WC Wisconsin News

A new bill authored by State Sen. Jesse L. James in the Wisconsin Senate seeks to extend legal protections to search and rescue dogs, aiming to prevent harassment and harm to these animals, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "harassment of search and rescue dogs and providing a penalty".

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

In essence, this bill expands existing animal protection laws to include search and rescue dogs, in addition to the animals used by law enforcement and fire departments. It makes it illegal to harass, strike, or threaten these animals, setting penalties similar to those for police and fire dogs. The bill defines a "search and rescue dog" as one trained or being trained by a recognized rescue agency to locate lost individuals or disaster victims. Violations are subject to penalties ranging from a Class B forfeiture to Class A misdemeanors, and Class I and H felonies if injury or death occurs to the dog, respectively. The bill mandates restitution for violators, including costs for veterinary care or replacement animals.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Chanz J. Green (Republican-74th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), and Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), along seven other co-sponsors.

Jesse L. James has authored or co-authored another 72 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

James graduated from Chippewa Valley Technical College in 2001.

James, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2023 to represent the state's 23rd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Kathy Bernier.

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
SB238	05/09/2025	Harassment of search and rescue dogs and providing a penalty
SB237	05/09/2025	A sales and use tax exemption for equipment associated with the use of a search and rescue dog. (FE)
SB236	05/09/2025	Tampering with telecommunication or electric wires and providing a penalty
SB232	04/29/2025	Grants to child advocacy centers. (FE)
SB227	04/29/2025	The law enforcement officers’ bill of rights
SB222	04/25/2025	Extortion, sexual extortion, and providing a penalty
SB210	04/16/2025	Changes to amount of, and criteria for designating recipients of, academic excellence higher education scholarships. (FE)
SB192	04/14/2025	Fatality review teams and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
SB191	04/14/2025	Requiring a subpoena to a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer served in official capacity to be served at the officer’s work address
SB183	04/14/2025	Reimbursement of emergency services under the Medical Assistance program when a patient is not transported, reporting on changes to the scope of practice of emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE)
SB182	04/14/2025	Emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE)
SB181	04/14/2025	A levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE)
SB179	04/03/2025	Applying the motor vehicle fuel tax supplier’s administrative allowance to diesel fuel, a motor vehicle fuel tax refund for evaporation losses, and making an appropriation. (FE)
SB178	04/03/2025	Changes to the low-income housing tax credit. (FE)
SB171	04/03/2025	Requiring child sexual abuse prevention education. (FE)
SB163	03/27/2025	Income change notifications for child support or maintenance orders
SB140	03/21/2025	Provisional social worker certificates and licenses
SB132	03/14/2025	Classification of the crime of impersonating law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and certain other emergency personnel and providing a penalty
SB119	03/07/2025	Positions for the Office of School Safety. (FE)
SB113	03/07/2025	A transition to grazing pilot program and making an appropriation. (FE)
SB83	02/26/2025	Utilization management controls for antipsychotic prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program. (FE)
SB75	02/26/2025	Venue for actions in which there is a governmental party
SB73	02/26/2025	Prosecuting or adjudicating delinquent a person under the age of 18 for committing an act of prostitution
SB72	02/26/2025	Creating an individual income tax deduction for certain income earned by an individual from the practice of psychiatry or from providing psychiatric or mental health services. (FE)
SB62	02/21/2025	Financing the operating costs and certain out-of-state projects of nonprofit institutions and compensation of employees of the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority. (FE)
SB42	02/12/2025	Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE)
SB41	02/12/2025	School safety grants and making an appropriation. (FE)
SB39	02/12/2025	Establishment of a Palliative Care Council. (FE)
SB23	02/05/2025	Extension of eligibility under the Medical Assistance program for postpartum women. (FE)
SB21	02/05/2025	Creating an employee ownership conversion costs tax credit, a deduction for capital gains from the transfer of a business to employee ownership, and an employee ownership education and outreach program. (FE)
SB17	02/05/2025	Special circumstances battery to a community service officer and providing a penalty