Skip to content
Bills from the 2015–16 session

Senate Bill 37

The issuance of retail alcohol beverage licenses for premises on which another business is conducted and the presence of underage persons on premises operating under a retail alcohol beverage license. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Apr 8, 2015. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 13, 2015

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Mar 17, 2015

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 8

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 8, 2015: “Published 4-9-2015”

Read the bill

Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.

What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may sell alcohol beverages to a consumer unless the seller possesses a license or permit authorizing the sale. A Class "B" license authorizes the retail sale of fermented malt beverages (beer) for consumption on or off the premises. A Class "B" license is also a prerequisite to the issuance of a "Class B" license, which authorizes the sale of intoxicating liquor (wine and distilled spirits).

Current law generally prohibits the issuance of a Class "B" license for any premises where another business is conducted. However, there are exceptions to this prohibition, including for hotels, restaurants, bowling centers, and movie theaters.

Read the full summary

This bill creates an additional exception to this prohibition for a painting studio. A painting studio is defined in the bill as an establishment that is primarily engaged in the business of providing instruction in the art of painting and that offers customers the opportunity to purchase food and beverages for consumption while they paint.

Under current law, a person who is under 21 years of age and not accompanied by his or her parent, guardian, or spouse who is at least 21 years of age (unaccompanied underage person) may not enter or be on any premises for which a license or permit for the retail sale of alcohol beverages has been issued (licensed premises). Current law also provides for various exceptions to this prohibition.

Among the exceptions, an unaccompanied underage person may enter or be on licensed premises that is a hotel, bowling center, movie theater, or center for the visual or performing arts.

This bill creates an additional exception allowing an unaccompanied underage person to enter or be on licensed premises that is a painting studio.

Who's behind it

Sheila Harsdorf, a Republican, is its ⁠.

9 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 10 names

Author (1)

Signed on in support (9)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

How lawmakers voted

There was one vote on this bill.

Senate Committee on Agriculture vote to recommend it

Passed, 9 to 0 · Mar 12, 2015

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 Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism, Ayes 9, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Apr 8, 2015

    The new law was published.

  2. Apr 8, 2015

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 8.

  3. Apr 7, 2015

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 17, 2015

    The Assembly passed it too.

  5. Mar 17, 2015

    “Read” (the official wording)

  6. Mar 17, 2015

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Mar 17, 2015

    The Senate passed it.

  8. Mar 17, 2015

    “Read a third time” (the official wording)

  9. Mar 12, 2015

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 9 to 0.

  10. Mar 11, 2015

    1 more senator signed on in support.

  11. Mar 11, 2015

    The committee held a public hearing.

  12. Mar 3, 2015

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  13. Feb 13, 2015

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism.

  14. Feb 13, 2015

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Feb 13, 2015 · Senate

    Introduced by Senator Harsdorf; cosponsored by Representatives Knudson, Czaja, Kooyenga, Murphy, Mursau, Spiros, Danou and Ohnstad

  2. Feb 13, 2015 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism

  3. Mar 3, 2015 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Mar 11, 2015 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  5. Mar 11, 2015 · Senate

    Senator L. Taylor added as a coauthor

  6. Mar 11, 2015 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  7. Mar 12, 2015 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism, Ayes 9, Noes 0

  8. Mar 12, 2015 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  9. Mar 13, 2015 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-17-2015 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  10. Mar 17, 2015 · Senate

    Read a second time

  11. Mar 17, 2015 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  12. Mar 17, 2015 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  13. Mar 17, 2015 · Senate

    Read a third time

  14. Mar 17, 2015 · Senate

    Passed

  15. Mar 17, 2015 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  16. Mar 17, 2015 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  17. Mar 17, 2015 · Assembly

    Read

  18. Mar 17, 2015 · Assembly

    Rules suspended and taken up

  19. Mar 17, 2015 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  20. Mar 17, 2015 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  21. Mar 17, 2015 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  22. Mar 17, 2015 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  23. Mar 17, 2015 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  24. Mar 17, 2015 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  25. Mar 25, 2015 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  26. Apr 7, 2015 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 4-7-2015

  27. Apr 8, 2015 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 4-8-2015. 2015 Wisconsin Act 8

  28. Apr 8, 2015 · Senate

    Published 4-9-2015

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

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