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Bill

Bill

SB 1063

Relating to: prohibiting landlords from charging application fees and credit checks and background checks obtained by landlords.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Melissa Ratcliff and 3 co-sponsors

Wisconsin bill bans landlords from charging application fees and conducting credit/background checks on prospective tenants, eliminating standard rental screening practices.

Read first time and referred to Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry
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Bill Summary · SB 1063

Legislative bill overview

SB 1063 would prohibit Wisconsin landlords from charging tenants application fees and from conducting credit checks or background checks on prospective renters. The bill eliminates these screening practices entirely rather than regulating their cost or scope.

Why is this important

Application fees and screening checks are standard rental market practices that currently generate revenue for landlords and provide them information to assess tenant reliability. Eliminating them would substantially change rental market dynamics, potentially affecting both housing accessibility for applicants and landlord risk assessment practices.

Potential points of contention

  • Landlord screening impact: Landlords argue credit and background checks help identify risks (eviction history, criminal activity); removing these tools may increase defaults or safety concerns, or force reliance on alternative screening methods
  • Cost burden shift: Eliminating application fees removes a revenue source landlords currently use; this cost may be absorbed through higher rents, stricter eligibility standards, or reduced maintenance investment
  • Access vs. market effects: While removing fees benefits applicants financially upfront, eliminating screening entirely may paradoxically reduce access if landlords compensate by accepting fewer applications, requiring guarantors, or selecting only applicants with strong informal references

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

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