Senate Bill 12
Allowing retailers the ability to offer discounts equal to the state and local sales taxes
Topics: Advertisement, Mercantile establishment, Sales tax
Became law
The governor signed it on May 25, 2011. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Jan 25, 2011
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed 18 to 0
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed May 11, 2011
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2011 Wisconsin Act 18
Latest entry in the official record, May 26, 2011: “Published 6-7-2011”
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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
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.
Under current law, a retailer may not advertise that any state or local sales tax applicable to a transaction will be assumed or absorbed by the retailer or not added to the price of goods and services. A retailer who violates this prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill eliminates the prohibition. Under the bill, a retailer who advertises that the sales tax will be assumed by the retailer or not added to the sales price is still responsible for paying the applicable sales tax.
Who's behind it
3 senators are its . All 3 are Republicans.
5 more lawmakers .
See all 8 names Hide the names
Authors (3)
- Glenn Grothman · Republican, Senate
- Mary Lazich · Republican, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (5)
- Garey Bies · Republican, Assembly
- Dean Kaufert · Republican, Assembly
- Dale Kooyenga · Republican, Senate
- Richard Spanbauer · Republican, Assembly
- Robin Vos · Republican, Assembly
How lawmakers voted
There were 4 votes on this bill. Taking a bill up right away needs two-thirds of the members, a higher bar than passing it, so that vote can draw more yeses than the final one.
Senate Committee on Workforce Development vote to recommend it
Passed, 3 to 0 · Mar 8, 2011
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by committee on Workforce Development, Small Business, and Tourism, Ayes 3, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Passed, 18 to 0 · Mar 9, 2011 · 15 didn't vote
See how each of the 33 senators voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (18)
- Alberta Darling (R, 8)
- Dale Schultz (R, 17)
- Dan Kapanke (R, 32)
- Glenn Grothman (R, 20)
- Joe Leibham (R, 9)
- Leah Vukmir (R, 5)
- Luther S. Olsen (R, 14)
- Mary Lazich (R, 28)
- Michael Ellis (R, 19)
- Neal Kedzie (R, 11)
- Pam Galloway (R, 29)
- Randy Hopper (R, 18)
- Rich Zipperer (R, 33)
- Rob Cowles (R, 2)
- Scott L. Fitzgerald (R, 13)
- Sheila Harsdorf (R, 10)
- Terry Moulton (R, 23)
- Van Wanggaard (R, 21)
Didn't vote (15)
- Bob Wirch (D, 22)
- Chris Larson (D, 7)
- Dave Hansen (D, 30)
- Frank G. Lasee (R, 1)
- Fred A. Risser (D, 26)
- Jim Holperin (D, 12)
- Jon Erpenbach (D, 27)
- Julie M. Lassa (D, 24)
- Kathleen Vinehout (D, 31)
- Lena Taylor (D, 4)
- Mark Miller (D, 16)
- Robert Jauch (D, 25)
- Spencer Coggs (D, 6)
- Tim Carpenter (D, 3)
- Timothy Cullen (D, 15)
Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly Committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs vote to recommend it
Passed, 8 to 0 · Apr 7, 2011
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report concurrence recommended by committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs, Ayes 8, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to take it up right away
Passed, 57 to 38 · Apr 14, 2011 · 1 didn't vote
See how each of the 96 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, I: Independent, R: Republican
Yes (57)
- Alvin Ott (R, 3)
- Amy Loudenbeck (R, 31)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Bill Kramer (R, 97)
- Bob Ziegelbauer (I, 25)
- Chad Weininger (R, 4)
- Dale Kooyenga (R, 5)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Dan Meyer (R, 34)
- Daniel LeMahieu (R, 59)
- Dean Kaufert (R, 53)
- Dean Knudson (R, 30)
- Don Pridemore (R, 22)
- Edward Brooks (R, 50)
- Erik Severson (R, 28)
- Evan Wynn (R, 43)
- Garey Bies (R, 1)
- Gary Tauchen (R, 6)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Jeff Fitzgerald (R, 39)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jeffrey Stone (R, 82)
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R, 52)
- Jerry Petrowski (R, 29)
- Jim Ott (R, 23)
- Jim Steineke (R, 5)
- Joan Ballweg (R, 14)
- Joe Knilans (R, 44)
- Joel Kleefisch (R, 38)
- John Klenke (R, 88)
- John Murtha (R, 29)
- John Nygren (R, 89)
- Karl Van Roy (R, 90)
- Kathleen Bernier (R, 23)
- Keith Ripp (R, 42)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lee Nerison (R, 96)
- Mark Honadel (R, 21)
- Mary Williams (R, 87)
- Michelle Litjens (R, 56)
- Mike Endsley (R, 26)
- Mike Kuglitsch (R, 84)
- Pat Strachota (R, 58)
- Paul F. Farrow (R, 33)
- Richard Spanbauer (R, 53)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Roger Rivard (R, 75)
- Samantha Kerkman (R, 61)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Scott Suder (R, 69)
- Steve Kestell (R, 27)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Thomas Larson (R, 67)
- Thomas Tiffany (R, 12)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Warren Petryk (R, 93)
No (38)
- Amy Sue Vruwink (D, 70)
- Andy Jorgensen (D, 43)
- Barbara Toles (D, 17)
- Brett Hulsey (D, 78)
- Chris Danou (D, 92)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Cory Mason (D, 66)
- David Cullen (D, 13)
