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 amends several statutes to raise specific fees, such as increasing the filing fee for criminal actions from $163 to $239, and the fee for civil actions from $75 to $190. Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions for annual fee adjustments based on inflation, ensuring that fees remain aligned with the U.S. consumer price index.

The bill also includes a provision that allows counties to retain additional revenue generated from these increased fees, rather than remitting a larger portion to the state. This change is intended to provide counties with more financial resources for local use. Furthermore, the bill repeals a specific section of current law related to fee collection, streamlining the process. Overall, Assembly Bill 320 seeks to modernize and adjust court fees to better reflect current economic conditions while providing counties with greater financial autonomy.

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