Assembly Bill 320 proposes significant changes to various court fees and surcharges in Wisconsin. The bill aims to increase fees collected by clerks of court, municipal judges, and registers in probate, as well as fees paid to witnesses, interpreters, and other court-related personnel. Notably, it establishes a new indexing system for these fees, adjusting them for inflation every five years starting in 2030. The bill also sets mileage reimbursement rates based on the federal Internal Revenue Service's business standard mileage rate. Additionally, it allows counties to retain the additional revenue generated from these increased fees for their own use.

Specific amendments include raising the filing fee for criminal actions from $163 to $239, increasing the civil action commencement fee from $75 to $190, and adjusting various other fees related to jury demands, foreign judgments, and petitions for family-related actions. The bill repeals a section of current law regarding certain fees and introduces new definitions and provisions for annual fee adjustments. Overall, the bill seeks to modernize and increase the financial resources available to the court system while ensuring that fees reflect current economic conditions.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 59.32(1), 59.32, 814.60(1), 814.60, 814.61(1)(a), 814.61, 814.61(1)(b), 814.61(3), 814.61(4), 814.61(5)(am)(intro.), 814.61(6), 814.61(7)(a), 814.61(7)(b), 814.61(9), 814.61(11), 814.61(12)(a)1, 814.61(12)(c), 814.61(13), 814.61(13m), 814.61(14), 814.615(1)(a)2, 814.615