Waukesha Times

The new bill authored by State Rep. Barbara Dittrich in the Wisconsin Assembly seeks to ensure courts provide clear justification when limiting a parent's physical placement time with a child, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "findings of fact when the court grants less than equal physical placement of a child".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends Wisconsin's family law statutes related to child custody and physical placement. It mandates that if a court grants less than 50% physical placement to one parent in temporary or final orders, the court must now provide specific findings explaining why more physical placement with that parent is not in the child's best interest. Previously, such findings were necessary only when a parent received less than 25%. The intent is to ensure that decisions minimizing a parent's time with a child are thoroughly justified, thereby potentially increasing the time children spend with both parents. The bill becomes effective on the first day of the seventh month following its publication.

The bill was co-authored by Senator Eric Wimberger (Republican-2nd District), Representative Daniel Knodl (Republican-24th District), Representative Rob Kreibich (Republican-28th District), Representative David Murphy (Republican-56th District), Representative Amanda M. Nedweski (Republican-32nd District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Van H. Wanggaard (Republican-21st District), along one other co-sponsor.

Barbara Dittrich has authored or co-authored another 138 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with one of them being enacted.

Dittrich, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 99th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Cindi Duchow.

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
AB262	05/19/2025	Findings of fact when the court grants less than equal physical placement of a child
AB260	05/19/2025	A pilot school-centered mental health program. (FE)
AB255	05/08/2025	Assisted living facility referral agencies and providing a penalty
AB252	05/08/2025	The notice of an investigation of child abuse or neglect or unborn child abuse provided to appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense. (FE)
AB221	04/23/2025	All-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles with out-of-state registrations
AB206	04/23/2025	The procedure for adding federal newborn screening recommendations to the state-required newborn screenings, granting rule-making authority, and providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures. (FE)
AB195	04/15/2025	Revoking a transfer of real property on death, obtaining evidence of the termination of a decedent’s property interests, disbursing deposits after rescission of real property wholesaler contracts, and filing satisfactions of judgment
AB141	03/17/2025	Provisional social worker certificates and licenses
AB139	03/17/2025	A tax credit for relocating to this state due to Hurricane Helene or the Los Angeles wildfires. (FE)
AB126	03/11/2025	School bus back-up lamps
AB106	03/11/2025	Exempting certain electric vehicle charging stations located at a residence from the electric vehicle charging tax. (FE)
AB103	03/04/2025	School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns
AB102	03/03/2025	Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants
AB100	03/03/2025	Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants
AB71	02/24/2025	School district operating referenda
AB68	02/24/2025	The prescription drug monitoring program. (FE)
AB63	02/24/2025	Financing the operating costs and certain out-of-state projects of nonprofit institutions and compensation of employees of the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority. (FE)
AB61	02/24/2025	Injuring or killing a police or fire animal and providing a penalty
AB44	02/17/2025	Allowing advanced practice nurse prescribers to pronounce the date, time, and place of a patient’s death for purposes of the preparation of death records
AB9	02/06/2025	Allowing representatives of certain federally chartered youth membership organizations to provide information to pupils on public school property
AB5	02/03/2025	Requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents