Wisconsin State Assembly
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 17 (online or mail), or Nov. 2 (in-person)
- Early voting: Varies by locality
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
| Wisconsin State Assembly | |
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| General Information | |
| Party control: | Republican |
| Session start: | January 6, 2025 |
| Session end: | December 31, 2025 |
| Term length: | 2 years |
| Term limits: | None |
| Redistricting: | Legislative control |
| Salary: | $57,408/year + per diem |
| Members | |
| Total: | 99 |
| Democrats: | 45 |
| Republicans: | 54 |
| Other: | 0 |
| Vacancies: | 0 |
| Leadership | |
| Speaker: | Robin Vos (R) |
| Maj. Leader: | Tyler August (R) |
| Min. Leader: | Greta Neubauer (D) |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 8, 2016 |
| Next election: | November 6, 2018 |
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower chamber of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Alongside the Wisconsin State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the Wisconsin state government and works alongside the governor of Wisconsin to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Wisconsin State Assembly include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.
What you will find on this page
This page contains information on the Wisconsin State Assembly that is curated and updated by Ballotpedia staff. Click on the arrows (▼) below for information and research on party control, elections, members, legislation, sessions, procedures, committees, and districts.
Party Control: current and historical information on party control of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Party control
Current partisan control
The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Wisconsin State Assembly as of November 2025:
| Party | As of November 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 45 | |
| Republican Party | 54 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 99 | |
History of partisan control
Republicans won control of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2010. In 2024, they won a 54-45 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Wisconsin State Assembly following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Wisconsin State Assembly election results: 1992-2024
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 | '24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 52 | 48 | 47 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 39 | 47 | 52 | 38 | 39 | 36 | 35 | 36 | 38 | 35 | 45 |
| Republicans | 47 | 51 | 52 | 55 | 56 | 58 | 60 | 52 | 46 | 60 | 60 | 63 | 64 | 63 | 61 | 64 | 54 |
Trifecta history
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Republicans in Wisconsin gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 2010 elections, when the governorship and both legislative chambers switched to Republican control. Republicans also had trifectas in the state in 1995 and 1998. Democrats held a trifecta following the 2008 elections. The table below shows state government trifectas in Wisconsin from 1992 to 2017.
Wisconsin Party Control: 1992-2025
Two years of Democratic trifectas • Ten years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | R | R | R | D | D | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Elections: election data from 2000 to the present
Elections
Elections by year
Wisconsin state Assembly members serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Wisconsin holds elections for its legislature in even years.
2026
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2026
Elections for the Wisconsin State Assembly will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.
2024
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2024
Elections for the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was August 13, 2024. The filing deadline was June 3, 2024.
In the 2024 elections, Republicans lost 10 seats but maintained their majority in the Wisconsin State Assembly. The Republican majority went from 64-34 to 54-45.
| Wisconsin State Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2024 | After November 6, 2024 | |
| Democratic Party | 34 | 45 | |
| Republican Party | 64 | 54 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 99 | 99 | |
2022
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2022
Elections for the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for August 9, 2022. The filing deadline was June 1, 2022.
In the 2022 elections, the Republican majority in the Wisconsin State Assembly increased from 57-38 with four vacancies to 64-35.
| Wisconsin State Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 8, 2022 | After November 9, 2022 | |
| Democratic Party | 38 | 35 | |
| Republican Party | 57 | 64 | |
| Vacancy | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 99 | 99 | |
2020
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2020
Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline was June 1, 2020.
In the 2020 elections, the Republican majority in the Wisconsin State Assembly was reduced from 63-34 with two vacancies to 61-38.
| Wisconsin State Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 34 | 38 | |
| Republican Party | 63 | 61 | |
| Vacancy | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 99 | 99 | |
2018
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2018
Elections for the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on August 14, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018.[1] The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2018.
In the 2018 elections, the Republican majority in the Wisconsin State Assembly was reduced from 64-35 to 63-36.
| Wisconsin State Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 6, 2018 | After November 7, 2018 | |
| Democratic Party | 35 | 36 | |
| Republican Party | 64 | 63 | |
| Total | 99 | 99 | |
2016
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2016
Elections for the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016. All 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election in 2016.
