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Bills from the 2009–10 session

Senate Bill 591

Termination of tenancy at death

Topics: Death, Landlord and tenant

Became law

The governor signed it on May 13, 2010. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Mar 4, 2010

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Apr 13, 2010

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 63 to 34

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2009 Wisconsin Act 323

Latest entry in the official record, May 14, 2010: “Published 5-26-2010”

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.

Under current law, a landlord may terminate the tenancy of a tenant for various reasons, such as nonpayment of rent, breaching a condition of the tenant's agreement, or upon notice from law enforcement that the rental premises is being used as a drug or criminal gang house. Current law allows a tenant to terminate his or her tenancy if he or she faces an imminent threat of serious physical harm from another person by remaining on the rental premises.

This bill provides that if a tenant dies during the term of his or her tenancy, the tenancy is terminated 60 days after the landlord receives notice, is advised, or otherwise becomes aware of the tenant's death, or at the end of the term of the rental agreement if that is shorter than 60 days. The deceased tenant and his or her estate are not liable for any rent after the tenancy is terminated. The tenant's death, however, does not relieve any other adult tenant of the premises from responsibility for payment of rent.

Who's behind it

Fred A. Risser, a Democrat, is its ⁠.

1 more lawmaker ⁠.

See all 2 names

Author (1)

Signed on in support (1)

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 Judiciary vote on an amendment

Passed, 4 to 1 · Apr 2, 2010

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

Official motion: “Report introduction and adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing, Ayes 4, Noes 1 by committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 63 to 34 · Apr 15, 2010

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 63, Noes 34”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. May 14, 2010

    The new law was published.

  2. May 13, 2010

    The governor signed it. It became 2009 Wisconsin Act 323.

  3. May 11, 2010

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Apr 15, 2010

    The Assembly passed it too, 63 to 34.

  5. Apr 13, 2010

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Apr 13, 2010

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Apr 13, 2010

    The Senate passed it.

  8. Apr 13, 2010

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Apr 2, 2010

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

  10. Mar 17, 2010

    The committee held a public hearing.

  11. Mar 4, 2010

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing.

  12. Mar 4, 2010

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Mar 4, 2010 · Senate

    Introduced by Senator Risser;Cosponsored by Representative Black

  2. Mar 4, 2010 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing

  3. Mar 17, 2010 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Apr 1, 2010 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  5. Apr 2, 2010 · Senate

    Report introduction and adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing, Ayes 4, Noes 1 by committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing

  6. Apr 2, 2010 · Senate

    Report introduction and adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing, Ayes 4, Noes 1 by committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing

  7. Apr 2, 2010 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  8. Apr 2, 2010 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  9. Apr 8, 2010 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 4-13-2010 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  10. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Read a second time

  11. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 adopted

  12. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Senate amendment 2 laid on table

  13. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  14. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  15. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed

  16. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  17. Apr 13, 2010 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  18. Apr 13, 2010 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  19. Apr 13, 2010 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 11:11 A.M. on 4-15-2010 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 22

  20. Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  21. Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  22. Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  23. Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 63, Noes 34

  24. Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  25. Apr 16, 2010 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  26. Apr 26, 2010 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled on 4-26-2010

  27. May 11, 2010 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 5-11-2010

  28. May 13, 2010 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 5-12-2010. 2009 Wisconsin Act 323

  29. May 14, 2010 · Senate

    Published 5-26-2010

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

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

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote

More in the glossary