Melissa Ratcliff, Wisconsin State Senator for 16th District | Facebook
Melissa Ratcliff, Wisconsin State Senator for 16th District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "privacy protections for judicial officers".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill revises privacy protections for judicial officers established by 2023 Wisconsin Act 235, effective April 1, 2025. It mandates notarization of judicial officers' written requests to prevent publication of personal information. It requires officers to describe, with particularity, records containing their personal data, and specifies that requests must be directed to designated officers within government agencies. "Designated officer" is defined, and the bill clarifies that a home address is personal information only if connected with the officer's name. Judicial officers must update such requests within 90 days of address changes. The bill exempts direct communications from the definition of "publicly post or display" and creates exceptions to privacy protections, like legal obligations to post. Changes also facilitate third-party access to protected documents and provide liability cover for agencies and employees, barring reckless conduct. The bill permits information sharing between government agencies and redefines the rules for deeds and land records, excluding judiciary-run websites. The act takes effect the day after its publication or April 1, 2025, whichever is later.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Ron Tusler (Republican-3rd District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Representative Rick Gundrum (Republican-58th District), and Representative Rob Kreibich (Republican-28th District), along five other co-sponsors.
Melissa Ratcliff has co-authored another 32 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Ratcliff graduated from Madison College in 2000.
Ratcliff, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2025 to represent the state's 16th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Melissa Agard.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB169 | 04/03/2025 | Privacy protections for judicial officers |
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