Brienne Brown, Wisconsin State Representative of 43rd District | Facebook
Brienne Brown, Wisconsin State Representative of 43rd District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "algorithmic software for residential housing, 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 prohibits the use and sale of algorithmic software to residential landlords in Wisconsin, aiming to prevent the use of such software in setting rental rates or occupancy levels for dwelling units. The software, defined as using algorithms to calculate nonpublic competitor data, cannot be sold or licensed to landlords or used to determine rent amounts. Violations can be investigated by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the attorney general, or district attorneys, who can seek injunctions or civil forfeitures up to $1,000 per offense. Tenants may pursue civil actions for actual damages or $1,000 per violation, plus court costs and attorney fees if they prevail. A lease containing clauses waiving compliance with these provisions or inhibiting tenant action renders the agreement void.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Kelda Roys (Democrat-26th District), Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), Representative Ryan M. Clancy (Democrat-19th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), and Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District), along 20 other co-sponsors.
Brienne Brown has co-authored another 10 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Brown graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a BA.
Brown, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 43rd Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Jenna Jacobson.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB142 | 03/17/2025 | Algorithmic software for residential housing, and providing a penalty |
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