Northwoods Reporter

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Brent Jacobson aims to provide statutory recognition for specialized court dockets in Wisconsin, focusing on treatment courts and commercial cases to enhance judicial efficiency and expertise, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

It passed both chambers as of May 15, clearing the Assembly by a vote of 53-42 and the Senate by a vote of 18-15.

However, Gov. Tony Evers vetoed the bill on Aug. 11.

The bill, introduced as AB73 on Feb. 24, during the 2025 session, was summarized by the state legislature as follows: "statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets.".

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

In essence, this bill establishes statutory recognition for specialized court dockets in Wisconsin, focusing on treatment courts and commercial cases. It defines treatment courts to include types such as adult and juvenile drug courts, mental health courts, family dependency courts, and veterans courts. For commercial cases, the bill mandates that specific types of business disputes, including those related to corporate governance, securities, intellectual property, and substantial commercial real estate issues, be assigned to a commercial court docket when the amount in controversy exceeds set thresholds. The bill specifies that certain cases, such as small claims, government enforcement actions, and personal injury disputes, are ineligible for the commercial docket. It allows for joint petitions for the transfer of eligible commercial cases to a dedicated commercial court docket even in jurisdictions without one, and provides that judicial assignments for commercial courts cannot be contested or appealed once decided. The bill, effective upon creation of the docket, aims to enhance judicial efficiency and expertise in handling specific case types.

In the Assembly, 53 Republicans voted in favor while 42 Democrats opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 18 Republicans voted in favor while 15 Democrats voted against it.

Representatives Tusler, B. Jacobson, Brooks, Knodl, Murphy, and one other legislator introduced the bill in the Wisconsin Assembly on Feb. 24 during the 2025 legislative session. The bill was also co-authored by Sen. André Jacque (Republican-1st District), Rep. Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), Rep. Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Rep. Daniel Knodl (Republican-24th District), and Rep. David Murphy (Republican-56th District).

The bill was also co-sponsored by Sen. Eric Wimberger (Republican-2nd District).

Jacobson graduated from Saint Cloud State University in 2006 with a BS and again in 2009 from West Virginia University College of Law with a JD.

Jacobson, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 87th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative James Edming.

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.

