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AB629 • 2025

police authority to disable drones threatening public safety and providing a penalty

police authority to disable drones threatening public safety and providing a penalty

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Representatives Wichgers, Behnke, Dittrich, Goeben, Knodl, Kurtz, Melotik, Murphy and Mursau, cosponsored by Senators Bradley, Jacque, Marklein and Nass
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.

police authority to disable drones threatening public safety and providing a penalty

police authority to disable drones threatening public safety and providing a penalty Status: A - Veto Sustained

What This Bill Does

  • police authority to disable drones threatening public safety and providing a penalty 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. 2026-04-03 Asm.

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-3-2026

  4. 2026-04-02 Asm.

    Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026

  5. 2026-03-25 Asm.

    LRB correction ( Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1)

  6. 2026-03-25 Asm.

    LRB correction ( Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Amendment 1)

  7. 2026-03-25 Asm.

    Report correctly enrolled on 3-25-2026

  8. 2026-03-18 Asm.

    Received from Senate concurred in

  9. 2026-03-17 Sen.

    Read a second time

  10. 2026-03-17 Sen.

    Ordered to a third reading

  11. 2026-03-17 Sen.

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  12. 2026-03-17 Sen.

    Read a third time and concurred in

  13. 2026-03-17 Sen.

    Ordered immediately messaged

  14. 2026-03-16 Sen.

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

  15. 2026-03-16 Sen.

    Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  16. 2026-03-04 Sen.

    Executive action taken

  17. 2026-03-04 Sen.

    Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety , Ayes 5, Noes 3

  18. 2026-03-04 Sen.

    Available for scheduling

  19. 2026-02-20 Sen.

    Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  20. 2026-02-18 Sen.

    Received from Assembly

  21. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Read a second time

  22. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  23. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Wichgers

  24. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  25. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  26. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Ordered to a third reading

  27. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Rules suspended

  28. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 57, Noes 42

  29. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Ordered immediately messaged

  30. 2026-02-13 Asm.

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

  31. 2026-02-11 Asm.

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Wichgers

  32. 2026-01-22 Asm.

    Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety , Ayes 11, Noes 4

  33. 2026-01-22 Asm.

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety , Ayes 11, Noes 4

  34. 2026-01-22 Asm.

    Referred to committee on Rules

  35. 2026-01-21 Asm.

    Executive action taken

  36. 2026-01-20 Asm.

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Wichgers

  37. 2026-01-09 Asm.

    Senator James added as a cosponsor

  38. 2025-12-03 Asm.

    Public hearing held

  39. 2025-11-07 Asm.

    Introduced by Representatives Wichgers , Behnke , Dittrich , Goeben , Knodl , Kurtz , Melotik , Murphy and Mursau ; cosponsored by Senators Bradley , Jacque , Marklein and Nass

  40. 2025-11-07 Asm.

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Official Summary Text

police authority to disable drones threatening public safety and providing a penalty
Status: A - Veto Sustained

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Wisconsin Legislature: AB629: Text as Enrolled

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2025
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Vetoed in Full
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AB629: Text as Enrolled

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Date of enactment:
2025 Assembly Bill 629

Date of publication*:
2025 WISCONSIN ACT
An Act

to renumber and amend
114.045;
to create
114.045 (1m), 114.045 (2m) (bm) and 114.045 (3m) of the statutes;
relating to:
police authority to act to mitigate the threat posed by certain drones and providing a penalty.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
AB629,1
Section

1
.
114.045 of the statutes is renumbered 114.045 (2m) and amended to read:
114.045
(2m)
(a) No person may operate a drone
, as defined in s. 941.292 (1),
over a correctional institution, as defined in s. 801.02 (7) (a) 1., including any grounds of the institution, except that a person may operate a drone over an institution that is a state facility with the express authorization of the secretary of corrections or his or her designee or over an institution that is a county facility with the express authorization of the sheriff of the county or his or her designee.
(b)

Any person who violates
sub. (1)

par. (a)
may be required to forfeit not more than $5,000.
(c) A law enforcement officer investigating an alleged violation of
sub. (1)

par. (a)
shall seize and transfer to the department of corrections or authority in charge of the correctional institution any photograph, motion picture, other visual representation, or data that represents a visual image that was created or recorded by a drone during an alleged violation of
sub. (1)

par. (a)
.
AB629,2
Section

2
.
114.045 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
114.045
(1m)
In this section:
(a) “Drone” has the meaning given in s. 941.292 (1).
(b) “Law enforcement officer” has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (c).
(c) “Weaponized drone” means a drone that is equipped with a taser, firearm, flamethrower, chemical, or explosive device.
AB629,3
Section

3
.
114.045 (2m) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
114.045
(2m)
(bm) Any person who violates par. (a) by use of a weaponized drone, the use of which poses a threat to public safety, is guilty of a Class H felony.
AB629,4
Section

4
.
114.045 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
114.045
(3m)
(a) Subject to par. (b), a law enforcement officer may take any of the following actions that are necessary to mitigate a credible threat that a drone poses to the safety or security of people, facilities, and assets, a venue or set of venues used for large-scale public gatherings or events, critical infrastructure, or correctional facilities:
1. During the operation of the drone, detect, identify, monitor, and track the drone, without prior consent, including by means of intercept or other access of a wire communication, an oral communication, or an electronic communication used to control the drone.
2. Warn the operator of the drone, including by passive or active, and direct or indirect physical, electronic, radio, and electromagnetic means, and through the use of remote identification broadcast or other means.
3. Disrupt or disable control of the drone without prior consent.
4. Seize or exercise control of the drone.
5. Seize or otherwise confiscate the drone.
6. Use reasonable force, if necessary, to disable, damage, or destroy the drone.
(b) Paragraph (a) applies only to a law enforcement officer or agency that acts only as authorized by 6 USC 124n, including compliance with training, certification, equipment, and reporting requirements.

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/2025/related/vetoedinfull/ab629

true

vetoedenrolledbills

/2025/related/vetoedinfull/ab629

vetoedenrolledbills/2025/REG/AB629

vetoedenrolledbills/2025/REG/AB629

section

true

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AB629: Text as Enrolled

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