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AB202 • 2025

voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases

voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases

Housing
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representatives Krug, Brooks, Allen, Armstrong, Franklin, Goeben, B. Jacobson, Kaufert, Kitchens, Moses, Murphy, O'Connor, Ortiz-Velez, Sortwell, Spiros, Tusler, Wittke, Behnke and Snyder, cosponsored by Senators Feyen, Jacque, Jagler, Nass, Quinn, Stafsholt and Wanggaard
Last action
2026-05-13
Official status
A - Veto Sustained
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases

voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases Status: A - Veto Sustained

What This Bill Does

  • voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases Status: A - Veto Sustained

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-13 Asm.

    Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

  2. 2026-05-12 Asm.

    Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  3. 2026-03-27 Asm.

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-27-2026

  4. 2026-02-24 Asm.

    LRB correction ( Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 )

  5. 2026-02-24 Asm.

    Report correctly enrolled on 2-24-2026

  6. 2026-02-18 Sen.

    Received from Assembly

  7. 2026-02-18 Sen.

    Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  8. 2026-02-18 Sen.

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization , pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m) , Ayes 3, Noes 2

  9. 2026-02-18 Sen.

    Placed on calendar 2-18-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  10. 2026-02-18 Sen.

    Rules suspended and taken up

  11. 2026-02-18 Sen.

    Read a second time

  12. 2026-02-18 Sen.

    Ordered to a third reading

  13. 2026-02-18 Sen.

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  14. 2026-02-18 Sen.

    Read a third time and concurred in

  15. 2026-02-18 Sen.

    Ordered immediately messaged

  16. 2026-02-18 Asm.

    Received from Senate concurred in

  17. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Fiscal estimate received

  18. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Fiscal estimate received

  19. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Read a second time

  20. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  21. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  22. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Ordered to a third reading

  23. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Rules suspended

  24. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Read a third time and passed

  25. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Ordered immediately messaged

  26. 2026-02-16 Asm.

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Krug

  27. 2026-02-13 Asm.

    Withdrawn from Committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 2-17-2026

  28. 2026-02-05 Asm.

    Executive action taken

  29. 2026-02-05 Asm.

    Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Housing and Real Estate , Ayes 11, Noes 4

  30. 2026-02-05 Asm.

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Housing and Real Estate , Ayes 11, Noes 4

  31. 2026-02-05 Asm.

    Referred to committee on Rules

  32. 2026-02-03 Asm.

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Krug

  33. 2025-05-15 Asm.

    Public hearing held

  34. 2025-04-22 Asm.

    Representative Wichgers added as a coauthor

  35. 2025-04-17 Asm.

    Introduced by Representatives Krug , Brooks , Allen , Armstrong , Franklin , Goeben , B. Jacobson , Kaufert , Kitchens , Moses , Murphy , O'Connor , Ortiz-Velez , Sortwell , Spiros , Tusler , Wittke , Behnke and Snyder ; cosponsored by Senators Feyen , Jacque , Jagler , Nass , Quinn , Stafsholt and Wanggaard

  36. 2025-04-17 Asm.

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Housing and Real Estate

Official Summary Text

voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases
Status: A - Veto Sustained

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Wisconsin Legislature: AB202: Text as Enrolled

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2025
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Related Documents
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Vetoed in Full
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AB202: Text as Enrolled

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Date of enactment:
2025 Assembly Bill 202

Date of publication*:
2025 WISCONSIN ACT
An Act

to amend
704.44 (intro.), 704.44 (1m) (intro.), 704.44 (2m), 704.44 (3m), 704.44 (4m), 704.44 (5m), 704.44 (6), 704.44 (7) (intro.), 704.44 (8), 704.44 (9) and 704.44 (10);
to create
421.103 (5) and 704.445 of the statutes;
relating to:
voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to residential rental agreements.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
AB202,1
Section

1
.
421.103 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
421.103
(5)
Chapters 421 to 427 do not apply to residential rental agreements governed under s. 710.15 or ch. 704.
AB202,2
Section

2
.
704.44 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
704.44

Residential rental agreement that contains certain provisions
is void
.
(intro.) Notwithstanding s. 704.02,
a residential rental agreement is void and unenforceable if it

and subject to s. 704.445, a tenant may elect to void a residential rental agreement, or sever a prohibited provision from a residential rental agreement, if the residential rental agreement
does any of the following
, all of which are prohibited provisions for purposes of this section and s. 704.445
:
AB202,3
Section