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
Adam Neylon	Republican	15	Yea
Alex A. Dallman	Republican	39	Yea
Alex R. Joers	Democrat	81	Nay
Amaad Rivera-Wagner	Democrat	90	Nay
Amanda M. Nedweski	Republican	32	Yea
Andrew Hysell	Democrat	48	Nay
Angela Stroud	Democrat	73	Nay
Angelina M. Cruz	Democrat	62	Nay
Angelito Tenorio	Democrat	14	Nay
Ann Roe	Democrat	44	Nay
Barbara Dittrich	Republican	99	Yea
Ben DeSmidt	Democrat	65	Nay
Benjamin Franklin	Republican	88	Yea
Bob G. Donovan	Republican	61	Yea
Brent Jacobson	Republican	87	Yea
Brienne Brown	Democrat	43	Nay
Calvin T. Callahan	Republican	35	Yea
Chanz J. Green	Republican	74	Yea
Christian Phelps	Democrat	93	Nay
Christine Sinicki	Democrat	20	Nay
Chuck Wichgers	Republican	84	Yea
Cindi Duchow	Republican	97	Yea
Clint P. Moses	Republican	92	Yea
Clinton M. Anderson	Democrat	45	Nay
Daniel Knodl	Republican	24	Yea
Darrin B. Madison	Democrat	10	Nay
Dave Maxey	Republican	83	Yea
David Armstrong	Republican	67	Yea
David Murphy	Republican	56	Yea
David Steffen	Republican	4	Yea
Dean Kaufert	Republican	53	Yea
Deb Andraca	Democrat	23	Absent
Duke Tucker	Republican	75	Yea
Elijah R. Behnke	Republican	6	Yea
Francesca Hong	Democrat	76	Nay
Greta Neubauer	Democrat	66	Nay
Jeffrey Mursau	Republican	36	Yea
Jenna Jacobson	Democrat	50	Nay
Jerry L. O'Connor	Republican	60	Yea
Jessie Rodriguez	Republican	21	Yea
Jill Billings	Democrat	95	Nay
Jim Piwowarczyk	Republican	98	Yea
Joan Fitzgerald	Democrat	46	Nay
Jodi Emerson	Democrat	91	Nay
Joe Sheehan	Democrat	26	Nay
Joel Kitchens	Republican	1	Yea
John Spiros	Republican	86	Yea
Joy L. Goeben	Republican	5	Yea
Kalan Haywood	Democrat	16	Nay
Karen DeSanto	Democrat	40	Nay
Karen Kirsch	Democrat	7	Nay
Karen R. Hurd	Republican	69	Yea
Kevin Petersen	Republican	57	Yea
Lee Snodgrass	Democrat	52	Nay
Lindee Rae Brill	Republican	27	Yea
Lisa Subeck	Democrat	79	Nay
Lori A. Palmeri	Democrat	54	Nay
Margaret Arney	Democrat	18	Nay
Mark Born	Republican	37	Yea
Maureen McCarville	Democrat	42	Nay
Mike Bare	Democrat	80	Nay
Nancy VanderMeer	Republican	70	Yea
Nate L. Gustafson	Republican	55	Yea
Patrick Snyder	Republican	85	Yea
Paul Melotik	Republican	22	Yea
Paul Tittl	Republican	25	Yea
Priscilla A. Prado	Democrat	9	Nay
Randy Udell	Democrat	47	Nay
Renuka Mayadev	Democrat	77	Nay
Rick Gundrum	Republican	58	Yea
Rob Kreibich	Republican	28	Yea
Rob Summerfield	Republican	68	Yea
Rob Swearingen	Republican	34	Yea
Robert Brooks	Republican	59	Yea
Robert Wittke	Republican	63	Yea
Robin Vos	Republican	33	Yea
Robyn Vining	Democrat	13	Nay
Ron Tusler	Republican	3	Yea
Russell Goodwin	Democrat	12	Nay
Ryan M. Clancy	Democrat	19	Nay
Ryan Spaude	Democrat	89	Nay
Scott Allen	Republican	82	Yea
Scott Krug	Republican	72	Yea
Sequanna Taylor	Democrat	11	Nay
Shae A. Sortwell	Republican	2	Yea
Shelia Stubbs	Democrat	78	Nay
Steve Doyle	Democrat	94	Nay
Supreme Moore Omokunde	Democrat	17	Absent
Sylvia Ortiz-Velez	Democrat	8	Nay
Tara Johnson	Democrat	96	Nay
Tip McGuire	Democrat	64	Nay
Todd Novak	Republican	51	Yea
Tony Kurtz	Republican	41	Yea
Travis Tranel	Republican	49	Yea
Treig E. Pronschinske	Republican	29	Yea
Tyler August	Republican	31	Yea
William Penterman	Republican	38	Yea

Legislator	Party	District	Vote
André Jacque	Republican	1	Yea
Brad Pfaff	Democrat	32	Nay
Chris Kapenga	Republican	33	Yea
Chris Larson	Democrat	7	Nay
Cory Tomczyk	Republican	29	Yea
Dan Feyen	Republican	20	Yea
Devin LeMahieu	Republican	9	Yea
Dianne H. Hesselbein	Democrat	27	Nay
Dora E. Drake	Democrat	4	Nay
Eric Wimberger	Republican	2	Yea
Howard L. Marklein	Republican	17	Yea
Jamie Wall	Democrat	30	Nay
Jeff Smith	Democrat	31	Nay
Jesse L. James	Republican	23	Yea
Jodi Habush Sinykin	Democrat	8	Nay
John Jagler	Republican	13	Yea
Julian Bradley	Republican	28	Yea
Kelda Roys	Democrat	26	Nay
Kristin Dassler-Alfheim	Democrat	18	Nay
LaTonya Johnson	Democrat	6	Nay
Mark Spreitzer	Democrat	15	Nay
Mary Felzkowski	Republican	12	Yea
Melissa Ratcliff	Democrat	16	Nay
Patrick Testin	Republican	24	Yea
Rachael Cabral-Guevara	Republican	19	Yea
Rob Hutton	Republican	5	Yea
Rob Stafsholt	Republican	10	Yea
Robert W. Wirch	Democrat	22	Nay
Romaine Robert Quinn	Republican	25	Yea
Sarah Keyeski	Democrat	14	Nay
Steve L. Nass	Republican	11	Yea
Tim Carpenter	Democrat	3	Nay
Van H. Wanggaard	Republican	21	Yea