Green Bay Reporter

A new bill authored by State Rep. Shae A. Sortwell in the Wisconsin Assembly seeks to criminalize riot-related violence and protect law enforcement's ability to respond effectively, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "civil action for injury or damages resulting from riot or vandalism, participation in a riot, prohibiting certain limitations or restrictions on law enforcement responses to riot or vandalism activity, and providing a penalty".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill criminalizes urging, organizing, or instigating others to riot as a Class I felony and committing violence during a riot as a Class H felony. It defines a riot as a public disturbance involving violence or threats involving at least three people which present a clear danger to property or individuals. The legislation also establishes a civil cause of action for those suffering injury or property loss due to riot or vandalism, allowing victims to sue offenders and those who provided material support. The bill prohibits government officials from restricting law enforcement's response to rioting, ensuring officials cannot limit arrests or restrict officers' actions to quell riots. Additionally, it protects law enforcement employees from retaliation for participating in investigations related to law enforcement's response to riots. The bill mandates offenders to repair property damage and allows recovery of compensatory damages and legal fees regardless of criminal charges.

The bill was co-authored by Senator Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), Representative Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Representative Bob G. Donovan (Republican-61st District), Representative Joy L. Goeben (Republican-5th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District), and Senator Cory Tomczyk (Republican-29th District), along 10 other co-sponsors.

Shae A. Sortwell has co-authored or authored another 18 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Sortwell graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 2006 with a BA.

Sortwell, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2019 to represent the state's 2nd Assembly district, replacing previous state representative André Jacque.

In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
AB88	02/28/2025	Civil action for injury or damages resulting from riot or vandalism, participation in a riot, prohibiting certain limitations or restrictions on law enforcement responses to riot or vandalism activity, and providing a penalty
AB87	02/28/2025	Restitution orders following a conviction for human trafficking and restoration of the right to vote to a person barred from voting as a result of a felony conviction. (FE)
AB86	02/28/2025	Imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE)
AB42	02/17/2025	Local regulation of fowl
AB41	02/17/2025	Local regulation of vegetable gardens
AB26	02/17/2025	Battery or threat to jurors and providing a penalty
AB17	02/06/2025	Creating an employee ownership conversion costs tax credit, a deduction for capital gains from the transfer of a business to employee ownership, and an employee ownership education and outreach program. (FE)