AB-672/ SB-650: Penalty Enhancer Targeting Speech

The ACLU of Wisconsin appreciates the bill authors’ commitment to defending the constitutionally protected free speech, expression, and belief of all people. While the bill is intended to target acts of transnational repression (TNR), the overbroad language and undefined terms in the bill raise significant First Amendment concerns and risk targeting the very communities this bill intends to protect. Further, Wisconsin law already provides a penalty enhancer for crimes that target an individual based on race, religion, color, national origin, or ancestry.