Robert Wittke, Wisconsin State Representative for 63rd District | Facebook
Robert Wittke, Wisconsin State Representative for 63rd District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "human trafficking and trafficking of a child 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 imposes stricter penalties on human trafficking and child trafficking offenses. It increases the severity of human trafficking from a Class D to a Class C felony and child trafficking from a Class C to a Class B felony. Additionally, the bill mandates a minimum prison confinement term of ten years for human trafficking and 15 years for child trafficking. It also stipulates that a prosecution for a human trafficking offense must commence within ten years of the violation. These changes aim to enhance deterrence and punishment for trafficking crimes, aligning sentences with the severity of the offenses. The bill is effective immediately upon passage.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Van H. Wanggaard (Republican-21st District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Representative Brent Jacobson (Republican-87th District), and Representative Daniel Knodl (Republican-24th District).
Robert Wittke has authored or co-authored another 27 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Wittke graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1980 with a BA.
Wittke, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 63rd Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Robin Vos.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB265 | 05/19/2025 | Human trafficking and trafficking of a child and providing a penalty |
| AB256 | 05/08/2025 | A special observance day in schools for Armenian Genocide Awareness Day |
| AB196 | 04/15/2025 | Rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System. (FE) |
| AB92 | 02/28/2025 | Spinal cord injury research grants and symposia and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB1 | 01/31/2025 | Changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. (FE) |
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