Jenna Jacobson, Wisconsin State Representative of 50th District | Official website
Jenna Jacobson, Wisconsin State Representative of 50th District | Official website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "the right to repair agricultural equipment, and providing a penalty. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates that agricultural equipment manufacturers provide owners and independent service providers with access to necessary documentation, data, embedded software, firmware, parts, or tools at fair costs and terms, barring the disclosure of trade secrets. It defines "equipment" to include farm operation machinery but excludes vehicles, transportation machines, and certain recreational and irrigation equipment. Manufacturers are shielded from liability for improper repairs by third parties. Contracts that limit manufacturer obligations are void. Violations incur penalties, with affected individuals entitled to sue for damages. The bill specifies that manufacturers are not liable for issues arising from data use, and it outlines penalties of $100 to $10,000 for each violation. The effective implementation date of any contractual changes aligns with the bill's passing.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Brad Pfaff (Democrat-32nd District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Brienne Brown (Democrat-43rd District), Representative Ryan M. Clancy (Democrat-19th District), and Representative Angelina M. Cruz (Democrat-62nd District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District), and Senator Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District), along with 21 other co-sponsors.
Jenna Jacobson has co-authored another 29 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Jacobson graduated from Purdue University in 2008 with a BA.
Jacobson, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 50th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Tony Kurtz.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB147 | 03/17/2025 | The right to repair agricultural equipment, and providing a penalty. (FE) |
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