Increasing the maximum fee for court costs collectible in a municipal court action, the official text

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-2463/1
SWB:emw

2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 443
September 19, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives Kaufert, Gundrum, Maxey, B. Jacobson, Armstrong, Steffen, Allen, Dittrich, Piwowarczyk, Murphy, O'Connor, Mursau, Goeben, Kitchens and Brill, cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard and Dassler-Alfheim. Referred to Committee on Local Government.

An Act to amend 814.65 (1) of the statutes; relating to: increasing the maximum fee for court costs collectible in a municipal court action.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, with certain exceptions, the municipal judge in a municipal court action must collect a fee of not less than $15 nor more than $38 on each separate matter. The fee is to be imposed whether there is a default of appearance, there is a plea of guilty or no contest, on issuance of a warrant or summons, or the action is tried as a contested matter. Current law requires that the municipal treasurer pay monthly $5 from each fee received to the secretary of administration for deposit in the general fund and retain the balance for the use of the municipality. The bill increases the maximum fee on each separate matter from $38 to $48.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 814.65 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
814.65 (1) Court costs. In a municipal court action, except for a financial
responsibility violation under s. 344.62 (2) or for a violation of an ordinance in conformity with s. 343.51 (1m) (b) or 347.48 (2m), the municipal judge shall collect a fee of not less than $15 nor more than $38 $48 on each separate matter, whether it is on default of appearance, a plea of guilty or no contest, on issuance of a warrant or summons, or the action is tried as a contested matter. Of each fee received by the judge under this subsection, the municipal treasurer shall pay monthly $5 to the secretary of administration for deposit in the general fund and shall retain the balance for the use of the municipality.
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