Senate Bill 229
Regulation of columbaria maintained by religious associations. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Nov 12, 2015. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Aug 11, 2015
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Sep 16, 2015
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Nov 3, 2015
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2015 Wisconsin Act 95
Latest entry in the official record, Nov 12, 2015: “Published 11-12-2015”
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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
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
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill creates an exemption from the requirements applicable to mausoleums and cemeteries for certain columbaria maintained by religious associations. A columbarium is a building, structure, or part of a building or structure that is used or intended to be used for the inurnment of cremated human remains. Under current law, a columbarium that contains more than ten niches for the repose of cremated human remains or in which at least one niche is offered for sale to the general public is considered a "public mausoleum" and must be located in a cemetery. All columbaria are subject to certain other requirements applicable to mausoleums under current law.
The exemption created in this bill provides that a columbarium established and used by a church or other religious association is not subject to the requirements for mausoleums and cemeteries, including the requirement that a public mausoleum be contained in a cemetery, if certain requirements are satisfied, including all of the following:
Read the full summary Show less
1. The columbarium must be located on property owned by the religious association and on which is located the religious association's church building or other place of worship.
2. The religious association must ensure that the columbarium is perpetually kept and maintained in a manner consistent with the intent of Wisconsin's cemeteries law, including by ensuring that sufficient funds are continually available for the care of the columbarium.
3. If the religious association ceases to use or occupy the church building or other place of worship where the columbarium is located, the religious association must relocate the urns contained in the columbarium.
Who's behind it
4 senators are its . All 4 are Republicans.
10 more lawmakers .
See all 14 names Hide the names
Authors (4)
- Frank G. Lasee · Republican, Senate
- Mary Lazich · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
- Duey Stroebel · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (10)
- Scott Allen · Republican, Assembly
- Peter Barca · Democrat, Assembly
- Janel Brandtjen · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Robb Kahl · Democrat, Assembly
- Joel Kitchens · Republican, Assembly
- Dale Kooyenga · Republican, Senate
- Jesse Kremer · Republican, Assembly
- Romaine Quinn · Republican, Senate
- Rob Brooks · Republican, Assembly
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 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection vote on an amendment
Passed, 5 to 0 · Sep 10, 2015
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 Government Operations and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Sep 10, 2015
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 Government Operations and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Nov 12, 2015
The new law was published.
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Nov 12, 2015
The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 95.
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Nov 10, 2015
Sent to the governor.
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Nov 3, 2015
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Nov 3, 2015
The Assembly passed it too.
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Oct 19, 2015
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Sep 16, 2015
The Assembly received it.
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Sep 16, 2015
The Senate passed it.
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Sep 16, 2015
The Senate adopted it.
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Sep 10, 2015
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Sep 10, 2015
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Sep 2, 2015
The committee held a public hearing.
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Aug 20, 2015
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Aug 11, 2015
Sent to the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection.
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Aug 11, 2015
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Aug 11, 2015 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Lazich, Nass, Stroebel and Lasee; cosponsored by Representatives R. Brooks, J. Ott, Kitchens, Brandtjen, Kremer, Quinn, Allen, Kooyenga and Kahl
- Aug 11, 2015 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection
- Aug 20, 2015 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Sep 2, 2015 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Sep 8, 2015 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Stroebel
- Sep 8, 2015 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Sep 10, 2015 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Sep 10, 2015 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Sep 10, 2015 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Sep 15, 2015 · Senate
Placed on calendar 9-16-2015 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Sep 16, 2015 · Senate
Read a second time
- Sep 16, 2015 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 adopted
- Sep 16, 2015 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Sep 16, 2015 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Sep 16, 2015 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Sep 16, 2015 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Sep 16, 2015 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Oct 19, 2015 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Oct 28, 2015 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 11-3-2015 by Committee on Rules
- Nov 3, 2015 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Nov 3, 2015 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Nov 3, 2015 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 3, 2015 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Nov 3, 2015 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Nov 3, 2015 · Assembly
Representative Barca added as a cosponsor
- Nov 3, 2015 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 3, 2015 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Nov 10, 2015 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Nov 10, 2015 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 11-10-2015
- Nov 12, 2015 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 11-11-2015. 2015 Wisconsin Act 95
- Nov 12, 2015 · Senate
Published 11-12-2015
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
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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote