Gov. Evers Signs Bill Adding 12 New Branches To The Wisconsin Circuit Court

Press Release

WAUSAU -- Gov. Tony Evers today signed Assembly Bill 470 in Wausau, creating 12 new circuit court branches in the state of Wisconsin to be allocated by the director of state courts. This is the first addition of branches to the circuit court since 2010 and the largest addition in over two decades.

“Our justice system has been doing more with less for far too long, and today we are taking another step in ensuring that our justice system is operating efficiently and best serving our communities,” said Gov. Evers. “It took a strong bipartisan effort to get Assembly Bill 470 to my desk and I want to thank the folks who pushed to get this done to keep our justice system just and our communities safe.”

Assembly Bill 470, now 2019 Wisconsin Act 184:

• Creates 12 new circuit court branches to be implemented four at a time on a rolling basis for terms beginning on August 1 in 2021, 2022, and 2023; and
• Allows the Director of State Courts to allocate the branches to counties based on need, resolutions, and established infrastructure, and to require a county to establish or apply for a treatment and diversion program grant or drug court grant as a prerequisite.

Note: AB 470 was introduced by Representatives Tusler, Tittl, McGuire, Edming, Anderson, Ballweg, Bowen, Crowley, Goyke, Neubauer, Petersen, Petryk, Schraa, Spiros, Summerfield and Zamarripa, cosponsored by Senators Petrowski, Bewley, Bernier, LeMahieu, Schachtner, L. Taylor, Tiffany and Testin.