Heading into the election, Republicans held a 63-36 majority. Republicans gained one seat in the election, giving them a 64-35 majority.
| Wisconsin State Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 7, 2016 | After November 8, 2016 | |
| Democratic Party | 36 | 35 | |
| Republican Party | 63 | 64 | |
| Total | 99 | 99 | |
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2014
Elections for all 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 12, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 2, 2014. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 60-38 majority with one independent member. Republicans gained three seats in the election, giving them a 63-36 majority.
2012
Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2012. The primary election was held on August 14, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was July 10, 2012. All 99 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 58-39 majority with one independent member and one vacancy. Republicans gained two seats in the election, giving them a 60-39 majority.
The table below details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election in 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2010. The primary election was held on September 14, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was July 13, 2010. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 50-45 majority with two independent members and two vacancies. Democrats lost 12 seats in the election, giving Republicans a 60-38 majority with one independent member.
In 2010, the candidates for state Assembly raised a total of $7,619,470 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:[2]
2008
Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly consisted of a primary election on September 9, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to Assembly candidates was $8,861,552. The top 10 contributors were:[3]
2006
Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly consisted of a primary election on September 12, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Assembly candidates was $6,451,473. The top 10 contributors were:[4]
2004
Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly consisted of a primary election on September 14, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to Assembly candidates was $6,098,873. The top 10 contributors were:[5]
2002
Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly consisted of a primary election on September 10, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Assembly candidates was $4,168,776. The top 10 contributors were:[6]
2000
Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly consisted of a primary election on September 12, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to Assembly candidates was $6,788,646. The top 10 contributors were:[7]
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Members: current leadership and membership list and information on salaries and qualifications
Members
Leadership
The speaker of the Assembly is the presiding officer of the body and is elected by its membership. Duties of the speaker include appointing members to legislative committees, authenticating acts, orders, and proceedings of the Assembly, and supervising all other officers of the Assembly. In the absence of the speaker, the speaker pro tempore assumes all duties of the position.[8][9]
Current leadership and members
- Speaker of the Assembly: Robin Vos (R)
- Majority leader: Tyler August (R)
- Minority leader: Greta Neubauer (D)
| Current members, Wisconsin State Assembly (99) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| District | Representative | Party | Assumed office |
| 1 | Joel Kitchens | Republican | 2015 |
| 2 | Andre Jacque | Republican | 2011 |
| 3 | Ron Tusler | Republican | 2017 |
| 4 | David Steffen | Republican | 2015 |
| 5 | Jim Steineke | Republican | 2011 |
| 6 | Gary Tauchen | Republican | 2007 |
| 7 | Daniel Riemer | Democratic | 2013 |
| 8 | JoCasta Zamarripa | Democratic | 2011 |
| 9 | Josh Zepnick | Democratic | 2003 |
| 10 | David Bowen | Democratic | 2015 |
| 11 | Jason Fields | Democratic | 2017 |
