Senate Bill 172
Limiting a city's and village's use of direct annexation and authorizing limited town challenges to an annexation
Topics: Court, Municipality: Annexation, Town, Village
Became law
The governor signed it on May 18, 2010. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Apr 23, 2009
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Apr 15, 2010
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Apr 20, 2010
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2009 Wisconsin Act 366
Latest entry in the official record, May 20, 2010: “Published 6-1-2010”
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Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Currently, town territory that is contiguous to any city or village may be annexed to that city or village under several methods if, in general, some of the city's or village's territory is in the same county as the territory to be annexed, unless both the town and county boards approve of the proposed annexation, and the city or village agrees to make limited payments to the town based on property taxes that the town levied on the annexed territory.
Three of the methods of annexation include the following: 1) direct annexation, under which a petition for annexation that was signed by the required number of electors and landowners is filed with the city or village clerk; 2) annexation by referendum, under which a petition for referendum that was signed by the required number of electors and landowners is filed with the city or village clerk, and a referendum is held and passes in the town; and 3) annexation by court order and referendum, under which the governing body of a city or village adopts a resolution declaring its intention to apply to the circuit court for an order for an annexation referendum.
Read the full summary Show less
Another method of annexation is direct annexation by unanimous approval. If a petition for direct annexation by unanimous approval signed by all of the electors residing in the territory and the owners of all of the real property in the territory is filed with the city or village clerk and the town clerk of all of the involved towns, along with a scale map and legal description of the property to be annexed, the governing body of the city or village may, generally, annex the property by a two-thirds vote of the body. Such an annexation, however, is subject to Department of Administration advisory review as if the annexation petition were for direct, but not unanimous, annexation or annexation by referendum.
Generally, cities and villages may also annex territory that is owned by the city or village and that lies near but not necessarily contiguous to the city or village by enacting an ordinance to annex such territory.
This bill limits the use of direct annexation by unanimous approval to town land that is contiguous to the annexing city or village.
Under current law, a town may not challenge in court, on any grounds, any direct annexation by unanimous approval as well as several other types of annexations. Under this bill, a town may challenge direct annexation by unanimous approval, as well as several other types of annexations, including annexation by referendum initiated by a city or village and annexation of city-owned or village-owned territory, but only on the issue of whether the territory proposed for annexation is contiguous to the annexing city or village.
Who's behind it
3 senators are its . 2 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.
15 more lawmakers .
See all 18 names Hide the names
Authors (3)
- Alan Lasee · Republican, Senate
- Jim Holperin · Democrat, Senate
- Dale Schultz · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (15)
- Alvin Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Garey Bies · Republican, Assembly
- Edward Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Fred Clark · Democrat, Assembly
- Chris Danou · Democrat, Assembly
- Scott Gunderson · Republican, Assembly
- Steve Hilgenberg · Democrat, Assembly
- Andy Jorgensen · Democrat, Assembly
- Samantha Kerkman · Republican, Assembly
- Daniel LeMahieu · Republican, Assembly
- Kevin Petersen · Republican, Assembly
- Keith Ripp · Republican, Assembly
- Roger Roth · Republican, Senate
- John Townsend · Republican, Assembly
- Robin Vos · Republican, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
Versions and amendments
Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Labor vote on an amendment
Passed, 5 to 0 · Apr 9, 2010
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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May 20, 2010
The new law was published.
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May 18, 2010
The governor signed it. It became 2009 Wisconsin Act 366.
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May 13, 2010
Sent to the governor.
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Apr 20, 2010
The Assembly passed it too.
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Apr 15, 2010
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Apr 15, 2010
The Assembly received it.
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Apr 15, 2010
The Senate passed it.
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Apr 15, 2010
The Senate adopted it.
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Apr 9, 2010
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Apr 9, 2010
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Apr 9, 2010
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Feb 17, 2010
The committee held a public hearing.
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Nov 17, 2009
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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May 8, 2009
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Apr 23, 2009
Sent to the Senate Committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs.
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Apr 23, 2009
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Apr 23, 2009 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Holperin, A. Lasee and Schultz;Cosponsored by Representatives Jorgensen, Clark, Danou, Hilgenberg, Bies, Brooks, Gunderson, Kerkman, LeMahieu, A. Ott, Petersen, Ripp, Roth, Townsend and Vos
- Apr 23, 2009 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs
- May 8, 2009 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Nov 17, 2009 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Feb 17, 2010 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Apr 2, 2010 · Senate
Senate amendment 1 offered by Senator Holperin
- Apr 7, 2010 · Senate
Senate amendment 2 offered by Senator Holperin
- Apr 8, 2010 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Apr 9, 2010 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Apr 9, 2010 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Apr 9, 2010 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Apr 9, 2010 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Apr 14, 2010 · Senate
Placed on calendar 4-15-2010 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Apr 15, 2010 · Senate
Read a second time
- Apr 15, 2010 · Senate
Senate amendment 1 withdrawn and returned to author
- Apr 15, 2010 · Senate
Senate amendment 2 adopted
- Apr 15, 2010 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Apr 15, 2010 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Apr 15, 2010 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Apr 15, 2010 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 11:35 A.M. on 4-20-2010 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 23
- Apr 20, 2010 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Apr 20, 2010 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Apr 20, 2010 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Apr 20, 2010 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Apr 20, 2010 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Apr 21, 2010 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- May 3, 2010 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled on 5-3-2010
- May 13, 2010 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 5-13-2010
- May 18, 2010 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 5-18-2010. 2009 Wisconsin Act 366
- May 20, 2010 · Senate
Published 6-1-2010
Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote