MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Senate has passed the first police reform bills in the state since George Floyd died last year. The Senate voted Tuesday on measures that would create a $600,000 grant program for police; require police to post use-of-force policies online; require the state Justice Department to gather more data on use-of-force incidents and produce an annual report; require police to share personnel files during the hiring process; and require Milwaukee and Madison’s police oversight commissions to add union nominees. The legislation now goes to the Assembly. The bills are non-controversial but their main sponsors, Republican Van Wanggaard and Democrat Lena Taylor, say they’re a start toward accountability. They say other bills are coming, including a ban on choke holds.
