Jerry L. O\'Connor, Wisconsin State Representative for 60th District | www.facebook.com
Jerry L. O\'Connor, Wisconsin State Representative for 60th District | www.facebook.com
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "privacy protections for judicial officers".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill modifies existing privacy protections for judicial officers by requiring that written requests for privacy include notarization and a description of specific records believed to contain personal information. It clarifies that home addresses are considered personal information only when directly linked to the judicial officer's name and mandates that requests must be updated if a home address changes. The bill also refines procedures for submitting requests, specifying they must be sent to the designated officer of a government agency, and adjusts the responsibilities of the director of state courts in handling these requests. It allows for exceptions where personal information may be publicly posted if legally required and provides liability protections for government agencies and employees except in cases of intentional or reckless actions. Additionally, the bill allows registers of deeds and third parties, under certain conditions, to access protected documents and redefines land records websites while prohibiting them from displaying protected personal information. The effective date of the bill is the day after publication or April 1, 2025, whichever is later.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Van H. Wanggaard (Republican-21st District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Representative Rick Gundrum (Republican-58th District), Representative Rob Kreibich (Republican-28th District), Representative David Murphy (Republican-56th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District), along two other co-sponsors.
Jerry L. O'Connor has co-authored or authored another 91 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
O'Conner graduated from Minnesota Bible College in 1973.
O'Conner, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 60th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Robert Brooks.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB171 | 04/09/2025 | Privacy protections for judicial officers |
| AB170 | 04/09/2025 | Prohibiting the Department of Justice from using the legal services of nongovernmental employees. (FE) |
| AB168 | 04/08/2025 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) |
| AB162 | 04/08/2025 | Workforce metrics. (FE) |
| AB152 | 04/02/2025 | Bid requirement for publication and printing of county board proceedings, notices, and advertisements in counties having a population of 250,000 or more and at least two English newspapers published daily |
| AB90 | 02/28/2025 | Copies of and inspection or disclosure of information contained in certain vital records. (FE) |
| AB58 | 02/24/2025 | Flags flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of state and local buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule |
| AB21 | 02/06/2025 | Technical colleges’ lease of their facilities to others. (FE) |
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