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: "a grant program for the purchase of automated registration plate reader systems. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill creates a grant program administered by the Department of Justice to aid law enforcement agencies in purchasing automated registration plate reader systems. These systems consist of high-speed cameras and data processing technology to convert vehicle registration plates and images into computer-readable data. The bill requires that at least 50% of the grants be allocated to law enforcement agencies in rural areas, defined as cities, towns, or villages in Wisconsin with populations under 20,000 and located at least 15 miles from larger population centers. Law enforcement agencies must apply for the grants with a proposed expenditure plan, and the DOJ is responsible for reviewing applications and awarding funds accordingly.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Todd Novak (Republican-51st District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), Representative Calvin T. Callahan (Republican-35th District), and Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), along eight other co-sponsors.
Van H. Wanggaard has authored or co-authored another 93 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB299 | 05/30/2025 | A grant program for the purchase of automated registration plate reader systems. (FE) |
| SB279 | 05/22/2025 | Grants to law enforcement agencies for data-sharing platforms |
| SB278 | 05/22/2025 | Sunset of the community-oriented policing-house grant program |
| SB270 | 05/20/2025 | The right of appeal for complainants aggrieved by decisions of the Elections Commission concerning the conduct of election officials |
| SB266 | 05/20/2025 | Human trafficking and trafficking of a child and providing a penalty |
| SB263 | 05/20/2025 | Findings of fact when the court grants less than equal physical placement of a child |
| SB248 | 05/09/2025 | License eligibility and restriction extensions relating to ignition interlock devices |
| SB246 | 05/09/2025 | A special observance day in schools for Armenian Genocide Awareness Day |
| SB239 | 05/09/2025 | Prohibiting hotels, inns, and motels from discriminating against dog handlers who are accompanied by search and rescue dogs |
| 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 |
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