Intentionally sending false text messages to 911 and providing a penalty, the official text

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-5665/1
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2025 SENATE BILL 782
December 12, 2025 - Introduced by Senator Wanggaard, cosponsored by Representatives Donovan, Goodwin, Sortwell, Sinicki, Behnke, DeSmidt, Dittrich, Goeben, Gundrum, Kaufert, Kurtz, Maxey, Murphy, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Stubbs and Subeck. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

An Act to amend 256.35 (10) (a) of the statutes; relating to: intentionally sending false text messages to 911 and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, any person who intentionally dials the telephone number “911” to report an emergency, knowing that the fact situation that the person reports does not exist, is subject to a fine of between $100 and $600 or imprisonment for up to 90 days or both for a first offense and is guilty of a Class H felony for a repeat offense committed within four years after an offense.
This bill adds intentionally sending a false text message to the telephone number “911” as an offense subject to the penalty.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 256.35 (10) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
256.35 (10) (a) Any person who intentionally dials or sends a text message to
the telephone number “911” to report an emergency, knowing that the fact situation which he or she reports does not exist, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $600 or imprisoned not more than 90 days or both for the first offense and is guilty of a Class H felony for any other offense committed within 4 years after the first offense.
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