Madison – Yesterday, Governor Evers signed AB 957 and AB 958 into law. Representative Billings introduced these bills with a bipartisan group of colleagues on the protecting kids task force and released the following statement in response:
“These bills will help keep our kids safe from online predators and I am thrilled that Governor Evers has signed this legislation into law. AB 957 and 958 add four law enforcement staff positions to the DOJ’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which will enable ICAC to address an increasing volume of tips about online crimes against Wisconsin’s kids.”
“Three of these positions are investigative and will help find and prosecute the predators who are targeting our children. ICAC serves as the clearinghouse for CyberTips about online crimes against kids, and the number of reports has increased rapidly over the past few years. In 2024, ICAC received 11,000 CyberTips, but in 2025, they received more than 18,000 CyberTips. ICAC already conducts over 2,500 investigations into crimes against children every year and by providing them with more investigative staff, they will be able to conduct more investigations and stop more predators. The fourth position created by these new laws is focused on outreach and educating parents about best practices. By building healthy habits with their children on the internet and social media, families will be empowered and can stay vigilant about online threats.”
“As a member of the Protecting Kids Task Force, I have learned a great deal from experts in the field about threats to our children online. I am grateful that representatives from the DOJ provided informative testimony that inspired me to pursue this legislation. While the Governor signing these bills into law is a huge step forward, I am not done working to promote children’s online safety. I am excited to continue this work next session because there is so much more that we can do to help keep kids safe.”
“I am sympathetic to the growing challenges that parents face. Technology is evolving so quickly and it is hard to keep up with developments in online gaming, social media, and messaging apps. The DOJ has reported that the number of cases of crimes against children online has increased significantly in recent years, and it can feel impossible for parents to keep up. By increasing education and outreach, we can provide parents with more support so they are not carrying this burden alone. I will continue the work that I have dedicated myself to in the Capitol over the past 15 years to support children and families in Wisconsin.”
