On April 2, 2026, Wisconsin enacted 2025 Wisconsin Act 149. This is new legislation that adds onto existing legislation to significantly expand the criminal penalties and procedural protections that apply when the victim of a crime is a vulnerable adult. 

The law began as Assembly Bill 19 and extends several protections that previously applied only to elder persons — individuals 60 or older — to a broader category called “adults at risk.” For anyone facing criminal charges in Milwaukee or elsewhere in Wisconsin that allegedly involve a vulnerable adult, this law is directly relevant to your case. Our Milwaukee criminal defense attorneys can explain more. 

What Is Wisconsin Act 149?

Wisconsin Act 149 amends several sections of the Wisconsin Statutes to bring adults at risk under many of the same legal protections that have long applied to older adults. The changes affect criminal penalties, battery and sexual assault charges, restraining order procedures, and a court’s ability to freeze a defendant’s assets. The major changes include: