Joan Fitzgerald, Wisconsin State Representative of 46th District | www.joanfitzgeraldforassembly.com
Joan Fitzgerald, Wisconsin State Representative of 46th District | www.joanfitzgeraldforassembly.com
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "prohibition against undetectable firearms, possessing a frame or receiver of a firearm without a serial number, 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, this bill aims to enhance state law by prohibiting the manufacture, sale, transport, or possession of firearms that are undetectable by metal detectors or airport security scanners, aligning with existing federal law. Violators face a Class G felony charge. Additionally, the bill bans the sale, dissemination, or possession of plans to create such firearms, with violators facing a Class H felony. The bill further criminalizes the possession of a firearm frame or receiver lacking a serial number, punishable as a Class I felony. Exceptions are made for licensed manufacturers and officials on duty. The bill could prompt the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties to prepare a report due to its creation of new offenses or revisions to existing penalties.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District), Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), Representative Brienne Brown (Democrat-43rd District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), and Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), along 35 other co-sponsors.
Joan Fitzgerald has co-authored another 46 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
Fitzgerald graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1986 with a BS.
Fitzgerald, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 46th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Melissa Ratcliff.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB321 | 07/08/2025 | Prohibition against undetectable firearms, possessing a frame or receiver of a firearm without a serial number, and providing a penalty |
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