Dianne Hesselbein, Wisconsin State Senator for 27th District | Official Website
Dianne Hesselbein, Wisconsin State Senator for 27th District | Official Website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "prohibiting the state from sharing data with the federal government that contains personally identifiable information if the data is not first masked or otherwise anonymized and authorizing a civil cause of action for negligent violations of that prohibition. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill establishes a prohibition for Wisconsin state agencies and bodies, including the legislature and courts, from sharing personally identifiable information with the federal government unless the data is first masked or anonymized. Exceptions to this rule allow unmasked data to be shared when necessary for compliance with state or federal laws, or for the administration of state or federal programs. Legislators and courts may also share unmasked information for constituent relations and official duties. Violations of this prohibition may result in liability, allowing injured parties to seek actual damages, exemplary damages up to $1,000, and coverage of costs and reasonable attorney fees.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District), Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), and Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), along 37 other co-sponsors.
Dianne H. Hesselbein has authored or co-authored another 56 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
Hesselbein graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh in 1993 with a BS.
Hesselbein, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2023 to represent the state's 27th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Jon Erpenbach.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB369 | 07/09/2025 | Prohibiting the state from sharing data with the federal government that contains personally identifiable information if the data is not first masked or otherwise anonymized and authorizing a civil cause of action for negligent violations of that prohibition. (FE) |
| SB356 | 06/27/2025 | Perimenopause and menopause education. (FE) |
| SB332 | 06/19/2025 | Prohibition against undetectable firearms, possessing a frame or receiver of a firearm without a serial number, and providing a penalty |
| SB268 | 05/20/2025 | Prohibiting corporal punishment in public and private schools |
| SB265 | 05/20/2025 | Waiver of fees for admission to state parks on Earth Day. (FE) |
Alerts Sign-up