Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB55 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
2	2	LRB-1351/1
3	3	CMH:wlj
4	4	2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 55
5	5	February 24, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives ALLEN, MURPHY, BEHNKE,
6	6	BRILL, DITTRICH, WICHGERS and KNODL, cosponsored by Senators TOMCZYK
7	7	and NASS. Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.
8	8
9	9	*AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
10	10	AN ACT to repeal 175.60 (7) (d) and 175.60 (15) (b) 4. (intro.) and b.; to
11	11	renumber and amend 175.60 (7) (c), 175.60 (15) (b) 4. a., 948.605 (2) (a) and
12	12	948.605 (2) (b) 1r.; to amend 20.455 (2) (gr), 175.60 (2g) (a) and 175.60 (5) (a)
13	13	6.; to create 175.60 (7) (cm) (intro.) and 2., 175.60 (15) (b) 3. (intro.) and b.,
14	14	948.605 (1) (aj) and 948.605 (2) (bm) 1. of the statutes; relating to: possession
15	15	of a firearm on school grounds by school employees and fees for licenses to
16	16	carry a concealed weapon.
17	17	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
18	18	Both federal law and state law prohibit a person from possessing a firearm on
19	19	the grounds of a school. Federal and state law provide several identical exceptions
20	20	to the prohibition, such as for law enforcement and for persons in accordance with a
21	21	contract between the person and the school. Federal law provides another exception
22	22	for a person who is licensed to possess a firearm by the state if the state requires a
23	23	background check to ensure the person is qualified for the license. Since the
24	24	Department of Justice requires a background check before it issues a person a
25	25	license to carry a concealed weapon, a licensee is allowed under federal law to
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32	32	7 2025 - 2026 Legislature
33	33	ASSEMBLY BILL 55
34	34	- 2 - LRB-1351/1
35	35	CMH:wlj
36	36	SECTION 1
37	37	possess a firearm on the grounds of a school. State law, however, does not provide
38	38	an identical exception, so a licensee is prohibited under state law from possessing a
39	39	firearm on the grounds of a school.
40	40	This bill creates a state exception that is similar to the federal exception.
41	41	Under the bill, a person who has a license issued by DOJ may possess a firearm on
42	42	the grounds of a school if the person is employed by the school and the school board
43	43	or governing entity has adopted a policy that allows employees who are licensees to
44	44	possess a firearm.
45	45	Under current law, a person who applies to DOJ for a license to carry a
46	46	concealed weapon must pay an application fee and a person who is renewing a
47	47	license must pay a renewal fee. DOJ must set the fee amount on the basis of the
48	48	cost it incurs in licensing, but the fee can be no more than $37 for an initial license
49	49	and $12 for a license renewal. In addition, the person must pay for a background
50	50	check for each initial application and renewal application; that fee amount is
51	51	currently $10. The bill waives the initial application fee, renewal fee, and
52	52	background check fee for teachers who apply for a license.
53	53	For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
54	54	printed as an appendix to this bill.
55	55	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
56	56	enact as follows:
57	57	SECTION 1. 20.455 (2) (gr) of the statutes is amended to read:
58	58	20.455 (2) (gr) Handgun purchaser record check; checks for licenses or
59	59	certifications to carry concealed weapons. All moneys received as fee payments
60	60	under ss. 175.35 (2i), 175.49 (5m), and 175.60 (7) (c) and (d) (cm) 1., (13), and (15) (b)
61	61	4. 3. a. and b. to provide services under ss. 165.28, 175.35, 175.49, and 175.60.
62	62	SECTION 2. 175.60 (2g) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
63	63	175.60 (2g) (a) A licensee or an out-of-state licensee may carry a concealed
64	64	weapon anywhere in this state except as provided under subs. (15m) and (16) and
65	65	ss. 943.13 (1m) (c) and 948.605 (2) (b) 1r.
66	66	SECTION 3. 175.60 (5) (a) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:
67	67	175.60 (5) (a) 6. A statement of the places under sub. (16) where a licensee is
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79	79	ASSEMBLY BILL 55
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82	82	SECTION 3
83	83	prohibited from carrying a weapon, as well as an explanation of the provisions
84	84	under sub. (15m) and ss. 943.13 (1m) (c) and 948.605 (2) (b) 1r. that could limit the
85	85	places where the licensee may carry a weapon, with a place for the applicant to sign
86	86	his or her name to indicate that he or she has read and understands the statement.
