WI tenant right to counsel bill dies
In 2026, the Wisconsin legislature introduced AB 1195, which would have provided tenants facing eviction with a right to counsel at public expense absent waiver of the r ight. In order to receive counsel, the tenant would have had to appear in court on the date specified in the summons or request that counsel be appointed by contacting the clerk of court in the county where the eviction action has been brought on or before the return date specified in the summons. The bill also would have created a civil legal aid board comprised of 9 members to serve staggered 3-year terms.
It went on to specify that counsel would be appointed only if sufficient funding is available. In determining whether to appoint counsel, the bill instructed the Director of the civil legal aid board to “take into account moneys available… for that purpose” and “prioritize appointing counsel for individuals in the counties in which the most residential evictions occur and to individuals who are disproportionately at risk of eviction.”
The bill died in March 2026, having failed to pass.
Bill Status: Dead
Last action (on 03/23/2026): Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
