A new bill authored by State Sen. Chris Larson in the Wisconsin Senate seeks to create a legal framework for temporarily restricting firearm possession to prevent harm, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “extreme risk protection temporary restraining orders and injunctions, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE)”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes extreme risk protection (ERP) orders, allowing law enforcement or family members to petition a court to temporarily restrict a person from possessing firearms if they are deemed substantially likely to harm themselves or others. It permits courts to issue temporary restraining orders (TROs) and, following a hearing, possible injunctions which can last up to one year, both requiring the surrender of firearms. Violating these orders constitutes a Class G felony. Additionally, falsifying a petition is a Class H felony. The bill allocates grants for law enforcement training related to identifying individuals at risk and filing ERP orders, with appropriations of $700,000 annually for 2025-26 and 2026-27. The ERP orders will require expedited hearings, personal serving of orders, and firearms surrender confirmation within set timeframes, ensuring the respondent’s compliance until the injunction hearing, which should take place within 14 days. The Department of Administration is tasked with supporting enforcement through training grants, and the bill may prompt a report from the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties due to its introduction of new legal penalties.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), and Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), along 35 other co-sponsors.
Chris Larson has authored or co-authored another 53 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
Larson graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 2007 with a BA.
Larson, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2011 to represent the state’s 7th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Jeffrey Plale.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB329 | 06/19/2025 | Extreme risk protection temporary restraining orders and injunctions, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB319 | 06/12/2025 | Designating the rusty patched bumble bee as the state native insect |
| SB314 | 06/04/2025 | The pupil participation limit in the state parental choice program |
| SB233 | 04/29/2025 | Inducements to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers, recall petitions, and certain other petitions |
| SB165 | 03/27/2025 | Eliminating daylight saving time in Wisconsin |
| SB150 | 03/21/2025 | Passing legislation to reduce carbon emissions |
| SB149 | 03/21/2025 | Requiring the legislature to convene an extraordinary session if an executive order of the president of the United States freezes federal aid to the state |