- Donna Seidel (D, 85)
- Elizabeth Coggs (D, 10)
- Fred Clark (D, 81)
- Frederick Kessler (D, 12)
- Gary Hebl (D, 46)
- Gordon Hintz (D, 54)
- Janet Bewley (D, 25)
- Janis Ringhand (D, 15)
- Jason Fields (D, 11)
- Jennifer Shilling (D, 32)
- JoCasta Zamarripa (D, 8)
- Joe Parisi (D, 48)
- John Steinbrink (D, 65)
- Jon Richards (D, 19)
- Josh Zepnick (D, 9)
- Kelda Roys (D, 26)
- Leon Young (D, 16)
- Louis Molepske Jr. (D, 71)
- Margaret Krusick (D, 7)
- Mark Pocan (D, 78)
- Mark Radcliffe (D, 92)
- Nick Milroy (D, 73)
- Penny Bernard Schaber (D, 57)
- Peter Barca (D, 64)
- Robert Turner (D, 61)
- Sandy Pasch (D, 10)
- Sondy Pope (D, 80)
- Tamara Grigsby (D, 18)
- Terese Berceau (D, 77)
- Tony Staskunas (D, 15)
Didn't vote (1)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
Official motion: “Refused to suspend rules to read a third time, Ayes 57, Noes 38”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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May 26, 2011
The new law was published.
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May 25, 2011
The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 18.
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May 20, 2011
Sent to the governor.
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May 11, 2011
The Assembly passed it too.
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Apr 7, 2011
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Apr 7, 2011
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 8 to 0.
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Mar 31, 2011
The committee held a public hearing.
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Mar 22, 2011
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs.
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Mar 22, 2011
The Assembly received it.
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Mar 9, 2011
The Senate passed it, 18 to 0.
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Mar 8, 2011
“Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Mar 8, 2011
Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.
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Mar 8, 2011
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 0.
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Mar 1, 2011
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 25, 2011
Sent to the Senate Committee on Workforce Development, Small Business, and Tourism.
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Jan 25, 2011
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 25, 2011 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, Lazich and Grothman;Cosponsored by Representatives Kooyenga, Spanbauer, Vos, Bies and Kaufert
- Jan 25, 2011 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Workforce Development, Small Business, and Tourism
- Mar 1, 2011 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 8, 2011 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 8, 2011 · Senate
Report passage recommended by committee on Workforce Development, Small Business, and Tourism, Ayes 3, Noes 0
- Mar 8, 2011 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 8, 2011 · Senate
Referred to joint committee on Finance by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 0
- Mar 8, 2011 · Senate
Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 0
- Mar 8, 2011 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-9-2011 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 9, 2011 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 9, 2011 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 9, 2011 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Mar 9, 2011 · Senate
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 0
- Mar 9, 2011 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 22, 2011 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Mar 22, 2011 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs
- Mar 31, 2011 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Apr 7, 2011 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Apr 7, 2011 · Assembly
Report concurrence recommended by committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs, Ayes 8, Noes 0
- Apr 7, 2011 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Apr 12, 2011 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 4-14-2011 by committee on Rules
- Apr 14, 2011 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Apr 14, 2011 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Apr 14, 2011 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Apr 14, 2011 · Assembly
Refused to suspend rules to read a third time, Ayes 57, Noes 38
- May 10, 2011 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 10:06 A.M. on 5-11-2011 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 9
- May 11, 2011 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- May 11, 2011 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- May 12, 2011 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- May 13, 2011 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled on 5-13-2011
- May 20, 2011 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 5-20-2011
- May 25, 2011 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 5-23-2011. 2011 Wisconsin Act 18
- May 26, 2011 · Senate
Published 6-7-2011
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
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote