored or co-authored another 73 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB227 | 04/29/2025 | The law enforcement officers’ bill of rights |
| SB220 | 04/25/2025 | Residency requirements for persons circulating nomination papers or recall petitions |
| SB209 | 04/16/2025 | Limiting liability relating to traffic control devices for manufacturers and others |
| SB202 | 04/14/2025 | Local guaranteed income programs |
| SB194 | 04/14/2025 | Obtaining attorney fees and costs under the state’s public records law when an authority voluntarily or unilaterally releases a contested record after an action has been filed in court |
| SB184 | 04/14/2025 | Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device |
| 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 |
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