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Bills from the 2011–12 session

Senate Bill 117

Venue for actions and appeals in which the sole defendant is the state, a state board or commission, or certain state officers, employees, or agents

Topics: Circuit court, Claims, County, Court: Appellate, Court: Procedure, Dane County, Prison

Became law

The governor signed it on Nov 11, 2011. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    May 31, 2011

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Oct 25, 2011

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 58 to 34

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2011 Wisconsin Act 61

Latest entry in the official record, Nov 11, 2011: “Published 11-23-2011”

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, all actions in which the sole defendant is the state, a state board or commission, or certain state officers, employees, or agents must be brought in Dane County. This bill permits the plaintiff to designate the county within which to bring the action.

Under current law, the state is divided into ten judicial administrative districts;

Read the full summary

each judicial administrative district is comprised of one or more judicial circuits, or counties, containing branches of the circuit courts. The state is also divided into four court of appeals districts, comprised of one or more judicial circuits. Currently, an appeal of a judgment or order issued by a circuit court must be heard in the court of appeals district within which the circuit court is located. This bill permits the appellant to select the court of appeals district within which to bring the appeal, but the court of appeals district must not contain the circuit court from which the judgment or order was issued.

Who's behind it

14 senators are its ⁠. All 14 are Republicans.

57 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 71 names

Authors (14)

Signed on in support (57)

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 5 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Judiciary vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Jul 6, 2011

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 Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Failed, 15 to 18 · Oct 25, 2011

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

Official motion: “Refused to refer to committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 15, Noes 18”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 17 to 16 · Oct 25, 2011

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

Official motion: “Senate amendment 1 to Senate amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 17, Noes 16”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 18 to 15 · Oct 25, 2011

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 58 to 34 · Nov 3, 2011

See how each of the 92 representatives voted

D: Democrat, I: Independent, R: Republican

Yes (58)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 58, Noes 34, Paired 6”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Nov 11, 2011

    The new law was published.

  2. Nov 11, 2011

    The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 61.

  3. Nov 8, 2011

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Nov 3, 2011

    The Assembly passed it too, 58 to 34.

  5. Nov 1, 2011

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Oct 28, 2011

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Oct 25, 2011

    The Senate passed it, 18 to 15.

  8. Oct 25, 2011

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Sep 19, 2011

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  10. Jul 6, 2011

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  11. Jul 6, 2011

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  12. Jun 2, 2011

    The committee held a public hearing.

  13. May 31, 2011

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations.

  14. May 31, 2011

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. May 31, 2011 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Vukmir, S. Fitzgerald, Ellis, Zipperer, Cowles, Leibham, Moulton, Grothman, Hopper, Kedzie, Darling, Galloway, Lasee and Wanggaard;Cosponsored by Representatives Kramer, J. Fitzgerald, Suder, Steineke, Vos, Tiffany, Litjens, August, Farrow, Kuglitsch, Van Roy, Nerison, Honadel, Petersen, Knilans, Nass, Craig, Thiesfeldt, T. Larson, Endsley, Spanbauer, Bernier, J. Ott, Knodl, Ballweg, Murtha, Wynn, Bies, Kooyenga, Rivard, Brooks, Marklein, Petryk, Krug, Ripp, Knudson, Kapenga, LeMahieu, Kestell, Loudenbeck, Mursau, Meyer, Pridemore, Tauchen, Petrowski, Stone, A. Ott, Klenke, Strachota, Weininger, Stroebel, Kleefisch, Williams, Tranel, Jacque, Kaufert and Severson

  2. May 31, 2011 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations

  3. Jun 2, 2011 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Jun 27, 2011 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 offered by Senator Zipperer

  5. Jun 28, 2011 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  6. Jul 6, 2011 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  7. Jul 6, 2011 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  8. Jul 6, 2011 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  9. Sep 19, 2011 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  10. Oct 24, 2011 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 10-25-2011 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  11. Oct 25, 2011 · Senate

    Read a second time

  12. Oct 25, 2011 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 to Senate amendment 1 offered by Senators Holperin and Vinehout

  13. Oct 25, 2011 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 to Senate amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 17, Noes 16

  14. Oct 25, 2011 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 adopted

  15. Oct 25, 2011 · Senate

    Refused to refer to committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 15, Noes 18

  16. Oct 25, 2011 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  17. Oct 25, 2011 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  18. Oct 25, 2011 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  19. Oct 27, 2011 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  20. Oct 28, 2011 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  21. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  22. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 11:07 A.M. on 11-03-2011 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 18

  23. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  24. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  25. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  26. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 58, Noes 34, Paired 6

  27. Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  28. Nov 4, 2011 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  29. Nov 7, 2011 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled on 11-7-2011

  30. Nov 8, 2011 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 11-8-2011

  31. Nov 11, 2011 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 11-9-2011. 2011 Wisconsin Act 61

  32. Nov 11, 2011 · Senate

    Published 11-23-2011

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