Assembly Bill 292 proposes significant changes to the use of translation services in court proceedings in Wisconsin. The bill allows courts to permit the use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation in civil, criminal, and certain municipal proceedings, as well as administrative contested case proceedings. Specifically, it creates new provisions that enable the use of these technologies in lieu of or in addition to traditional interpreters, thereby modernizing the approach to language assistance in the legal system.

Additionally, the bill expands the circumstances under which interpreters can be utilized in criminal trials. Previously, interpreters were only permitted to act by telephone or live audiovisual means in criminal proceedings other than trials. The new language allows for this method of interpretation to be used during criminal trials as well. The bill also includes provisions that clarify the use of artificial intelligence in municipal courts and ensures that such use does not require a waiver under existing statutes.