| 12 | Frederick P. Kessler | Democratic | 2005 |
| 13 | Rob Hutton | Republican | 2013 |
| 14 | Dale Kooyenga | Republican | 2011 |
| 15 | Joe Sanfelippo | Republican | 2013 |
| 16 | Leon D. Young | Democratic | 1993 |
| 17 | David Crowley | Democratic | 2017 |
| 18 | Evan Goyke | Democratic | 2013 |
| 19 | Jonathan Brostoff | Democratic | 2015 |
| 20 | Christine Sinicki | Democratic | 1999 |
| 21 | Jessie Rodriguez | Republican | 2013 |
| 22 | Janel Brandtjen | Republican | 2015 |
| 23 | Jim Ott | Republican | 2007 |
| 24 | Daniel Knodl | Republican | 2009 |
| 25 | Paul Tittl | Republican | 2013 |
| 26 | Terry Katsma | Republican | 2015 |
| 27 | Tyler Vorpagel | Republican | 2015 |
| 28 | Adam Jarchow | Republican | 2015 |
| 29 | Rob Stafsholt | Republican | 2017 |
| 30 | Shannon Zimmerman | Republican | 2017 |
| 31 | Amy Loudenbeck | Republican | 2011 |
| 32 | Tyler August | Republican | 2011 |
| 33 | Cody Horlacher | Republican | 2015 |
| 34 | Rob Swearingen | Republican | 2013 |
| 35 | Mary Felzkowski | Republican | 2013 |
| 36 | Jeffrey Mursau | Republican | 2005 |
| 37 | John Jagler | Republican | 2013 |
| 38 | Joel Kleefisch | Republican | 2005 |
| 39 | Mark Born | Republican | 2013 |
| 40 | Kevin Petersen | Republican | 2007 |
| 41 | Joan Ballweg | Republican | 2011 |
| 42 | Jon Plumer | Republican | 2018 |
| 43 | Don Vruwink | Democratic | 2017 |
| 44 | Debra Kolste | Democratic | 2013 |
| 45 | Mark Spreitzer | Democratic | 2015 |
| 46 | Gary Hebl | Democratic | 2005 |
| 47 | Jimmy Anderson | Democratic | 2017 |
| 48 | Melissa Sargent | Democratic | 2013 |
| 49 | Travis Tranel | Republican | 2011 |
| 50 | Ed Brooks | Republican | 2009 |
| 51 | Todd Novak | Republican | 2015 |
| 52 | Jeremy Thiesfeldt | Republican | 2011 |
| 53 | Michael Schraa | Republican | 2013 |
| 54 | Gordon Hintz | Democratic | 2007 |
| 55 | Mike Rohrkaste | Republican | 2015 |
| 56 | Dave Murphy | Republican | 2013 |
| 57 | Amanda Stuck | Democratic | 2015 |
| 58 | Rick Gundrum | Republican | 2018 |
| 59 | Jesse Kremer | Republican | 2015 |
| 60 | Robert Brooks | Republican | 2015 |
| 61 | Samantha Kerkman | Republican | 2001 |
| 62 | Tom Weatherston | Republican | 2013 |
| 63 | Robin Vos | Republican | 2005 |
| 64 | Peter Barca | Democratic | 2009 |
| 65 | Tod Ohnstad | Democratic | 2013 |
| 66 | Greta Neubauer | Democratic | 2018 |
| 67 | Rob Summerfield | Republican | 2017 |
| 68 | Kathy Bernier | Republican | 2011 |
| 69 | Bob Kulp | Republican | 2013 |
| 70 | Nancy VanderMeer | Republican | 2015 |
| 71 | Katrina Shankland | Democratic | 2013 |
| 72 | Scott Krug | Republican | 2011 |
| 73 | Nick Milroy | Democratic | 2009 |
| 74 | Beth Meyers | Democratic | 2015 |
| 75 | Romaine Quinn | Republican | 2015 |
| 76 | Chris Taylor | Democratic | 2011 |
| 77 | Terese Berceau | Democratic | 1999 |
| 78 | Lisa Subeck | Democratic | 2015 |
| 79 | Dianne Hesselbein | Democratic | 2013 |
| 80 | Sondy Pope | Democratic | 2003 |
| 81 | Dave Considine | Democratic | 2015 |
| 82 | Ken Skowronski | Republican | 2014 |
| 83 | Chuck Wichgers | Republican | 2017 |
| 84 | Mike Kuglitsch | Republican | 2011 |
| 85 | Patrick Snyder | Republican | 2017 |
| 86 | John Spiros | Republican | 2013 |
| 87 | James Edming | Republican | 2015 |
| 88 | John Macco | Republican | 2015 |
| 89 | John Nygren | Republican | 2007 |
| 90 | Eric Genrich | Democratic | 2013 |
| 91 | Dana Wachs | Democratic | 2013 |
| 92 | Treig Pronschinske | Republican | 2017 |
| 93 | Warren Petryk | Republican | 2011 |
| 94 | Steve Doyle | Democratic | 2011 |
| 95 | Jill Billings | Democratic | 2011 |
| 96 | Lee A. Nerison | Republican | 2005 |
| 97 | Scott Allen | Republican | 2015 |
| 98 | Adam Neylon | Republican | 2013 |
| 99 | Cindi Duchow | Republican | 2015 |
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[10] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $57,408/year | $140/day for senators. Dane County senators are allowed half that amount. $155.70/day (with overnight) or $77.85/day (no overnight) for representatives. Dane County representatives receive only $77.85/day. |
When sworn in
Wisconsin legislators assume office the first Monday in January following the election.
