Amanda Nedweski, Wisconsin State Representative of 32nd District | Facebook
Amanda Nedweski, Wisconsin State Representative of 32nd District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "injuring or killing a police or fire animal 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 amends the statutes to increase the penalties for harming animals used by law enforcement or fire departments. Under current law, intentionally injuring such an animal results in a Class I felony, while causing its death results in a Class H felony. The bill elevates these penalties, making the act of injuring an animal a Class H felony, punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or up to six years imprisonment, or both. Causing the death of an animal is raised to a Class G felony, which carries a potential fine of up to $25,000 or up to 10 years imprisonment, or both. The bill also mandates restitution for veterinary care or the value of a replacement animal. This change reflects the bill's aim to provide greater protection and deterrence against harming service animals.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Van H. Wanggaard (Republican-21st District), Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator LaTonya Johnson (Democrat-6th District), and Senator Howard L. Marklein (Republican-17th District), along 24 other co-sponsors.
Amanda M. Nedweski has co-authored or authored another 15 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Nedweski graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in 1998 with a BA.
Nedweski, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 32nd Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Tyler August.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB61 | 02/24/2025 | Injuring or killing a police or fire animal and providing a penalty |
| AB39 | 02/17/2025 | Requiring state employees to perform their work at the offices of their employer |
| AB4 | 02/03/2025 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) |
Alerts Sign-up