The Wisconsin Beagle Freedom Bill — and the cities that beat it to the punch.

On August 18, 2025, Sen Wanggaard, Sen Carpenter, Rep Kitchens, and Rep Joers sent out a co-sponsorship memorandum for a Beagle Freedom Bill in Wisconsin. The Beagle Freedom Bill would require animal testing facilities and breeders to offer certain dogs and cats for adoption to releasing agencies once they are no longer being used.

On September 4, 2025, SB414 was officially introduced and sent to the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development. The Assembly version, AB436, was sent to the Assembly Committee on State Affairs.

On January 22, 2026, Sen Wanggaard and Rep Kitchens introduced harmful amendments that would reduce oversight and penalties, and weaken enforcement.

On January 27, 2026, the Senate Committee held a public hearing. We had great turnout and testimony in support of the original bill.

In February, the Assembly Committee held a hearing, passed the amended version, and sent it to the full Assembly, where the amended version also passed.

In March, Senate Committee held a vote on the original version of the bill and passed it, but the Senate never took it up on the floor, so the bill is dead and we will have to start over next session.