Wisconsin Legislative Council
AMENDMENT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Memo published: November 13, 2023 Contact: Steve McCarthy, Senior Staff Attorney
2023 Assembly Bill 173 Assembly Amendment 1
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 173
Assembly Bill 173 creates a grant program to prevent suicide by firearm. Specifically, the bill requires
the Department of Health Services (DHS) to award grants to organizations for any of the following
purposes: to train staff at a firearm retailer or firearm range to recognize a person that may be
considering suicide; to provide suicide prevention materials for distribution at a firearm retailer or
firearm range; or to provide voluntary, temporary firearm storage. An eligible organization may include
a coalition of organizations and a city, village, town, county, or American Indian tribe or band.
The bill includes various grant requirements. First, DHS may not award a grant to a recipient unless the
recipient contributes matching funds or in-kind services that equal at least 20 percent of the grant.
Additionally, DHS may not award a grant that exceeds $5,000, has a duration of more than one year, or
automatically renews. Finally, DHS must give preference to organizations that have not previously
received a grant under the program.
The bill also creates an appropriation for the grant program.
ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT 1
Assembly Amendment 1 adds a new provision to specify that no person has a cause of action to sue for
certain acts related to firearm storage. Specifically, the amendment provides that no person may have a
cause of action against a firearms dealer for any act or omission arising from the provision of voluntary,
temporary firearm storage and resulting in injury or death of any person. In this context, an act
includes the return of any firearms to the firearm owner by the firearms dealer at the end of the
voluntary, temporary firearm storage. The limitation does not apply if the act or omission violates
certain state or federal firearms laws, and is the proximate cause of the injury or death.
Additionally, Assembly Amendment 1 eliminates the appropriation for the grant program.
BILL HISTORY
On June 29, 2023, Representative Sortwell offered Assembly Amendment 1. On November 9, 2023, the
Assembly Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention recommended adoption of the
amendment on a vote of Ayes, 8; Noes, 4, and passage of the bill, as amended, on a vote of Ayes, 11;
Noes, 1.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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