87	87	SECTION 4. 175.60 (7) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 175.60 (7) (cm) 1. and
88	88	amended to read:
89	89	175.60 (7) (cm) 1. A fee for a background check that is equal to the fee charged
90	90	under s. 175.35 (2i) and a license fee in an amount, as determined by the
91	91	department by rule, that is equal to the cost of issuing the license but does not
92	92	exceed $37. The department shall determine the costs of issuing a license by using
93	93	a 5-year planning period.
94	94	SECTION 5. 175.60 (7) (cm) (intro.) and 2. of the statutes are created to read:
95	95	175.60 (7) (cm) (intro.) One of the following:
96	96	2. A statement that he or she is a teacher who holds a license or permit issued
97	97	by the state superintendent of public instruction or proof, as determined by the
98	98	department, that he or she is employed as a teacher in a private school or tribal
99	99	school located in this state.
100	100	SECTION 6. 175.60 (7) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
101	101	SECTION 7. 175.60 (15) (b) 3. (intro.) and b. of the statutes are created to read:
102	102	175.60 (15) (b) 3. (intro.) Submits one of the following:
103	103	b. A statement that the licensee is a teacher who holds a license or permit
104	104	issued by the state superintendent of public instruction or proof, as determined by
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126	126	22 2025 - 2026 Legislature
127	127	ASSEMBLY BILL 55
128	128	- 4 - LRB-1351/1
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130	130	SECTION 7
131	131	the department, that the licensee is employed as a teacher in a private school or
132	132	tribal school located in this state.
133	133	SECTION 8. 175.60 (15) (b) 4. (intro.) and b. of the statutes are repealed.
134	134	SECTION 9. 175.60 (15) (b) 4. a. of the statutes is renumbered 175.60 (15) (b)
135	135	3. a. and amended to read:
136	136	175.60 (15) (b) 3. a. A fee for a background check that is equal to the fee
137	137	charged under s. 175.35 (2i) and a renewal fee in an amount, as determined by the
138	138	department by rule, that is equal to the cost of renewing the license but does not
139	139	exceed $12. The department shall determine the costs of renewing a license by
140	140	using a 5-year planning period.
141	141	SECTION 10. 948.605 (1) (aj) of the statutes is created to read:
142	142	948.605 (1) (aj) XLicenseeY has the meaning given in s. 175.60 (1) (d).
143	143	SECTION 11. 948.605 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 948.605 (2) (a) 1.
144	144	and amended to read:
145	145	948.605 (2) (a) 1. Any individual who knowingly possesses a firearm at a place
146	146	that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is in or on the
147	147	grounds of a school is guilty of a Class I felony.
148	148	2. Any individual who knowingly possesses a firearm at a place that the
149	149	individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is within 1,000 feet of the
150	150	grounds of a school is subject to a Class B forfeiture.
151	151	SECTION 12. 948.605 (2) (b) 1r. of the statutes is renumbered 948.605 (2) (bm)
152	152	2. and amended to read:
153	153	948.605 (2) (bm) 2. Except if the person is in or on the grounds of a school,
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177	177	ASSEMBLY BILL 55
178	178	- 5 - LRB-1351/1
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180	180	SECTION 12
181	181	Paragraph (a) 2. does not apply to a licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an
182	182	out-of-state licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g).
183	183	SECTION 13. 948.605 (2) (bm) 1. of the statutes is created to read:
184	184	948.605 (2) (bm) 1. Paragraph (a) 1. does not apply to a licensee who possesses
185	185	a firearm in or on the grounds of a school if the licensee is employed by the school
186	186	and one of the following applies:
187	187	a. If the school is a public school, other than a charter school established
188	188	under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), the school board has adopted a policy stating that
189	189	employees who are licensees may possess a firearm in or on the grounds of the
190	190	school.
191	191	b. If the school is a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), the
192	192	operator of the charter school has adopted a policy stating that employees who are
193	193	licensees may possess a firearm in or on the grounds of the school.
194	194	c. If the school is a private, parochial, or tribal school, the governing body of
195	195	the school has adopted a policy stating that employees who are licensees may
196	196	possess a firearm in or on the grounds of the school.
197	197	SECTION 14. Initial applicability.
198	198	(1) LICENSE FEE WAIVERS. The treatment of ss. 20.455 (2) (gr) and 175.60 (7)
199	199	(c), (cm) (intro.) and 2., and (d) and (15) (b) 3. (intro.) and b. and 4. (intro.), a., and b.
200	200	first applies to applications submitted on the effective date of this subsection.
201	201	(END)
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