Membership qualifications
Section 6 of Article 4 of the Wisconsin Constitution states, "No person shall be eligible to the legislature who shall not have resided one year within the state, and be a qualified elector in the district which he may be chosen to represent."
Legislation: all legislation passed by the chamber in the current or most recent legislative session
Legislation
The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Wisconsin State Assembly has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Assembly to the Senate and legislation that has already been approved by both chambers and signed by the governor. Information on legislation provided below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. The tracker is fully interactive. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read its text in full and see its voting history. You can click the headings to sort the content in the column. You can also rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Finally, in the bottom-left corner of the tracker is a magnifying glass, which, when clicked, will allow you to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.
Sessions: legislative sessions dates, special sessions, and key events
Sessions
About legislative sessions in Wisconsin
The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[11] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.
Article IV of the Wisconsin Constitution contains provisions related to the meeting of the Wisconsin State Legislature, of which the Assembly is a part. Section 11 of Article IV states that the times for regular sessions are to be provided by law. Section 11 also states that the Governor of Wisconsin has the power to call the Legislature into special session.
Dates of legislative sessions in Wisconsin by year
2025
In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 6, 2025, and adjourn on December 31, 2025.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 16, 2024, and adjourn on March 12, 2024. 2023In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2023, and adjourn on January 6, 2025. 2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 18, 2022, and adjourn on March 8, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2021, and adjourn on December 31, 2021. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 14, 2020, and adjourn on May 13, 2020.
Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. On April 3, 2020, Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced he was signing an executive order calling the legislature to meet in a special session beginning at 4:00 PM on April 4, 2020, to discuss changes to the spring election.The legislature adjourned without taking action on Evers' proposal. Evers issued another executive order on April 6, 2020, calling on the state legislature to convene a special session on April 7, 2020, again to consider changes to the state's spring election. The legislature again adjourned without taking action on Evers' proposal. The legislature convened for another special session on April 14, 2020. The legislature adjourned on May 13, 2020.[12] 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 7, 2019, through December 31, 2019. 2018In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 16, 2018, through March 22, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017
In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2017, through December 31, 2017. The legislature began a special session on August 1, 2017, over a tax incentive package for Foxconn.
2016
In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 12 through March 15. 2015
In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 5 through December 31. Major issues in 2015Like many states, the issue that topped the Wisconsin State Legislature's to-do list was the state's budget. Wisconsin faced a $2.2 million budget shortfall, and lawmakers were forced to address the issue before any other projects. The Republican agenda also focused on reducing the size of government, tax cuts, entitlement reform, and school accountability. The Democrats, on the other hand, emphasized their interest in raising the minimum wage and income inequality. 2014
In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 14 through June 4. Major issues in 2014Major issues during the 2014 legislative session included income tax, public school funding, health care, and jobs.[25] 2013
In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 7 to December 31. Major issues in 2013Following the extreme polarization of the previous two years, Gov. Scott Walker (R) said he would push for a more moderate agenda in 2013. Alongside the creation of a new budget, main issues included job creation, workforce development, tax cuts, education reform, and transportation infrastructure.[26] 2012
In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 10 through March 16 with a return for limited business on April 24. Major issues in 2012With potential recalls of Governor Scott Walker (R), Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch (R) and four Republican state senators, debate on major legislation was expected to be limited. Going into the session, Republican leaders said they were focused on passing bills on only four main issues - clearing the way for an ore mine in northern Wisconsin, easing laws regarding development on wetlands, environmental regulation, and creating a venture capital fund to help start-up businesses.[27] The six recalls dominated the session. Ultimately on June 5, 2012, recalls against the Governor, Lt. Governor, and three of the state senators were unsuccessful. The fourth recall, that against Van Wanggaard, went to a recount. Wanggaard was defeated, giving Democrats control of the Senate. 2011
In 2011, the legislature adjourned a special session at the request of Governor Scott Walker (R) on January 4, 2011. The special session was called to consider legislation regarding tax credits, tort law, medical savings accounts, other legislation relating to taxation, and the budget repair bill. The legislature's special session was ongoing. The regular session began on January 11. An extraordinary session was called by the legislature from June 13-30, with another extraordinary session held from July 19-29. [28] 2010
In 2010, the legislature convened its legislative session on January 19, and it ended its last scheduled floor-period on April 22.[29] |
Procedures: rules and procedures for veto overrides, the budget, and vacancies
Procedures
Every state legislature throughout the country features it own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, and procedures for filling membership vacancies.
