Assembly Bill 153
Aggrieved parties petitioning for a recount and making an appropriation
Became law
The governor signed it on Dec 1, 2017. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Mar 20, 2017
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jun 21, 2017
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Nov 7, 2017
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2017 Wisconsin Act 120
Latest entry in the official record, Dec 1, 2017: “Published 12-1-2017”
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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 provides that any candidate voted for at any election who is an aggrieved party or any elector who voted on any referendum question at any election may petition for a recount. The bill defines an “aggrieved party” as any of the following:
1. For an election at which 4,000 or fewer votes are cast for the office that the candidate seeks, a candidate who trails the leading candidate by no more than 40 votes after the official canvass.
Read the full summary Show less
2. For an election at which more than 4,000 votes are cast for the office that the candidate seeks, a candidate who trails the leading candidate by no more than 1 percent of the total votes cast for that office after the official canvass.
Current law allows any candidate to petition for a recount regardless of the difference between the votes cast for the petitioner and those cast for the leading candidate. Under current law, and under the bill, if the difference between the votes cast for the petitioner and those cast for the leading candidate is more than 0.25 percent of the total votes cast for the office that the candidates seek, the petitioner must pay a fee equal to the actual cost of performing the recount.
The bill also provides that the actual cost of performing a recount includes the actual cost incurred by the Elections Commission to provide services for performing the recount and allows the commission to recover that cost. In addition, under the bill, a person must file a petition for a recount no later than 5 p.m. on the first business day following the last meeting of the board of canvassers and the county board of canvassers may convene to conduct the recount no later than 9 a.m. on the third day after receiving the order for a recount. Under current law, a person must file a petition for a recount no later than 5 p.m. on the third business day following the last meeting of the board of canvassers and the county board of canvassers may convene to conduct the recount no later than 9 a.m. on the second day after receiving the order for a recount.
Who's behind it
29 lawmakers are its . All 29 are Republicans.
5 more lawmakers .
See all 34 names Hide the names
Authors (29)
- Scott Allen · Republican, Assembly
- Kathleen Bernier · Republican, Senate
- Janel Brandtjen · Republican, Assembly
- Edward Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- James Edming · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Gannon · Republican, Assembly
- Cody Horlacher · Republican, Assembly
- Terry Katsma · Republican, Assembly
- Samantha Kerkman · Republican, Assembly
- Jesse Kremer · Republican, Assembly
- Scott Krug · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Kulp · Republican, Assembly
- John Macco · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Kevin Petersen · Republican, Assembly
- Romaine Quinn · Republican, Senate
- Rob Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Mike Rohrkaste · Republican, Assembly
- Joe Sanfelippo · Republican, Assembly
- Michael Schraa · Republican, Assembly
- Ken Skowronski · Republican, Assembly
- John Spiros · Republican, Assembly
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Tittl · Republican, Assembly
- Ron Tusler · Republican, Assembly
- Thomas Weatherston · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (5)
- David Craig · Republican, Senate
- Chris Kapenga · Republican, Senate
- Devin LeMahieu · Republican, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Duey Stroebel · Republican, Senate
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 6 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections vote on an amendment
Passed, 7 to 2 · May 19, 2017
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 7, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections vote to recommend it
Passed, 6 to 3 · May 19, 2017
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 Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 6, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 5 to 0 · Nov 3, 2017
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Referred to joint committee on Finance by Committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 5 to 0 · Nov 3, 2017
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 3 to 2 · Nov 3, 2017
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Passed, 20 to 13 · Nov 7, 2017
See how each of the 33 senators voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (20)
- Alberta Darling (R, 8)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Dan Feyen (R, 20)
- David Craig (R, 28)
- Devin LeMahieu (R, 9)
- Duey Stroebel (R, 20)
- Frank G. Lasee (R, 1)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Jerry Petrowski (R, 29)
- Leah Vukmir (R, 5)
- Luther S. Olsen (R, 14)
- Patrick Testin (R, 24)
- Rob Cowles (R, 2)
- Roger Roth (R, 19)
- Scott L. Fitzgerald (R, 13)
- Sheila Harsdorf (R, 10)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Terry Moulton (R, 23)
- Thomas Tiffany (R, 12)
- Van Wanggaard (R, 21)
No (13)
- Bob Wirch (D, 22)
- Chris Larson (D, 7)
- Dave Hansen (D, 30)
- Fred A. Risser (D, 26)
- Janet Bewley (D, 25)
- Janis Ringhand (D, 15)
- Jennifer Shilling (D, 32)
- Jon Erpenbach (D, 27)
- Kathleen Vinehout (D, 31)
- LaTonya Johnson (D, 6)
- Lena Taylor (D, 4)
- Mark Miller (D, 16)
- Tim Carpenter (D, 3)
Official motion: “CONCURRENCE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Dec 1, 2017
The new law was published.
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Dec 1, 2017
The governor signed it. It became 2017 Wisconsin Act 120.
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Nov 28, 2017
Sent to the governor.
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Nov 9, 2017
“Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)
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Nov 7, 2017
The Assembly adopted it.
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Nov 7, 2017
The Senate passed it too, 20 to 13.
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Nov 7, 2017
The Senate adopted it.
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Nov 3, 2017
“Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)
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Nov 3, 2017
“Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Nov 3, 2017
Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.
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Jun 23, 2017
Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.
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Jun 22, 2017
The Senate received it.
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Jun 21, 2017
The Assembly passed it.
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Jun 21, 2017
The Assembly adopted it.
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May 19, 2017
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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May 19, 2017
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 6 to 3.
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Apr 18, 2017
The committee held a public hearing.
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Apr 18, 2017
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Mar 20, 2017
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections.
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Mar 20, 2017
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Mar 20, 2017 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Tusler, Thiesfeldt, Allen, Bernier, Brandtjen, E. Brooks, R. Brooks, Edming, Gannon, Horlacher, Katsma, Kerkman, Kremer, Krug, Kulp, Macco, Murphy, Mursau, Ott, Petersen, Quinn, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Schraa, Skowronski, Spiros, Steffen, Tittl and Weatherston; cosponsored by Senators LeMahieu, Craig, Kapenga, Marklein and Stroebel
- Mar 20, 2017 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections
- Apr 18, 2017 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 18, 2017 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Apr 24, 2017 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Tusler
- May 9, 2017 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- May 19, 2017 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 7, Noes 2
- May 19, 2017 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 6, Noes 3
- May 19, 2017 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Jun 14, 2017 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 1:01 PM on 6-21-2017 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 11
- Jun 21, 2017 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jun 21, 2017 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
- Jun 21, 2017 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jun 21, 2017 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jun 21, 2017 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Jun 21, 2017 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 22, 2017 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Jun 23, 2017 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization
- Jun 23, 2017 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Nov 3, 2017 · Senate
Referred to joint committee on Finance by Committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Nov 3, 2017 · Senate
Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Nov 3, 2017 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Nov 3, 2017 · Senate
Placed on calendar 11-7-2017 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Nov 7, 2017 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Fitzgerald
- Nov 7, 2017 · Senate
Read a second time
- Nov 7, 2017 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 adopted
- Nov 7, 2017 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 7, 2017 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Nov 7, 2017 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 20, Noes 13
- Nov 7, 2017 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly
Received from Senate amended and concurred in as amended (Senate amendment 1 adopted)
- Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly
Senate Amendment 1 concurred in
- Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly
Action ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 22, 2017 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 11-22-2017
- Nov 28, 2017 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 11-28-2017
- Dec 1, 2017 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 11-30-2017. 2017 Wisconsin Act 120
- Dec 1, 2017 · Assembly
Published 12-1-2017
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