Shannon Zimmerman, Wisconsin State Representative of 30th District | Facebook
Shannon Zimmerman, Wisconsin State Representative of 30th District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "consumer data protection 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, the bill establishes consumer data protection laws, requiring entities that control or process personal data of at least 100,000 consumers, or 25,000 consumers with over 50% revenue from data sale, to comply with specified obligations. These include allowing consumers rights to access, correct, delete, and obtain personal data, and to opt out of targeted advertising or data sale. The bill mandates transparency through clear privacy notices and prohibits discrimination against consumers who exercise these rights. Contracts regulating data processors must meet specific terms, and controllers must conduct assessments on data protection. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Department of Justice have exclusive enforcement authority, imposing penalties up to $10,000 per violation. A preemptive clause prevents local governments from enacting conflicting data ordinances. The bill is effective from July 1, 2027, with certain enforcement provisions evolving by July 1, 2031.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Romaine Robert Quinn (Republican-25th District), Representative Scott Allen (Republican-82nd District), Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Howard L. Marklein (Republican-17th District), Senator Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District), and Senator Kelda Roys (Democrat-26th District), along 21 other co-sponsors.
Shannon Zimmerman has co-authored or authored another seven bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Zimmerman, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2017 to represent the state's 30th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Dean Knudson.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB172 | 04/09/2025 | Consumer data protection and providing a penalty. (FE) |
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