Senate Bill 96
Fees for election recounts. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Jul 2, 2015. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Mar 27, 2015
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jun 9, 2015
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2015 Wisconsin Act 36
Latest entry in the official record, Jul 2, 2015: “Published 7-2-2015”
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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.
Currently, any candidate who receives votes in an election and any elector who votes in a referendum may petition for a recount of the votes cast. The petitioner does not have to pay for the recount if the difference between the votes cast for the leading candidate and those cast for the petitioner, or the difference between the affirmative and negative votes cast on the referendum question, is less than 10 if 1,000 or fewer votes are cast or not more than 0.5 percent of the total votes cast for the office or on the question if more than 1,000 votes are cast.
Currently, if the difference between the votes cast for the leading candidate and those cast for the petitioner, or the difference between the affirmative and negative votes cast on the referendum question, is at least 10 if 1,000 or fewer votes are cast or is more than 0.5 percent, but not more than 2 percent if more than 1,000 votes are cast, the petitioner must pay a fee equal to $5 for each ward for which the petitioner requests a recount.
Read the full summary Show less
Finally, if the difference between the votes cast for the leading candidate and those cast for the petitioner, or the difference between the affirmative and negative votes cast on the referendum question, is more than 2 percent if more than 1,000 votes are cast, the petitioner pays the actual cost of performing the recount.
This bill provides that, if the difference between the votes cast for the leading candidate and those cast for the petitioner, or the difference between the affirmative and negative votes cast on the referendum question, is less than 10 if 4,000 or fewer votes are cast or not more than 0.25 percent of the total votes cast for the office or on the question if more than 4,000 votes are cast, the petitioner does not pay for the recount. Under any other circumstance, the petitioner pays the actual cost of performing the recount. However, if the recount overturns the result of the election or referendum, the petitioner receives a refund of the recount fees.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
14 more lawmakers .
See all 16 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Devin LeMahieu · Republican, Senate
- Luther S. Olsen · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (14)
- Scott Allen · Republican, Assembly
- Joan Ballweg · Republican, Senate
- Kathleen Bernier · Republican, Senate
- Jill Billings · Democrat, Assembly
- Mark Born · Republican, Assembly
- Edward Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- James Edming · Republican, Assembly
- Joel Kleefisch · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Kulp · Republican, Assembly
- Tod Ohnstad · Democrat, Assembly
- Keith Ripp · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Swearingen · Republican, Assembly
- Thomas Larson · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Tittl · 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 Elections and Local Government vote to recommend it
Passed, 3 to 2 · Apr 17, 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 Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote on an amendment
Passed, 19 to 14 · May 6, 2015
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Senate Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Jul 2, 2015
The new law was published.
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Jul 2, 2015
The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 36.
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Jun 30, 2015
Sent to the governor.
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Jun 9, 2015
The Assembly passed it too.
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May 27, 2015
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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May 6, 2015
The Assembly received it.
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May 6, 2015
The Senate passed it.
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May 6, 2015
“Read a third time” (the official wording)
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Apr 23, 2015
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Apr 17, 2015
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.
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Apr 9, 2015
The committee held a public hearing.
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Mar 27, 2015
Sent to the Senate Committee on Elections and Local Government.
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Mar 27, 2015
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Mar 27, 2015 · Senate
Introduced by Senators LeMahieu and Olsen; cosponsored by Representatives Ballweg, Allen, Bernier, Billings, Born, E. Brooks, Edming, Kleefisch, Kulp, T. Larson, Ohnstad, Ripp, Swearingen and Tittl
- Mar 27, 2015 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Elections and Local Government
- Apr 9, 2015 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Apr 16, 2015 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Apr 17, 2015 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Apr 17, 2015 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Apr 23, 2015 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- May 4, 2015 · Senate
Placed on calendar 5-6-2015 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Miller
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Miller
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Read a second time
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 14
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 laid on table
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Rules suspended
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Read a third time
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Passed
- May 6, 2015 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- May 6, 2015 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- May 27, 2015 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Jun 3, 2015 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 6-9-2015 by Committee on Rules
- Jun 9, 2015 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Jun 9, 2015 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jun 9, 2015 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jun 9, 2015 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jun 9, 2015 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Jun 9, 2015 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 10, 2015 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Jun 17, 2015 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Jun 30, 2015 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 6-30-2015
- Jul 2, 2015 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 7-1-2015. 2015 Wisconsin Act 36
- Jul 2, 2015 · Senate
Published 7-2-2015
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