Assembly Bill 214
Ex parte communications in contested cases before the Public Service Commission
Became law
The governor signed it on Jul 8, 2013. It's .
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Introduced, passed
May 20, 2013
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jun 6, 2013
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Senate vote, passed
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2013 Wisconsin Act 28
Latest entry in the official record, Jul 8, 2013: “Published 7-6-2013”
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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.
Current law prohibits certain ex parte communications in contested cases, which are state agency proceedings that affect the substantial interest of a party. An ex parte communication is one that is made without the knowledge of all of the parties. An ex parte communication in a contested case is subject to the prohibition if it is made before a decision is rendered and it is either: 1) relative to the merits;
or 2) a threat or offer of reward. If the prohibition applies, the following are prohibited from making an ex parte communication to either the hearing examiner or any other official or employee of the state agency who is involved in the decision-making process: 1) a state agency official or any other public employee or official engaged in prosecution or advocacy regarding the matter or a related matter;
Read the full summary Show less
2) a party to the proceeding; 3) any person with a substantial interest in the proposed agency action; and 4) an authorized representative or counsel. Current law specifies several exceptions to the prohibition.
This bill creates an additional exception to the prohibition that applies only in contested cases before the Public Service Commission (PSC). In such contested cases, the bill provides that the prohibition does not apply to an ex parte communication by or to any PSC official or employee other than the hearing examiner or the PSC commissioners.
Who's behind it
Mark Honadel, a Republican, is its .
1 more lawmaker .
See all 2 names Hide the names
Author (1)
- Mark Honadel · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (1)
- Paul F. Farrow · Republican, Senate
How lawmakers voted
There were 3 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities vote to recommend it
Passed, 10 to 0 · May 31, 2013
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 Energy and Utilities, Ayes 10, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 3 to 2 · Jun 10, 2013
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Failed, 15 to 17 · Jun 11, 2013
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 Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications, Ayes 15, Noes 17”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Jul 8, 2013
The new law was published.
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Jul 8, 2013
The governor signed it. It became 2013 Wisconsin Act 28.
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Jul 3, 2013
Sent to the governor.
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Jun 11, 2013
The Senate passed it too.
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Jun 11, 2013
“Read a third time” (the official wording)
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Jun 10, 2013
“Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)
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Jun 7, 2013
Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.
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Jun 7, 2013
The Senate received it.
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Jun 6, 2013
The Assembly passed it.
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May 31, 2013
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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May 31, 2013
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 10 to 0.
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May 28, 2013
The committee held a public hearing.
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May 20, 2013
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities.
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May 20, 2013
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- May 20, 2013 · Assembly
Introduced by Representative Honadel; cosponsored by Senator Farrow
- May 20, 2013 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Energy and Utilities
- May 28, 2013 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- May 30, 2013 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- May 31, 2013 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by Committee on Energy and Utilities, Ayes 10, Noes 0
- May 31, 2013 · Assembly
Referred to Committee on Rules
- Jun 4, 2013 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 6-6-2013 by Committee on Rules
- Jun 6, 2013 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jun 6, 2013 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jun 6, 2013 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jun 6, 2013 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Jun 6, 2013 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 7, 2013 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Jun 7, 2013 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization
- Jun 7, 2013 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jun 10, 2013 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Jun 10, 2013 · Senate
Placed on calendar 6-11-2013 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jun 11, 2013 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jun 11, 2013 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jun 11, 2013 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Jun 11, 2013 · Senate
Read a third time
- Jun 11, 2013 · Senate
Refused to refer to committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications, Ayes 15, Noes 17
- Jun 11, 2013 · Senate
Concurred in
- Jun 11, 2013 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 12, 2013 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Jun 14, 2013 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 6-14-2013
- Jul 3, 2013 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 7-3-2013
- Jul 8, 2013 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 7-5-2013. 2013 Wisconsin Act 28
- Jul 8, 2013 · Assembly
Published 7-6-2013
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