Madison Reporter

A bill authored by State Sen. Van H. Wanggaard in the Wisconsin Senate aims to protect jurors and their families by classifying threats and related acts as a Class H felony and restricting offender contact, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "battery or threat to jurors 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, the bill aims to address threats and acts of battery specifically targeting jurors and their family members. It classifies such offenses as a Class H felony, thus enhancing penalties for crimes against individuals due to their involvement in jury service. The legislation also permits a judge to restrict a convicted person from contacting jurors involved in their trial during the sentence or probation period. Additionally, the bill adjusts various statutory references to incorporate this new classification into existing legal frameworks, ensuring thorough integration into the criminal justice system. This action supports protecting the integrity of juries and safeguarding those serving on them and their families against intimidation or retribution.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Shae A. Sortwell (Republican-2nd District) and Senator Eric Wimberger (Republican-2nd District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), and Representative Bob G. Donovan (Republican-61st District), along with nine other co-sponsors.

Van H. Wanggaard has co-authored one other bill 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
SB5	01/24/2025	Battery or threat to jurors and providing a penalty