Kenosha Reporter

The new bill authored by State Sen. Wanggaard aims to extend legal protections to search and rescue dogs, ensuring their safety and welfare under state law, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "harassment of search and rescue dogs and providing a penalty".

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

In essence, this bill expands existing animal protection laws to include search and rescue dogs, in addition to the animals used by law enforcement and fire departments. It makes it illegal to harass, strike, or threaten these animals, setting penalties similar to those for police and fire dogs. The bill defines a "search and rescue dog" as one trained or being trained by a recognized rescue agency to locate lost individuals or disaster victims. Violations are subject to penalties ranging from a Class B forfeiture to Class A misdemeanors, and Class I and H felonies if injury or death occurs to the dog, respectively. The bill mandates restitution for violators, including costs for veterinary care or replacement animals.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Chanz J. Green (Republican-74th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), and Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), along seven other co-sponsors.

Van H. Wanggaard has authored or co-authored another 78 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
SB238	05/09/2025	Harassment of search and rescue dogs and providing a penalty
SB230	04/29/2025	Requiring retail sellers to accept cash and providing a penalty. (FE)
SB229	04/29/2025	Transferring adjudicatory functions for worker’s compensation from the Division of Hearings and Appeals in the Department of Administration to the Department of Workforce Development. (FE)
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