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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Senate Bill 81

Limiting the authority of a city, village, town, or county to create new occupational licenses or fees or to continue to regulate certain professions. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Nov 12, 2015. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Mar 23, 2015

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Jun 9, 2015

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 56 to 34

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 65

Latest entry in the official record, Nov 12, 2015: “Published 11-12-2015”

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.

Generally under current law, a city, village, town, or county (political subdivision) may regulate certain professions. A city or village may regulate professions under its home rule authority and a town or county may regulate professions that they are specifically authorized to regulate. The authority of a political subdivision to regulate a particular profession may be prohibited or limited by a state statute.

Under this bill, and subject to an exception, beginning on the effective date of the bill a political subdivision may not impose any occupational fees or licensing requirements on any profession if that profession is not subject to such locally imposed fees and licensing requirements on that date, although a political subdivision may continue to impose fees and licensing requirements on any profession that is already subject to such requirements of the political subdivision.

Read the full summary

Under an exception contained in the bill, if a political subdivision imposes an occupational fee or licensing requirement on photographers on the effective date of the bill, that regulation does not apply and may not be enforced.

Who's behind it

5 senators are its ⁠. All 5 are Republicans.

13 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 18 names

Authors (5)

Signed on in support (13)

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 5 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Elections and Local Government vote on an amendment

Passed, 3 to 2 · Jun 5, 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 Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Elections and Local Government vote on an amendment

Passed, 3 to 2 · Jun 5, 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 2 recommended by Committee on Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Elections and Local Government vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Jun 5, 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 Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 56 to 34 · Oct 27, 2015 · 7 didn't vote

See how each of the 97 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (56)

Didn't vote (7)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 56, Noes 34, Paired 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 57 to 35 · Oct 27, 2015

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

Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 57, Noes 35”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Nov 12, 2015

    The new law was published.

  2. Nov 12, 2015

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 65.

  3. Nov 10, 2015

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Oct 27, 2015

    The Assembly passed it too, 56 to 34.

  5. Oct 27, 2015

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  6. Oct 19, 2015

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  7. Jun 9, 2015

    The Assembly received it.

  8. Jun 9, 2015

    The Senate passed it.

  9. Jun 9, 2015

    “Read a third time” (the official wording)

  10. Jun 9, 2015

    The Senate adopted it.

  11. Jun 5, 2015

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  12. Jun 5, 2015

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Committee on Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  13. Jun 5, 2015

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  14. Apr 9, 2015

    The committee held a public hearing.

  15. Apr 2, 2015

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  16. Mar 23, 2015

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Elections and Local Government.

  17. Mar 23, 2015

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Mar 23, 2015 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, Nass, Harsdorf, Lasee and Tiffany; cosponsored by Representatives Kooyenga, Neylon, Ballweg, Craig, A. Ott, Kulp, Hutton, E. Brooks, Knodl, T. Larson, Edming and Sanfelippo

  2. Mar 23, 2015 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Elections and Local Government

  3. Apr 2, 2015 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Apr 9, 2015 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  5. Apr 30, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  6. Apr 30, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  7. Jun 3, 2015 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  8. Jun 5, 2015 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  9. Jun 5, 2015 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Committee on Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  10. Jun 5, 2015 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  11. Jun 5, 2015 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  12. Jun 8, 2015 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 6-9-2015 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  13. Jun 9, 2015 · Senate

    Read a second time

  14. Jun 9, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  15. Jun 9, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 adopted

  16. Jun 9, 2015 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  17. Jun 9, 2015 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  18. Jun 9, 2015 · Senate

    Read a third time

  19. Jun 9, 2015 · Senate

    Passed

  20. Jun 9, 2015 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  21. Jun 9, 2015 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  22. Oct 19, 2015 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  23. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 10-27-2015 by Committee on Rules

  24. Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  25. Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Zamarripa

  26. Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 57, Noes 35

  27. Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly

    Representative Jarchow added as a cosponsor

  28. Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  29. Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  30. Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 56, Noes 34, Paired 2

  31. Oct 27, 2015 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  32. Oct 28, 2015 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  33. Nov 9, 2015 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  34. Nov 9, 2015 · Senate

    LRB correction (Senate Amendment 2)

  35. Nov 10, 2015 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 11-10-2015

  36. Nov 12, 2015 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 11-11-2015. 2015 Wisconsin Act 65

  37. 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

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