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Bills from the 2009–10 session

Senate Bill 200

Products containing mercury and granting rule-making authority

Topics: Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Department of, Farm and farming, Housing, Natural Resources, Department of: Environmental protection, Parochial and private educational institutions, Personal property, Public safety, Sales, School

Became law

The governor signed it on Oct 6, 2009. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    May 14, 2009

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Sep 22, 2009

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 89 to 5

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2009 Wisconsin Act 44

Latest entry in the official record, Oct 9, 2009: “Published 10-20-2009.”

Read the bill

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What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill regulates the sale of products to which mercury has been added during formulation and manufacture (mercury-added products), including fever thermometers, manometers (instruments for measuring pressure), thermostats, instruments and measuring devices, switches and relays, and household items.

Under the bill, fever thermometers containing mercury may be sold only upon a prescription, and must contain instructions for use and disposal and cleanup if the thermometer breaks. The bill prohibits the sale of manometers that contain mercury. Under the bill, manufacturers of manometers that contain mercury and that are the type in milking machines must notify wholesalers and retailers of the prohibition and provide instructions for disposal of remaining inventory. The bill also prohibits the sale of certain products containing mercury, including thermostats, other instruments and switches, and household items such as toys, clothing, and cosmetics.

Read the full summary

The bill authorizes a manufacturer or user of certain mercury-added products to petition the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for an exemption from the bill's prohibitions. DNR may grant such an exemption only if the petitioner establishes certain facts, including that technically feasible nonmercury alternatives are not available at comparable cost.

This bill prohibits a public, private, or charter school from knowingly purchasing or using free-flowing elemental mercury for any purpose, or, with certain exceptions, from knowingly purchasing or using a mercury-containing compound or an instrument or measuring device containing mercury. Beginning January 1, 2012, the bill prohibits a public, private, or charter school from knowingly storing free-flowing elemental mercury or, with certain exceptions, from storing a mercury-containing compound or an instrument or measuring device containing mercury.

A public, private, or charter school may purchase, use, or store a mercury-containing compound or an instrument or measuring device containing mercury if one of the following exceptions applies:

1. The purchase or use of the compound, instrument, or measuring device is required under federal law.

2. The only mercury-added component in the instrument or measuring device is a button cell battery.

3. No reasonably acceptable, mercury-free alternative exists, in which case, only a compound, instrument, or measuring device that contains the lowest mercury content available may be used.

Who's behind it

11 senators are its ⁠. 10 are Democrats and 1 is a Republican.

23 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 34 names

Authors (11)

Signed on in support (23)

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 were 2 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Small Business vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Sep 3, 2009

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 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 89 to 5 · Sep 22, 2009

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 89, Noes 5, Paired 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Oct 9, 2009

    The new law was published.

  2. Oct 6, 2009

    The governor signed it. It became 2009 Wisconsin Act 44.

  3. Oct 5, 2009

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Sep 22, 2009

    The Assembly passed it too, 89 to 5.

  5. Sep 22, 2009

    “Read” (the official wording)

  6. Sep 22, 2009

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Sep 22, 2009

    The Senate passed it.

  8. Sep 22, 2009

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Sep 3, 2009

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.

  10. Sep 3, 2009

    “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  11. Sep 3, 2009

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  12. Sep 2, 2009

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  13. Aug 13, 2009

    The committee held a public hearing.

  14. Jun 10, 2009

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  15. May 18, 2009

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  16. May 14, 2009

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection.

  17. May 14, 2009

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. May 14, 2009 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Jauch, Coggs, Cowles, Lassa, Lehman, Miller, Risser, Robson, Sullivan, Taylor and Wirch;Cosponsored by Representatives Danou, Black, Benedict, Berceau, Bernard Schaber, Dexter, Hebl, Hilgenberg, Hintz, Hixson, Milroy, A. Ott, Parisi, Pasch, Pocan, Pope-Roberts, Richards, Roys, Sinicki, Smith, Spanbauer and Steinbrink

  2. May 14, 2009 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection

  3. May 18, 2009 · Senate

    Representative Mason added as a cosponsor

  4. Jun 10, 2009 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Aug 13, 2009 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  6. Aug 13, 2009 · Senate

    Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Jauch

  7. Aug 31, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 to Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Jauch

  8. Sep 2, 2009 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  9. Sep 2, 2009 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  10. Sep 3, 2009 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  11. Sep 3, 2009 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  12. Sep 3, 2009 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  13. Sep 3, 2009 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  14. Sep 16, 2009 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 9-22-2009 by committee on Senate Organization

  15. Sep 22, 2009 · Senate

    Read a second time

  16. Sep 22, 2009 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 to Senate substitute amendment 1 adopted

  17. Sep 22, 2009 · Senate

    Senate substitute amendment 1 adopted

  18. Sep 22, 2009 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  19. Sep 22, 2009 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  20. Sep 22, 2009 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed

  21. Sep 22, 2009 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  22. Sep 22, 2009 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  23. Sep 22, 2009 · Assembly

    Read

  24. Sep 22, 2009 · Assembly

    Rules suspended and taken up

  25. Sep 22, 2009 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  26. Sep 22, 2009 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  27. Sep 22, 2009 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  28. Sep 22, 2009 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 89, Noes 5, Paired 2

  29. Sep 22, 2009 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  30. Sep 23, 2009 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  31. Sep 28, 2009 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled on 9-28-2009

  32. Oct 5, 2009 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 10-5-2009

  33. Oct 6, 2009 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 10-6-2009. 2009 Wisconsin Act 44

  34. Oct 9, 2009 · Senate

    Published 10-20-2009.

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

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