Wisconsin SB837: An Act to amend 165.95 (5) (b), 302.43, 961.472 (5) (b), 967.11 (1), 967.11 (2) and 973.155 (1m); to create 20.455 (2) (er) and 165.958 of the statutes; Relating to: grants for alternatives to prosecution and incarceration programs for persons with mental illness and making an appropriation. (FE)

What the bill says

To amend 165.95 (5) (b), 302.43, 961.472 (5) (b), 967.11 (1), 967.11 (2) 2and 973.155 (1m); to create 20.455 (2) (er) and 165.958 of the statutes; 3relating to: grants for alternatives to prosecution and incarceration 4programs for persons with mental illness and making an appropriation…

From the introduced text, January 15, 2026:

to amend 165.95 (5) (b), 302.43, 961.472 (5) (b), 967.11 (1), 967.11 (2) 2and 973.155 (1m); to create 20.455 (2) (er) and 165.958 of the statutes; 3relating to: grants for alternatives to prosecution and incarceration 4programs for persons with mental illness and making an appropriation. Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under current law, the Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health Services, awards grants to counties and tribes that have established qualifying treatment alternatives and diversion (TAD) programs that offer alcohol or drug treatment services as alternatives to prosecution or incarceration in order to reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and reduce prison and jail populations. This bill creates a similar grant program under which DOJ, in collaboration with DOC and DHS, awards grants to counties and tribes to establish or expand programs that provide alternatives to prosecution and incarceration for criminal offenders who are low to medium risk and who have a mental illness that is a contributing factor to their interaction with the criminal justice system. Under the bill, the grant program is established as a pilot program so that no grants may be awarded after five years. At the close of the pilot program, DOJ must prepare a summary outcome report and include an opinion as to whether to …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Spreitzer, Mark (D, SD-015) · primary sponsor
• Wall, Jamie (D, SD-030)
• Carpenter, Tim (D, SD-003)
• Dassler-Alfheim, Kristin (D, SD-018)
• Johnson, LaTonya (D, SD-006)
• Larson, Chris (D, SD-007)
• Pfaff, Brad (D, SD-032)
• Ratcliff, Melissa (D, SD-016)
• Spaude, Ryan (D, HD-089)
• Bare, Mike (D, HD-080)
• Cruz, Angelina (D, HD-062)
• DeSanto, Karen (D, HD-040)

Latest actions

1. April 15, 2026: Fiscal estimate received
2. March 23, 2026: Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
3. January 30, 2026: Fiscal estimate received
4. January 26, 2026: Representative Anderson added as a cosponsor
5. January 20, 2026: Representative Palmeri added as a cosponsor
6. January 16, 2026: Senator Keyeski added as a coauthor
7. January 15, 2026: Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
8. January 15, 2026: Introduced by Senators Spreitzer , Wall , Carpenter , Dassler-Alfheim , L. Johnson , Larson , Pfaff and Ratcliff ; cosponsored by Representatives Spaude , Bare , Cruz , DeSanto , DeSmidt , Emerson , Goodwin , Hysell , Joers , Johnson , Miresse , Moore Omokunde , Neubauer , Ortiz-Velez , Rivera-Wagner , Sheehan , Sinicki , Stroud , Subeck and Udell

Common questions

What is SB837?

SB837 is a bill in the Wisconsin Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): An Act to amend 165.95 (5) (b), 302.43, 961.472 (5) (b), 967.11 (1), 967.11 (2) and 973.155 (1m); to create 20.455 (2) (er) and 165.958 of the statutes; Relating to: grants for alternatives to prosecution and incarceration programs for persons with mental illness and making an appropriation. (FE).

What does SB837 do?

In its own words: To amend 165.95 (5) (b), 302.43, 961.472 (5) (b), 967.11 (1), 967.11 (2) 2and 973.155 (1m); to create 20.455 (2) (er) and 165.958 of the statutes; 3relating to: grants for alternatives to prosecution and incarceration 4programs for persons with mental illness and making an appropriation…

What is the status of SB837?

Failed as of April 15, 2026. Latest action: Fiscal estimate received (April 15, 2026).

Who sponsored SB837?

Spreitzer, Mark (D, SD-015), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB837?

On the Wisconsin Legislature website: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/sb837