Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateWisconsinTo Governor
AB 225: Relating to: determination of where a defendant resides or does substantial business for purposes of venue.
Cindi Duchow
AB 225 status: To Governor — Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (updated May 13, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
55OUT OF 100
Score:55/100 civic fit
Risk:Moderate Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 45/100
Constitutionality70%
Bipartisan50%
Public opinion50%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill modifies the rules governing venue in civil lawsuits, specifically regarding where a defendant resides or conducts 'substantial business'.
Who is affected
Civil litigants, including individuals and businesses, and the judicial system responsible for managing case filings.
Requirements and enforcement
Litigants must adhere to specific, codified rules for venue selection based on residency or business activities, rather than more flexible standards.
Costs and funding
Potential reduction in litigation costs related to procedural venue disputes, but potential increase in travel and filing costs for plaintiffs.
When it takes effect
The bill was vetoed by the governor and failed to pass in the 2025-2026 session.
Potential benefits
Increased predictability in court filings and potential reduction in venue-related procedural challenges.
Risks and tradeoffs
Potential for increased travel burdens for plaintiffs and lack of specific criteria for 'substantial business' definitions.
What is still unknown
The exact threshold or criteria for 'substantial business' remains undefined by the provided summary.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Mixed / Neutral
55%
Benefits
- Reduces litigation expenses from jurisdictional disputes
- Provides predictable venue rules for businesses
- Standardizes legal treatment for corporate entities
Risks
- May increase travel costs for plaintiffs in certain cases
- Limits venue shopping for consumer or small-scale litigation
- Potential complexity in proving 'substantial business' location
Society
Mixed / Neutral
50%
Benefits
- Clearer criteria for where individuals must defend suits
- Standardized access to legal venues across the state
- Reduces procedural ambiguity for individual defendants
Risks
- Potential hardship for plaintiffs traveling to distant courts
- Reduced venue choice for injured or aggrieved parties
- Limits flexibility for courts to address unique litigant needs
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Positive outlook
60%
Benefits
- Codifies explicit statutory rules for court venue
- Reduces arbitrary judicial discretion in venue cases
- Improves procedural transparency for legal filings
Risks
- Reduces judicial flexibility for case-by-case venue needs
- Shifts authority from courts to statutory definitions
- Limited mechanism for reviewing business residency status
Public Health & Safety
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Changes to venue rules can shift the balance of power between plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation.
Analysis scope
Source material is an abstract and lacks full legislative text.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorCurrent
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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