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Wisconsin are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.
| Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 66 of the 99 members in the Wisconsin State Assembly and 22 of the 33 members in the Wisconsin State Senate. Wisconsin is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
Authority: Article V, Section 10 of the Wisconsin Constitution.
| "(2) (a) If the governor rejects the bill, the governor shall return the bill, together with the objections in writing, to the house in which the bill originated. The house of origin shall enter the objections at large upon the journal and proceed to reconsider the bill. If, after such reconsideration, two−thirds of the members present agree to pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of the governor, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two−thirds of the members present it shall become law." |
Role in state budget
- See also: Wisconsin state budget and finances
| Wisconsin on |
Wisconsin operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[30]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in June.
- State agencies submit budget requests in September.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the Wisconsin State Legislature in January or February.
- The legislature adopts a budget in June or July. A simple majority is needed to pass a budget.
- The biennial budget cycle begins July 1.
Wisconsin is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[30][31]
The governor is constitutionally and statutorily required to submit a balanced budget. In addition, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.[30]
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Wisconsin State Legislature, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat.[32] The governor can call for an election when allowed by law. The election cannot be held after February 1 before a spring general election, unless it is held on the same day of the election, which is the first Tuesday in April. The same requirement applies to any election preceding the fall general election (after August 1), with the exception of elections held on the first Tuesday in November.[33] Also, all vacancies must be filled quickly as long the vacancy happened before the second Tuesday in May during an election year.[34]
See sources: Wisconsin Cons. Art. IV, § 14
Committees: role and list of current committees
Committees
Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.
- Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
- Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
- Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.
Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Wisconsin State Assembly has 43 standing committees:
- Aging and Long-Term Care
- Agriculture
- Assembly Organization
- Audit
- Campaigns and Elections
- Children and Families
- Colleges and Universities
- Constitution and Ethics
- Consumer Protection
- Corrections
- Criminal Justice and Public Safety
- Education
- Employment Relations
- Energy and Utilities
- Environment and Forestry
- Family Law
- Federalism and Interstate Relations
- Finance
- Financial Institutions
- Government Accountability and Oversight
- Health
- Housing and Real Estate
- Insurance
- Jobs and the Economy
- Judiciary
- Labor
- Local Government
- Mental Health
- Mining and Rural Development
- Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage
- Public Benefit Reform
- Regulatory Licensing Reform
- Review of Administrative Rules
- Rules
- Science and Technology
- Small Business Development
- State Affairs
- Tourism
- Transportation
- Urban Revitalization
- Veterans and Military Affairs
- Ways and Means
- Workforce Development
Districts
- See also: Wisconsin state legislative districts
The state of Wisconsin has 99 state Assembly districts. Each district elects one representative.
Use the interactive map below to find your district.
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Wisconsin State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[35]
The Wisconsin Constitution requires that state legislative districts be compact and "that they be bounded by county, precinct, town, or ward lines where possible." The state constitution further stipulates that state legislative districts should be contiguous.[35]
2010
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Wisconsin's population increased from 5.36 million to 5.69 million between 2000 and 2010.[36] This population growth was large enough to allow the state to retain its eight Congressional seats.[37]
Republicans held the majority in the State Senate, State Assembly, and the governorship after the 2010 elections. As a result, the redistricting process was completely under the control of one party.
