Brad Pfaff, Wisconsin State Senator for 32nd District | Official Website
Brad Pfaff, Wisconsin State Senator for 32nd District | Official Website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "the right to repair agricultural equipment, and providing a penalty. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes the right to repair agricultural equipment by mandating manufacturers to provide owners and independent service providers access to necessary documentation, data, embedded software, firmware, parts, or tools at equitable costs and terms. The equipment covered under the bill primarily includes farm-related machinery but excludes vehicles for street transportation, aircraft, snowmobiles, personal watercraft, motorboats, and irrigation equipment. The bill exempts manufacturers from disclosing trade secrets but requires them to make essential repair information available. Manufacturers and equipment dealers are not liable for faulty repairs by independent providers or owners. Additionally, the bill includes penalties for non-compliance, allowing for restitution or state-imposed fines for violations. The policy will come into effect for agreements entered into, renewed, or modified after the bill's enactment date.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Jenna Jacobson (Democrat-50th District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District), Senator Chris Larson (Democrat-7th District), Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Jill Billings (Democrat-95th District), and Representative Brienne Brown (Democrat-43rd District), along 21 other co-sponsors.
Brad Pfaff has authored or co-authored another 14 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Ptaff graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay in 1960 with a BA.
Ptaff, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2021 to represent the state's 32nd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Jennifer Shilling.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB148 | 03/21/2025 | The right to repair agricultural equipment, and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB50 | 02/21/2025 | Health care costs omnibus, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE) |
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