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AB791 • 2025

intentionally sending false text messages to 911 and providing a penalty

intentionally sending false text messages to 911 and providing a penalty

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Representatives Donovan, Goodwin, Sortwell, Sinicki, Behnke, DeSmidt, Dittrich, Goeben, Gundrum, Kaufert, Kurtz, Maxey, Murphy, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Stubbs, Subeck and Knodl, cosponsored by Senator Wanggaard
Last action
2026-03-23
Official status
A - Tabled
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.

intentionally sending false text messages to 911 and providing a penalty

intentionally sending false text messages to 911 and providing a penalty Status: A - Tabled

What This Bill Does

  • intentionally sending false text messages to 911 and providing a penalty Status: A - Tabled

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. 2026-03-23 Asm.

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. 2026-03-19 Asm.

    Representative Emerson added as a coauthor

  3. 2026-03-06 Asm.

    Representative Brown added as a coauthor

  4. 2026-02-17 Asm.

    Laid on the table

  5. 2026-02-13 Asm.

    Withdrawn from Committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 2-17-2026

  6. 2026-01-22 Asm.

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety , Ayes 13, Noes 2

  7. 2026-01-22 Asm.

    Referred to committee on Rules

  8. 2026-01-21 Asm.

    Executive action taken

  9. 2026-01-14 Asm.

    Public hearing held

  10. 2025-12-23 Asm.

    Introduced by Representatives Donovan , Goodwin , Sortwell , Sinicki , Behnke , DeSmidt , Dittrich , Goeben , Gundrum , Kaufert , Kurtz , Maxey , Murphy , O'Connor , Penterman , Piwowarczyk , Stubbs , Subeck and Knodl ; cosponsored by Senator Wanggaard

  11. 2025-12-23 Asm.

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

Official Summary Text

intentionally sending false text messages to 911 and providing a penalty
Status: A - Tabled

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Wisconsin Legislature: AB791: Bill Text

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Proposal Text
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AB791: Bill Text

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2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-5337/1
MJW:ajk
2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 791
December 23, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives
Donovan
,
Goodwin
,
Sortwell
,
Sinicki
,
Behnke
,
DeSmidt
,
Dittrich
,
Goeben
,
Gundrum
,
Kaufert
,
Kurtz
,
Maxey
,
Murphy
,
O'Connor
,
Penterman
,
Piwowarczyk
,
Stubbs
,
Subeck
and
Knodl
, cosponsored by Senator
Wanggaard
. Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.
AB791,1,2
1
An Act

to amend
256.35 (10) (a) of the statutes;
relating to:
intentionally
2
sending false text messages to 911 and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, any person who intentionally dials the telephone number “911” to report an emergency, knowing that the fact situation that the person reports does not exist, is subject to a fine of between $100 and $600 or imprisonment for up to 90 days or both for a first offense and is guilty of a Class H felony for a repeat offense committed within four years after an offense.
This bill adds intentionally sending a false text message to the telephone number “911” as an offense subject to the penalty.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
AB791,1
3
Section

1
.
256.35 (10) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB791,2,5
4
256.35
(10)
(a) Any person who intentionally dials
or sends a text message to

1
the telephone number “911” to report an emergency, knowing that the fact situation
2
which he or she reports does not exist, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more
3
than $600 or imprisoned not more than 90 days or both for the first offense and is
4
guilty of a Class H felony for any other offense committed within 4 years after the
5
first offense.
AB791,2,6
6
(end)

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