3
.
704.44 (1m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
704.44
(1m)
(intro.)
Allows

By its express language specifically authorizes
a landlord to do any of the following because a tenant has contacted an entity for law enforcement services, health services, or safety services:
AB202,4
Section

4
.
704.44 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
704.44
(2m)

Authorizes

By its express language specifically authorizes
the eviction or exclusion of a tenant from the premises, other than by judicial eviction procedures as provided under ch. 799.
AB202,5
Section

5
.
704.44 (3m) of the statutes is amended to read:
704.44
(3m)

Provides

By its express language specifically provides
for an acceleration of rent payments in the event of tenant default or breach of obligations under the rental agreement, or otherwise waives the landlord’s obligation to mitigate damages as provided in s. 704.29.
AB202,6
Section

6
.
704.44 (4m) of the statutes is amended to read:
704.44
(4m)

Requires

By its express language specifically requires
payment by the tenant of attorney fees or costs incurred by the landlord in any legal action or dispute arising under the rental agreement. This subsection does not prevent a landlord or tenant from recovering costs or attorney fees under a court order under ch. 799 or 814.
AB202,7
Section

7
.
704.44 (5m) of the statutes is amended to read:
704.44
(5m)

Authorizes

By its express language specifically authorizes
the landlord or an agent of the landlord to confess judgment against the tenant in any action arising under the rental agreement.
AB202,8
Section

8
.
704.44 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
704.44
(6)

States

By its express language specifically states
that the landlord is not liable for property damage or personal injury caused by negligent acts or omissions of the landlord. This subsection does not affect ordinary maintenance obligations of a tenant under s. 704.07 or assumed by a tenant under a rental agreement or other written agreement between the landlord and the tenant.
AB202,9
Section

9
.
704.44 (7) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
704.44
(7)
(intro.)
Imposes

By its express language specifically imposes
liability on a tenant for any of the following:
AB202,10
Section

10
.
704.44 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
704.44
(8)

Waives

By its express language specifically waives
any statutory or other legal obligation on the part of the landlord to deliver the premises in a fit or habitable condition or to maintain the premises during the tenant’s tenancy.
AB202,11
Section

11
.
704.44 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
704.44
(9)

Allows

By its express language specifically authorizes
the landlord to terminate the tenancy of a tenant based solely on the commission of a crime in or on the rental property if the tenant, or someone who lawfully resides with the tenant, is the victim, as defined in s. 950.02 (4), of that crime.
AB202,12
Section

12
.
704.44 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:
704.44
(10)

Allows

By its express language specifically authorizes
the landlord to terminate the tenancy of a tenant for a crime committed in relation to the rental property and the rental agreement does not include the notice required under s. 704.14.
AB202,13
Section

13
.
704.445 of the statutes is created to read:
704.445

Remedies for voidable residential rental agreements.

(1)
If a tenant elects to void the tenant’s residential agreement under s. 704.44, the tenant’s tenancy shall become a periodic tenancy, as defined under s. 704.01 (2), and the tenant shall be responsible for the payment of rent, utilities, parking, and other charges under terms and conditions identical to the terms and conditions as set forth in the original residential rental agreement, but not including a provision described under s. 704.44 (1m) to (10).
(2)
If a tenant elects to sever a prohibited provision from his or her residential rental agreement as provided under s. 704.44, the unsevered portion of the residential rental agreement shall be given full effect.
(3)
A tenant’s election to void or sever a prohibited provision from his or her residential rental agreement as provided under s. 704.44 is effective upon the tenant giving notice of the election to the landlord in the same manner as specified in s. 704.21 (2).
(4)
A person suffering pecuniary loss directly caused by a residential rental agreement’s inclusion of a provision described under s. 704.44 (1m) to (10) may sue for damages therefor in any court of competent jurisdiction and shall recover twice the amount of such pecuniary loss, together with costs, including a reasonable attorney fee. There is a presumption that payments for rent, parking, and utilities are made by tenants in exchange for the value of the possession of the premises and usage of the utilities and are not pecuniary losses. This presumption may be rebutted by proof in the greater weight of the credible evidence that a tenant has incurred a pecuniary loss directly caused by a residential rental agreement's inclusion of a provision described under s. 704.44 (1m) to (10), and that such inclusion resulted in the amount the tenant paid to the landlord being greater than the value of the possession of the premises and usage of the utilities by the tenant.
(5)
A person suffering a pecuniary loss caused by a residential rental agreement’s inclusion of a provision described under s. 704.44 (1m) to (10) is limited to the remedies provided under this section.

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