Assembly Bill 19
Justices or judges authorized to officiate a marriage
Stopped before the full Assembly voted
The recommended passing it, but the full Assembly never voted on it. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Jan 29, 2021
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, stopped here
Stopped here. The full Assembly never voted on it.
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Senate vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 15, 2022: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
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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.
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
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 would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, a marriage is validly solemnized and contracted in this state after a marriage license has been issued and the two parties mutually declare, before an authorized officiating person and two witnesses, that they take each other as each other's spouse. The following persons are authorized officiating persons:
1. An ordained member of the clergy.
Read the full summary Show less
2. A licentiate of a denominational body or an appointee of a bishop serving as the regular member of the clergy of any church of the denomination to which the member of the clergy belongs.
3. The two marrying parties themselves, by mutual declaration that they take each other as each other's spouse.
4. A judge of a court of record, reserve judge, or municipal judge.
5. A circuit court commissioner.
This bill adds a mej koob, in accordance with traditional Hmong wedding ceremony customs, to the list of who may officiate at a marriage. A mej koob is an individual in Hmong culture who negotiates a marriage between the families of the future bride and groom. A mej koob also conducts the wedding celebration and ensures that the traditional Hmong cultural customs and rituals are followed during the celebration.
This bill also specifies that any justice or judge may officiate a wedding, regardless of whether the justice or judge is of a “court of record.”
Who's behind it
5 representatives are its . 4 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.
8 more lawmakers .
See all 13 names Hide the names
Authors (5)
- Cindi Duchow · Republican, Assembly
- Donna Rozar · Republican, Assembly
- Ken Skowronski · Republican, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
- Ron Tusler · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (8)
- Jonathan Brostoff · Democrat, Assembly
- Tim Carpenter · Democrat, Senate
- Mary Felzkowski · Republican, Senate
- Dale Kooyenga · Republican, Senate
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
- Roger Roth · Republican, Senate
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.
Assembly Committee on Family Law vote on an amendment
Passed, 9 to 0 · Jun 15, 2021
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 Family Law, Ayes 9, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly Committee on Family Law vote to recommend it
Passed, 9 to 0 · Jun 15, 2021
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 Family Law, Ayes 9, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 15, 2022
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Jun 18, 2021
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Jun 15, 2021
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jun 15, 2021
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 9 to 0.
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Apr 27, 2021
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 29, 2021
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Family Law.
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Jan 29, 2021
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 29, 2021 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Tusler, Skowronski, Rozar, Duchow and Subeck; cosponsored by Senators Kooyenga, Carpenter, L. Taylor, Marklein, Felzkowski, Nass and Roth
- Jan 29, 2021 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Family Law
- Mar 31, 2021 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Tusler
- Apr 27, 2021 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- May 5, 2021 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Jun 15, 2021 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Family Law, Ayes 9, Noes 0
- Jun 15, 2021 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Family Law, Ayes 9, Noes 0
- Jun 15, 2021 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Jun 16, 2021 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 6-22-2021 by Committee on Rules
- Jun 18, 2021 · Assembly
Representative Brostoff added as a coauthor
- Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly
Laid on the table
- Mar 15, 2022 · Assembly
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.
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
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
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote