Senate Bill 739
An official state language and use of English for governmental written expression and for nongovernmental purposes
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 29, 2020
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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 1, 2020: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It never got a hearing in the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection. 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
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill provides that the official language of this state is English. Currently, the state has no official language.
The bill also provides that, unless otherwise specifically required by law, all written expression by all units of state and local government in this state shall be in the English language, except that such expression may be in another language when appropriate to the circumstances of an individual case, the implementation of a program in a specific instance, or the discharge of a responsibility in a particular situation. The bill also permits government officers and employees to use a language other than English in oral or written expression whenever necessary for one or more of eight specified purposes.
Read the full summary Show less
In addition, the bill precludes any unit of state or local government in this state from prohibiting any person from becoming proficient in any language or restricting the oral or written use of any language for a nongovernmental purpose.
Who's behind it
5 senators are its . All 5 are Republicans.
5 more lawmakers .
See all 10 names Hide the names
Authors (5)
- David Craig · Republican, Senate
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Chris Kapenga · Republican, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (5)
- Janel Brandtjen · Republican, Assembly
- Rick Gundrum · Republican, Assembly
- Adam Neylon · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
- Shannon Zimmerman · Republican, Assembly
What happened
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Apr 1, 2020
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Jan 30, 2020
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Jan 29, 2020
Sent to the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection.
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Jan 29, 2020
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 29, 2020 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Jacque, Nass, Craig, Kapenga and Marklein; cosponsored by Representatives Brandtjen, Neylon, Gundrum and Zimmerman
- Jan 29, 2020 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection
- Jan 30, 2020 · Senate
Representative Wichgers added as a cosponsor
- Apr 1, 2020 · 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
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