Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateWisconsinTo Governor
SB 25: Relating to: court-issued criminal complaints in officer-involved deaths.
Rob Hutton
SB 25 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
50OUT OF 100
Score:50/100 civic fit — mixed
Risk:Moderate Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 60/100
Constitutionality50%
Bipartisan25%
Public opinion50%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill seeks to modify the authority of judges to issue criminal complaints directly against law enforcement officers in the event of a death occurring during an encounter.
Who is affected
Law enforcement officers, judicial officials, prosecutors, and families of individuals involved in police-related deaths.
Requirements and enforcement
Not stated in the available source.
Costs and funding
Not stated in the available source.
When it takes effect
The bill has failed to pass following gubernatorial objections.
Potential benefits
Potential for increased accountability, strengthened judicial oversight, and clearer legal avenues for addressing deaths in custody or police encounters.
Risks and tradeoffs
Potential for the politicization of the judiciary, conflict with prosecutorial mandates, and potential negative impacts on law enforcement operational decision-making.
What is still unknown
Specific legal criteria for judicial charging, the interaction between judicial complaints and standard district attorney prosecutions, and specific liability safeguards for officers.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Society
Mixed / Neutral
50%
Benefits
- Provides clearer judicial pathways for accountability.
- Potentially increases public trust through oversight.
- Standardizes procedures for sensitive death investigations.
Risks
- Risk of politicizing judicial charging decisions.
- Possible erosion of police-community relations.
- Ambiguity regarding standards of evidence for judges.
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
- Enhances checks on prosecutorial and executive discretion.
- Formalizes the role of the judiciary in oversight.
- Increases transparency in officer-involved fatalities.
Risks
- Creates potential for judicial-executive power conflicts.
- May lack specific guidelines for maintaining judicial neutrality.
- Could lead to inconsistent enforcement across state courts.
Public Health & Safety
Critical outlook
40%
Benefits
- Potentially deters excessive use of force.
- Promotes higher conduct standards for law enforcement.
- Provides formal legal recourse for lethal incidents.
Risks
- May complicate tactical decision-making for officers.
- Potential to deter necessary police response in volatile situations.
- Risk of procedural delays in post-incident investigations.
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
The bill shifts significant authority to the judiciary, which may trigger constitutional separation-of-powers challenges.
Analysis scope
Source provided is limited to an OpenStates abstract.
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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