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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Assembly Bill 648

Seasonal placement of a Christmas tree in the rotunda of the state capitol building or in a church

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 31, 2016. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 7, 2016

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 9, 2016

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 25 to 7

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 333

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 31, 2016: “Published 3-31-2016”

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 prohibits the Department of Safety and Professional Services from promulgating or enforcing a rule, and prohibits a city, village, or town from enacting or enforcing an ordinance, related to fire safety that prohibits the seasonal placement of a Christmas tree in the rotunda of the state capitol building or in a church. This bill also creates a presumption applicable to fire safety inspections that the seasonal placement of a Christmas tree in the rotunda of the state capitol building or in a church is not a fire hazard.

Who's behind it

9 representatives are its ⁠. All 9 are Republicans.

1 more lawmaker ⁠.

See all 10 names

Authors (9)

Signed on in support (1)

How lawmakers voted

There were 3 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations vote to recommend it

Passed, 13 to 2 · Feb 3, 2016

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 State Affairs and Government Operations, Ayes 13, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 0 · Mar 8, 2016

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 Government Operations and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 25 to 7 · Mar 15, 2016 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Didn't vote (1)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 25, Noes 7”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 31, 2016

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 31, 2016

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 333.

  3. Mar 29, 2016

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 15, 2016

    The Senate passed it too, 25 to 7.

  5. Mar 8, 2016

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

  6. Mar 2, 2016

    The committee held a public hearing.

  7. Feb 12, 2016

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection.

  8. Feb 10, 2016

    The Senate received it.

  9. Feb 9, 2016

    The Assembly passed it.

  10. Feb 3, 2016

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  11. Feb 3, 2016

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 13 to 2.

  12. Feb 3, 2016

    The committee held a public hearing.

  13. Jan 7, 2016

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations.

  14. Jan 7, 2016

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 7, 2016 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Kremer, Vos, Thiesfeldt, T. Larson, Horlacher, Nygren, Jarchow, Murphy and Born; cosponsored by Senator Nass

  2. Jan 7, 2016 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations

  3. Feb 3, 2016 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  4. Feb 3, 2016 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  5. Feb 3, 2016 · Assembly

    Report passage recommended by Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations, Ayes 13, Noes 2

  6. Feb 3, 2016 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  7. Feb 4, 2016 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 2-9-2016 by Committee on Rules

  8. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  9. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  10. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  11. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  12. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  13. Feb 10, 2016 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  14. Feb 12, 2016 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection

  15. Mar 2, 2016 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  16. Mar 8, 2016 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  17. Mar 8, 2016 · Senate

    Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  18. Mar 8, 2016 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  19. Mar 14, 2016 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-15-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  20. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Read a second time

  21. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  22. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  23. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 25, Noes 7

  24. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  25. Mar 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  26. Mar 24, 2016 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 3-24-2016

  27. Mar 29, 2016 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 3-29-2016

  28. Mar 31, 2016 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-30-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 333

  29. Mar 31, 2016 · Assembly

    Published 3-31-2016

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