Legislature takes final votes of the year
Three amendments OK’d, one now goes to ballots
MADISON – Members of the Republican-led state Senate took their final scheduled votes for the year last week, sending a slate of bills to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
The GOP-led Assembly concluded its business late last month and, barring unexpected circumstances, lawmakers will not return to their respective chambers until next year — following their first election under a new set of electoral maps that will reshape down-ballot races in this battleground state.
Here are some of the bills on their way to the governor’s desk or voters’ ballots following the Senate’s final votes Tuesday:
On the ballot: More legislative oversight over federal dollars
Voters in August will be asked to weigh in on whether the state Constitution should be amended to prevent the governor from spending federal funds without legislative approval.
Constitutional amendments take effect only if approved by voters following passage by both chambers in two consecutive legislative sessions. The governor cannot veto a constitutional amendment.
Through round 1: Limiting DEI efforts
Both the Assembly and Senate have advanced a proposed constitutional amendment that would bar state and local governments from “discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, public contracting, or public administration.”
The proposal must clear both chambers of the Legislature again next session before going to voters.
Through round 1: Limiting governor’s veto power
Lawmakers in both chambers approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would bar governors from using a partial veto to increase any tax or fee. The bill must pass both chambers again next session before being put to voters.
Passed: Hmong American and Asian American education
Current state law requires school boards to provide instructional programming for an “understanding of human relations,” particularly in regard to American Indians, Black Americans and Hispanics. A bipartisan bill passed Tuesday would expand that to include Hmong Americans and Asian Americans.
Passed: Transgender athletic participation
A bill that would bar transgender girls attending K-12 schools from competing in sports designated for women is on its way to Evers, who said he will be “damn proud” to veto it.
Passed: Promoting Wisconsin-Ireland relations
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, a bill requiring the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to create an advisory “Wisconsin-Ireland Trade Commission” charged with advancing and promoting
“mutual economic interests between Wisconsin and the Republic of Ireland” awaits action from the governor.
Passed: Regulating AI in campaign ads
This bill would require campaign ads that contain synthetic media — “audio or video content substantially produced by means of generative artificial intelligence” — to include a disclaimer.
The words “contains content generated by AI” would be spoken at the beginning and end of radio ads. Video ads would include readable writing that audio or video content was generated by AI during the portion that contains it, at the beginning and end.
Passed: Protections for judges
Both legislative chambers have approved a set of three bills designed to strengthen protections for judges as they face heightened threats to their safety. One bill would make it a Class A misdemeanor to picket or demonstrate near a judge’s home “with the intent to interfere with, obstruct, or impede the administration of justice.”
Two others would allow judges to limit the amount of personal information, including addresses, available to the public.
Passed: School safety positions
With overwhelming bipartisan support, both chambers have approved a bill that will add 14 positions to the Department of Justice’s Office of School Safety next year.
“This bill will ensure that the office is able to keep operating through the next state budget and the entirety of the 2024-25 school year, and we look forward to continuing to work with legislators to secure longterm funding for this office,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul in a statement.