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Bills from the 2013–14 session

Assembly Bill 27

State agencies entering into contracts for legal services on a contingent fee basis. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Dec 13, 2013. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 18, 2013

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed May 8, 2013

  4. Senate vote, passed

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2013 Wisconsin Act 105

Latest entry in the official record, Dec 13, 2013: “Published 12-14-2013”

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 generally prohibits a state agency from contracting to provide legal services for the state on a contingent fee basis unless the governor makes a written determination that entering into such a contract is cost-effective and in the public interest. If the governor makes such a determination, this bill imposes limits on aggregate contingency fees based on the amount of the recovery as follows: if the recovery is less than $10 million, the contingency fee limit is 25 percent of that recovery; if the recovery is between $10 million and $15 million, the limit is 20 percent of that recovery; if the recovery is between $15 million and $20 million, the limit is 15 percent of that recovery; if the recovery is between $20 million and $25 million, the limit is 10 percent of that recovery; and if the recovery is $25 million or more, the limit is 5 percent of that recovery. In addition, this bill requires that attorneys employed by the state retain certain powers in the contract. For instance, the state attorneys must retain control over the course and conduct of the case, may reject decisions made by any attorney retained under the contract, and have exclusive discretion regarding settlement decisions. This bill also requires that copies of such contingency fee contracts and notice of the amount of any contingency fees paid be posted on the Internet site of the office of the governor. Finally, this bill requires any attorney who is party to a contingency fee contract with the state to maintain financial records related to the legal services provided.

Who's behind it

10 lawmakers are its ⁠. All 10 are Republicans.

3 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 13 names

Authors (10)

Signed on in support (3)

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 11 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Judiciary vote on an amendment

Passed, 8 to 0 · Apr 15, 2013

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

Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 4 adoption recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 8, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Judiciary vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 3 · Apr 15, 2013

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

Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 5, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 58 to 38 · May 8, 2013

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

Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 58, Noes 38”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 58 to 38 · May 8, 2013

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

Official motion: “Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 58, Noes 38”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 60 to 36 · May 8, 2013 · 3 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (60)

Didn't vote (3)

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 60, Noes 36”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor vote to recommend it

Passed, 4 to 1 · Oct 2, 2013

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 Judiciary and Labor, Ayes 4, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 5 to 0 · Oct 7, 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 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 15 · Oct 8, 2013

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 15 · Oct 8, 2013

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Failed, 15 to 18 · Oct 8, 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 Judiciary and Labor, Ayes 15, Noes 18”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 23 to 10 · Oct 8, 2013

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “Concurred in, Ayes 23, Noes 10”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Dec 13, 2013

    The new law was published.

  2. Dec 13, 2013

    The governor signed it. It became 2013 Wisconsin Act 105.

  3. Dec 12, 2013

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Oct 8, 2013

    The Senate passed it too, 23 to 10.

  5. Oct 8, 2013

    “Read a third time” (the official wording)

  6. Oct 7, 2013

    “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  7. Oct 2, 2013

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 1.

  8. May 10, 2013

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

  9. May 9, 2013

    The Senate received it.

  10. May 8, 2013

    The Assembly passed it, 60 to 36.

  11. May 8, 2013

    The Assembly adopted it.

  12. Apr 15, 2013

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  13. Apr 15, 2013

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 3.

  14. Apr 15, 2013

    “Report Assembly Amendment 4 adoption recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 8, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  15. Mar 28, 2013

    The committee held a public hearing.

  16. Mar 20, 2013

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  17. Feb 18, 2013

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary.

  18. Feb 18, 2013

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Feb 18, 2013 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Kuglitsch, August, A. Ott, Craig, Stone, Schraa, Jacque, Spiros, Stroebel and Thiesfeldt; cosponsored by Senators Grothman, Vukmir and Farrow

  2. Feb 18, 2013 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary

  3. Mar 20, 2013 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Mar 25, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Kuglitsch

  5. Mar 28, 2013 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  6. Apr 2, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representatives Goyke, Wachs and Hebl

  7. Apr 2, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 3 offered by Representatives Goyke, Wachs and Hebl

  8. Apr 3, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 4 offered by Representative Kuglitsch

  9. Apr 4, 2013 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  10. Apr 15, 2013 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 4 adoption recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 8, Noes 0

  11. Apr 15, 2013 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary, Ayes 5, Noes 3

  12. Apr 15, 2013 · Assembly

    Referred to Committee on Rules

  13. May 2, 2013 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 5-8-2013 by Committee on Rules

  14. May 7, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 5 offered by Representatives Goyke, Hebl and Wachs

  15. May 7, 2013 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 1:02 PM on 5-8-2013 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 9

  16. May 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Goyke

  17. May 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  18. May 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 58, Noes 38

  19. May 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 4 adopted

  20. May 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 58, Noes 38

  21. May 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  22. May 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  23. May 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 60, Noes 36

  24. May 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  25. May 9, 2013 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  26. May 10, 2013 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary and Labor

  27. Oct 1, 2013 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  28. Oct 2, 2013 · Senate

    Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Labor, Ayes 4, Noes 1

  29. Oct 2, 2013 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  30. Oct 7, 2013 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0

  31. Oct 7, 2013 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 10-8-2013 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  32. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Vinehout, Harris, T. Cullen, C. Larson, Lassa, Hansen, Carpenter, Risser and L. Taylor

  33. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senators Vinehout, Harris, Lehman, T. Cullen, C. Larson, Lassa, Hansen, Carpenter, Risser and L. Taylor

  34. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 offered by Senators Vinehout, Harris, Lehman, T. Cullen, C. Larson, Lassa, Hansen, Carpenter, Risser and L. Taylor

  35. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 4 offered by Senators Vinehout, Harris, Lehman, T. Cullen, C. Larson, Lassa, Hansen, Carpenter, Risser and L. Taylor

  36. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Read a second time

  37. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  38. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  39. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 laid on table

  40. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 4 laid on table

  41. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  42. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  43. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Read a third time

  44. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Refused to refer to committee on Judiciary and Labor, Ayes 15, Noes 18

  45. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Concurred in, Ayes 23, Noes 10

  46. Oct 8, 2013 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  47. Oct 8, 2013 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  48. Oct 18, 2013 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 10-18-2013

  49. Dec 12, 2013 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 12-12-2013

  50. Dec 13, 2013 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 12-13-2013. 2013 Wisconsin Act 105

  51. Dec 13, 2013 · Assembly

    Published 12-14-2013

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

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