Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Senate Bill SB142 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-1569/1
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4	4	2025 SENATE BILL 142
5	5	March 21, 2025 - Introduced by Senators ROYS, DASSLER-ALFHEIM, DRAKE,
6	6	HESSELBEIN, KEYESKI, LARSON, PFAFF, RATCLIFF and SPREITZER, cosponsored
7	7	by Representatives BROWN, ANDERSON, ANDRACA, ARNEY, BARE, CLANCY,
8	8	DESMIDT, FITZGERALD, HONG, J. JACOBSON, KIRSCH, MADISON, MCCARVILLE,
9	9	PALMERI, PHELPS, ROE, SINICKI, STROUD, SUBECK, TAYLOR and TENORIO.
10	10	Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic
11	11	Development.
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13	13	*AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
14	14	AN ACT to create 704.44 (11) and 704.60 of the statutes; relating to:
15	15	algorithmic software for residential housing, and providing a penalty.
16	16	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
17	17	This bill prohibits the use of algorithmic software in setting rental rates or
18	18	occupancy levels for residential dwelling units and prohibits persons from selling,
19	19	licensing, or providing algorithmic software to a residential landlord. XAlgorithmic
20	20	softwareY is defined in the bill to mean software that uses an algorithm to perform
21	21	calculations on nonpublic competitor data regarding rent or occupancy levels in this
22	22	state for the purpose of informing a landlord[s decision regarding residential
23	23	housing occupancy rates, whether to leave a residential unit vacant, or the amount
24	24	of rent that a landlord may obtain for a residential unit. The Department of
25	25	Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the attorney general, or a district
26	26	attorney may investigate violations of this bill, and the attorney general or a district
27	27	attorney may commence an action seeking an injunction or to recover a civil
28	28	forfeiture of up to $1,000 per violation. In addition, a tenant may file a civil action
29	29	seeking actual damages incurred as a result of a violation of the bill or $1,000 per
30	30	violation, whichever is greater, or for injunctive relief, or for a combination of
31	31	injunctive relief and damages.
32	32	Under the bill, if a landlord includes a provision in a lease that 1) waives the
33	33	landlord[s obligation to comply with the prohibition on the use of algorithmic
34	34	software or 2) discourages or impedes a tenant from filing an action seeking
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37	37	SENATE BILL 142
38	38	- 2 - LRB-1569/1
39	39	JAM:klm
40	40	SECTION 1
41	41	injunctive relief or damages stemming from the landlord[s violation of the bill[s
42	42	prohibitions, then the rental agreement is void and unenforceable.
43	43	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
44	44	enact as follows:
45	45	SECTION 1. 704.44 (11) of the statutes is created to read:
46	46	704.44 (11) Waives the landlord[s obligation to comply with s. 704.60 (2) or
47	47	discourages or impedes a tenant from filing an action or seeking injunctive relief or
48	48	damages under s. 704.60 (3).
49	49	SECTION 2. 704.60 of the statutes is created to read:
50	50	704.60 Use of algorithmic software. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section:
51	51	(a) XAlgorithmic softwareY means software, including revenue management
52	52	software, that uses an algorithm to perform calculations on nonpublic competitor
53	53	data regarding rent or occupancy levels in this state for the purpose of informing a
54	54	landlord[s decision regarding residential housing occupancy rates, whether to leave
55	55	a residential unit vacant, or the amount of rent that a landlord may obtain for a
56	56	residential unit. XAlgorithmic softwareY includes a product or device that
57	57	incorporates algorithmic software. XAlgorithmic softwareY does not include any of
58	58	the following:
59	59	1. A publication of existing aggregated rental data if the publication does not
60	60	recommend rental rates or occupancy levels for future leases.
61	61	2. A product used for the purpose of establishing rent or income limits in
62	62	accordance with affordable housing guidelines or requirements of a local, state, or
63	63	federal program.
64	64	(b) XNonpublic competitor dataY means housing-related information that is
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85	85	SENATE BILL 142
86	86	- 3 - LRB-1569/1
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88	88	SECTION 2
89	89	not available to the general public regarding actual amounts charged for rent,
90	90	occupancy rates, lease start and end dates, or similar data, regardless of whether
91	91	the information is attributable to, derived from, or otherwise provided by a person
92	92	that competes in the same or related market.
93	93	(2) ALGORITHMIC SOFTWARE. (a) No person shall sell, license, or provide to a
94	94	residential landlord algorithmic software.
95	95	(b) No person may use algorithmic software to set rental rates or occupancy
96	96	levels for residential dwelling units.
97	97	(3) ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTY. (a) The department of agriculture, trade
98	98	and consumer protection, the attorney general, or a district attorney may
99	99	investigate an alleged violation of sub. (2).
100	100	(b) The attorney general or a district attorney may commence an action in the
101	101	name of the state to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction a violation of
102	102	sub. (2) or to recover a civil forfeiture of up to $1,000 per violation. The court shall
103	103	award the attorney general or district attorney court costs and, notwithstanding s.
104	104	814.04 (1), reasonable attorney fees, if the attorney general or district attorney is
105	105	the prevailing party in the action. Each month in which a violation exists or
106	106	continues constitutes a separate offense. Each dwelling unit for which a person has
107	107	used algorithmic software in violation of sub. (2) (b) constitutes a separate offense.
108	108	(c) A tenant may file a civil action for a violation of sub. (2) on behalf of himself
109	109	or herself, or on behalf of himself or herself and all persons similarly situated, for
110	110	actual damages incurred as a result of a violation of sub. (2), or damages of $1,000
111	111	per violation, whichever is greater, or for injunctive relief, or for a combination of
112	112	damages and injunctive relief. The court shall award the tenant court costs and,
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136	136	24 2025 - 2026 Legislature
137	137	SENATE BILL 142
138	138	- 4 - LRB-1569/1
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140	140	SECTION 2
141	141	notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), reasonable attorney fees if the tenant is the
142	142	prevailing party in the action. The court may also award any equitable relief to a
143	143	prevailing party as may be determined by the court if the tenant, or the tenant and
144	144	all persons similarly situated, is the prevailing party in the action.
145	145	(END)
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