WI AB1119

Tenants may withhold rent in full when premises have conditions affecting health, safety, or substantial use of the property, removing the current prohibition against full rent withholding while remaining in possession

Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) must create a rent abatement schedule by rule specifying qualifying items and corresponding abatement amounts

Landlord actions such as rent increases, service reductions, eviction filings, or lease non-renewals are presumed retaliatory if the tenant complained about defects or exercised legal rights within the preceding 12 months

Reasonable rent abatement is explicitly added to the list of protected tenant activities that cannot trigger landlord retaliation

Landlords may still pursue eviction for non-payment of rent, but cannot evict based on tenant's lawful rent abatement under these provisions