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AB 1039

Relating to: penalty for the terrorist crimes against the occupants of a church and providing a penalty.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Allen and 11 co-sponsors

Wisconsin bill establishes enhanced criminal penalties for terrorist acts targeting church occupants, raising questions about definitional scope and equal application across religious institutions.

Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
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Bill Summary · AB 1039

Legislative bill overview

AB 1039 proposes to establish or enhance criminal penalties specifically for terrorist crimes targeting church occupants in Wisconsin. The bill creates a distinct legal category that treats violent acts committed against people in religious settings with elevated severity compared to standard criminal statutes.

Why is this important

Religious institutions have experienced violent attacks in recent years, raising public safety concerns. This legislation addresses whether the law should treat violence targeting worshippers differently based on the religious context of the crime, which affects both criminal justice policy and free exercise of religion protections.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional boundaries: The bill must clarify what constitutes a "terrorist crime against church occupants"—whether it applies only to explicitly ideological attacks, attacks on any religious gathering, or all violent crimes occurring in churches
  • Equal protection concerns: Creating religion-specific criminal penalties may raise constitutional questions about whether the law equally protects all religious groups or appears to favor certain faiths
  • Sentencing philosophy: Determining whether enhanced penalties serve legitimate public safety purposes or constitute duplicative punishment for conduct already covered by existing terrorism and hate crime statutes

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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