The Republican leadership dismissed the Democratic-hired firm that was going to aid with redistricting and instead brought in an outside group to aid the process. This new firm's leader had donated to Republican candidates in the past.[38] The redistricting process was accelerated by the summer 2011 recall elections, and Governor Scott Walker signed a bill that gave the legislature the power to redistrict state boundaries before the localities finished their redistricting processes.[39] The state Republicans unveiled their plan on July 8, 2011. Democrats criticized the plan as gerrymandering, but Republicans defended their map.[40] The maps passed the legislature on July 19, 2011, and signed into law by Governor Walker on August 9, 2011.[41]
Several lawsuits were filed as a result of the new maps.[42] The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board identified errors in the maps, likely due to the creation of the state boundaries before the localities finished drawing their boundaries. A court also determined that two Milwaukee-area districts needed to be redrawn to better represent minority-area populations.[43]
See also
| Elections | Wisconsin State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
Footnotes
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Elections," accessed June 9, 2017
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Wisconsin Assembly 2010 Campaign Contributions," accessed August 14, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Wisconsin 2008 Candidates," accessed August 14, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Wisconsin 2006 Candidates," accessed August 14, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Wisconsin 2004 Candidates," accessed August 14, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Wisconsin 2002 Candidates," accessed August 14, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Wisconsin 2000 Candidates," accessed August 14, 2013
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Rules of the Wisconsin Assembly," accessed August 9, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Assembly Leadership," accessed August 9, 2014
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed May 20, 2017
- ↑ Twitter, "Tony Evers on March 3, 2020," accessed March 3, 2020
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Wisconsin State Journal, "It's July and the state still doesn't have a budget. What happens?" July 2, 2017
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin lawmakers will miss budget deadline as talks slow," June 24, 2017
- ↑ WBAY, "The Latest: Committee approves $76 billion Wisconsin Budget," September 6, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Public Radio, "State Legislature Approves Delayed State Budget," September 15, 2017
- ↑ Reuters, "Wisconsin governor signs overdue budget into law," September 21, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Public Radio, "Wisconsin Misses Budget Deadline As Squabbling Continues At The Capitol," July 3, 2017
- ↑ Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin Assembly sends $3 billion Foxconn incentive package to Scott Walker," September 14, 2017
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Scott Walker just approved $3 billion deal for a new Foxconn factory in Wisconsin," September 18, 2017
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Foxconn to locate Wisconsin plant in Mount Pleasant," October 4, 2017
- ↑ Journal Sentinel, "How would the Wisconsin Foxconn deal work? Here are some answers," August 16, 2017
- ↑ Legislative Fiscal Bureau, "August 2017 Special Session Assembly Bill 1: Foxconn/Fiserv Legislation," August 8, 2017(Archived)
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "State would recoup Foxconn investment in 25 years, estimate shows," August 9, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Realtors Association, "2014 Election Themes Take Shape," accessed January 14, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "With state bitterly divided, Walker promises more moderate agenda," January 7, 2013
- ↑ Appleton Post Crescent, "Wisconsin legislative agenda influenced by negative effects of recalls," January 16, 2012
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," December 19, 2011
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislative Sessions Calendar," December 8, 2010
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed February 9, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 17.19 (1), Wisconsin Statutes)
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 8.50, Wisconsin Statutes)
- ↑ Wisconsin Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 8.50(4)-(d), Wisconsin Statutes)
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 All About Redistricting, "Wisconsin," accessed May 7, 2015
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Wisconsin Profile," accessed August 9, 2014
- ↑ Northland's News Center, "Minnesota and Wisconsin Both to Keep Eight Seats in House," December 21, 2010
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Democrats cry foul over GOP hiring law firms" January 5, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Walker allows new legislative mapping, doesn't OK actual maps yet," July 25, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Parties joust over Wisconsin redistricting plan," July 13, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Walker signs legislation to redraw district boundaries," August 9, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin's redistricting trial goes to judges," February 24, 2012
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Court strikes down GOP redistricting, orders just 2 districts redrawn," March 22, 2012
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