Wisconsin State Sen. Dewey Strobel (R-Saukville) speaks during a press conference at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Thursday, June 22, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin. Photo by Joe Kosholek (via Wisconsin State Capitol)
Wisconsin Sen. Dewey Strobel (R-Cedarburg) proposed a 2013 law that would disenfranchise tenants who own more than a dozen rental properties in the state.
Mr. Strobel reported in his 2024 Statement of Economic Interests that he owns 12 different rental residential properties, including properties in Milwaukee, Cedarburg and Saukville. In 2013, Strobel sponsored Assembly Bill 183. This was one of many pro-landlord bills that year that greatly benefited landowners like him.
According to his own testimony on the bill, Strobel intentionally included rhetoric that would prevent cities from enacting laws that go beyond state law and require landlords to communicate with tenants. The bill also allowed landlords to withhold information from tenants about code violations, keep or sell personal property left behind by tenants without notice, and hold tenants liable for insect and pest infestations. .
Strobel’s bill would also speed up the legal process for evictions, shortening the duration of each stage and giving landlords a leg up by allowing landlords to request sheriffs to evict tenants more quickly. gave.
AB 183 also allowed landlords to evict tenants if a crime occurred on the premises, even if the tenant failed to stop the crime. In testimony opposing the bill, the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence argued that landlords can technically evict domestic violence victims.
“We oppose Assembly Bill 183 because it encourages lease clauses that punish crime victims and lead to crime victims being evicted from their homes simply for being victimized. ,” the testimony says. “Under this bill, landlords are free to include in their rental agreements the following language: “If a crime occurs on the premises, even if the tenant is the victim of the crime and the crime cannot be prevented.” Even if they don’t, the landlord can evict the tenant. This is completely unjust.”
Strobel’s personal attorney, Kirsten Fagerland Peszewski, testified in favor of the bill, arguing that it removed “onerous” requirements for landlords.
“I am an attorney in private practice in the state of Wisconsin and have been handling landlord-tenant matters, primarily on behalf of landlords, for over 15 years,” Peszewski testified. “I learned about this bill from Congressman Dewey Strobel, whom I have represented in landlord-tenant matters for several years.”
Court records show Mr. Pezewski helped Mr. Strobel evict several tenants in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
At the time, Strobel was criticized for presenting a conflict of interest in his bill. One of the provisions also eliminated the Landlord Registration Program, which required all commercial property owners to record ownership information with the city’s Neighborhood Services Department. As of 2024, Mr. Strobel owns four commercial rental properties in Ozaukee, Wisconsin.
The bill was signed into law by then-Governor of Wisconsin and became Wisconsin Act No. 76. Scott Walker (R), December 12, 2013.
Strobel is seeking a third term in the Wisconsin State Senate and is seeking re-election in the 8th District. According to Civic Media’s 2024 Voter Guide, this will be Strebel’s first full-fledged campaign in about 10 years, having run unopposed in 2016 and 2020. Civic Media is calling the race a toss-up as Strobel faces Democratic challenger Jody Habush Shinikin.
