Assembly Bill 21
Aids to counties and municipalities for certain special election costs and making an appropriation. (FE)
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
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 would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill requires the Elections Commission to reimburse counties and municipalities for certain costs incurred in the administration of special primaries and special elections for state office. Current law defines “state office” as the following: governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, state superintendent of public instruction, justice of the supreme court, court of appeals judge, circuit court judge, state senator, state representative to the assembly, and district attorney.
A cost is eligible for reimbursement under the bill only if certain conditions are met, including that the Elections Commission determines the cost is reasonable and the rate paid by the county or municipality for the cost does not exceed the rate customarily paid for similar costs at a primary or election that is not a special primary or election. Under the bill, only the following costs are reimbursable:
Read the full summary Show less
1. Rental payments for polling places.
2. Election day wages paid to election officials working at the polls.
3. Costs for the publication of required election notices.
4. Printing and postage costs for absentee ballots and envelopes.
5. Costs for the design and printing of ballots and poll books.
6. Purchase of ballot bags or containers, including ties or seals for chain of custody purposes.
7. Costs to program electronic voting machines.
8. Purchase of memory devices for electronic voting machines.
9. Wages paid to conduct a county canvass.
10. Data entry costs for a statewide voter registration system.
Who's behind it
9 representatives are its . All 9 are Republicans.
4 more lawmakers .
See all 13 names Hide the names
Authors (9)
- Rob Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- James Edming · Republican, Assembly
- Rick Gundrum · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Clint Moses · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Timothy Ramthun · Republican, Assembly
- Shae Sortwell · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Tittl · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (4)
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
- Jeff Smith · Democrat, Senate
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections vote to recommend it
Passed, 9 to 0 · Nov 15, 2021
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 Campaigns and Elections, 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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Nov 15, 2021
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Nov 15, 2021
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 9 to 0.
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Jun 1, 2021
The committee held a public hearing.
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Feb 2, 2021
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Feb 2, 2021
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Jan 29, 2021
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections.
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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 Sortwell, Brooks, Edming, Gundrum, Knodl, Moses, Murphy, Ramthun and Tittl; cosponsored by Senators Jacque, Nass and Smith
- Jan 29, 2021 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections
- Feb 2, 2021 · Assembly
Representative Wichgers added as a coauthor
- Feb 2, 2021 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Jun 1, 2021 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Jun 16, 2021 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Nov 15, 2021 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 9, Noes 0
- Nov 15, 2021 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- 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
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
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
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