Senate Bill 639
Creating a legislative committee on the oversight of law enforcement and investigation. (FE)
Stopped in committee
It never got a , so it never came up for a vote. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Jan 22, 2016
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Committee, stopped here
Stopped here. No public hearing was held.
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Senate vote, not reached
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 13, 2016: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It never got a hearing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. See every bill that never got a hearing this session.
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Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill creates a legislative committee on the oversight of law enforcement and investigation to study issues related to law enforcement technology and investigation of crimes and to report its findings and recommendations to the legislature. The bill lays out the duties and authority of the committee as follows:
1. The committee may review, for appropriate execution of legislative intent and proper conduct, an acquisition by a law enforcement agency of technology services or electronic devices that may be used to surveil a person. If the acquisition is of such services or devices that are not currently used by a Wisconsin law enforcement agency, the law enforcement agency must notify the committee of the proposed acquisition before executing it.
Read the full summary Show less
2. The committee may review a proposed transfer of military weapons, surveillance equipment, or armaments from a federal military unit to a Wisconsin law enforcement agency. A law enforcement agency that is to receive such weapons, equipment, or armaments must notify the committee of the proposed transfer before the transfer takes place.
This bill also provides the committee with subpoena power and access to investigatory records from secret John Doe proceedings at the close of such proceedings if such access is necessary or convenient to carry out the duties and powers of the committee.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
5 more lawmakers .
See all 7 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Chris Kapenga · Republican, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (5)
- David Craig · Republican, Senate
- Rob Hutton · Republican, Senate
- Adam Jarchow · Republican, Assembly
- Dean Knudson · Republican, Assembly
- Joe Sanfelippo · Republican, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
What happened
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Apr 13, 2016
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Feb 3, 2016
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Jan 22, 2016
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
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Jan 22, 2016
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 22, 2016 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Wanggaard and Kapenga; cosponsored by Representatives Craig, Jarchow, Hutton, Knudson and Sanfelippo
- Jan 22, 2016 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Feb 3, 2016 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 13, 2016 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
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