Jim Piwowarczyk, Wisconsin State Representative for 98th District | www.facebook.com
Jim Piwowarczyk, Wisconsin State Representative for 98th District | www.facebook.com
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "prohibiting filing or recording contracts for services or materials that do not improve real estate 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 amends and creates statutes to prohibit the filing or recording of contracts not intended to improve real estate, termed "non-improvement contracts," with a register of deeds. A non-improvement contract is defined as an agreement that does not result in improvements to real estate but purports to create a lien or security interest on the property. Exceptions to this prohibition include instruments evidencing security for loans, certain legal filings, and those related to property associations or commercial leases. Violators may face a fine up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to nine months, or both. Additionally, affected property owners are allowed to initiate civil actions, and if successful, the court may release the property from said contracts and award damages and legal fees. The rules apply to filings from the effective date of the bill.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Romaine Robert Quinn (Republican-25th District), Representative Scott Allen (Republican-82nd District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Representative Andrew Hysell (Democrat-48th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Howard L. Marklein (Republican-17th District), and Senator Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District), along 17 other co-sponsors.
Jim Piwowarczyk has co-authored or authored another 36 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Piwowarczyk, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 98th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Adam Neylon.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB157 | 04/02/2025 | Prohibiting filing or recording contracts for services or materials that do not improve real estate and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| AB124 | 03/11/2025 | Prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty |
| AB60 | 02/24/2025 | Referendum questions for certain referenda that affect property taxes. (FE) |
| AB24 | 02/12/2025 | County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) |
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