Skip to content
Bills from the 2021–22 session

Assembly Bill 23

Prohibiting certain government officials from mandating vaccination against the 2019 novel coronavirus

Vetoed by the governor

Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Apr 23, 2021. Lawmakers did not ⁠, so it stands.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 29, 2021

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Mar 23, 2021

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Apr 14, 2021

  5. Governor, stopped here

    Vetoed Apr 23, 2021.

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, May 17, 2022: “Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82”

Read the governor's veto message · All vetoes this session

Read the bill

Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.

What it would have done

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

The bill prohibits the Department of Health Services and local health officers from requiring individuals to receive a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. Under current law, during a state of emergency related to public health declared by the governor, DHS may order any individual to receive a vaccination, except under certain medical circumstances or if the individual objects for religious or conscience reasons, and may isolate or quarantine an individual who is unwilling or unable to be vaccinated.

Who's behind it

4 representatives are its ⁠. All 4 are Republicans.

21 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 25 names

Authors (4)

Signed on in support (21)

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 5 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics vote on an amendment

Passed, 6 to 3 · Mar 17, 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 Constitution and Ethics, Ayes 6, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics vote to recommend it

Passed, 6 to 3 · Mar 17, 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 Constitution and Ethics, Ayes 6, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote

Passed, 59 to 36 · Mar 23, 2021 · 3 didn't vote

See how each of the 98 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (59)

Didn't vote (3)

Official motion: “SHALL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 60 to 33 · Mar 23, 2021 · 3 didn't vote

See how each of the 96 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (60)

Didn't vote (3)

Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 3 to 2 · Apr 13, 2021

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

What happened

  1. May 17, 2022

    The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.

  2. May 6, 2021

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  3. Apr 23, 2021

    The governor vetoed it.

  4. Apr 21, 2021

    Sent to the governor.

  5. Apr 14, 2021

    The Senate passed it too.

  6. Apr 13, 2021

    “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  7. Mar 24, 2021

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.

  8. Mar 23, 2021

    The Senate received it.

  9. Mar 23, 2021

    The Assembly passed it, 60 to 33.

  10. Mar 23, 2021

    “Point of order that Assembly Amendment 2 not germane under Assembly Rule 54 (3)(f) well taken” (the official wording)

  11. Mar 23, 2021

    The Assembly adopted it.

  12. Mar 19, 2021

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  13. Mar 17, 2021

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  14. Mar 17, 2021

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 6 to 3.

  15. Mar 5, 2021 to Mar 9, 2021

    3 more representatives signed on in support.

  16. Mar 3, 2021

    The committee held a public hearing.

  17. Feb 12, 2021 to Mar 2, 2021

    6 more representatives signed on in support.

  18. Jan 29, 2021

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics.

  19. Jan 29, 2021

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 29, 2021 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Thiesfeldt, Horlacher, Brooks and Schraa; cosponsored by Senators Jacque, Felzkowski, Kapenga, Marklein, Petrowski, Wanggaard, Wimberger, Stroebel, Bernier, Stafsholt, Nass, Ballweg and Bradley

  2. Jan 29, 2021 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Constitution and Ethics

  3. Feb 12, 2021 · Assembly

    Representative Allen added as a coauthor

  4. Feb 26, 2021 · Assembly

    Representative Ramthun added as a coauthor

  5. Mar 1, 2021 · Assembly

    Representatives Edming and Tittl added as coauthors

  6. Mar 2, 2021 · Assembly

    Representatives Loudenbeck and Plumer added as coauthors

  7. Mar 3, 2021 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  8. Mar 5, 2021 · Assembly

    Representative Wichgers added as a coauthor

  9. Mar 8, 2021 · Assembly

    Representative Cabral-Guevara added as a coauthor

  10. Mar 9, 2021 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Thiesfeldt

  11. Mar 9, 2021 · Assembly

    Representative Dittrich added as a coauthor

  12. Mar 10, 2021 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  13. Mar 17, 2021 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Constitution and Ethics, Ayes 6, Noes 3

  14. Mar 17, 2021 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Constitution and Ethics, Ayes 6, Noes 3

  15. Mar 17, 2021 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  16. Mar 17, 2021 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 3-23-2021 by Committee on Rules

  17. Mar 19, 2021 · Assembly

    Representative Steffen added as a coauthor

  18. Mar 23, 2021 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  19. Mar 23, 2021 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  20. Mar 23, 2021 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representatives Riemer, S. Rodriguez, Anderson, Andraca, Baldeh, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Cabrera, Conley, Considine, Doyle, Drake, Emerson, Goyke, Haywood, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Hong, McGuire, B. Meyers, Milroy, Moore Omokunde, L. Myers, Neubauer, Ohnstad, Ortiz-Velez, Pope, Shankland, Shelton, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Spreitzer, Stubbs, Subeck, Vining and Vruwink

  21. Mar 23, 2021 · Assembly

    Point of order that Assembly Amendment 2 not germane under Assembly Rule 54 (3)(f) well taken

  22. Mar 23, 2021 · Assembly

    Decision of the Chair appealed

  23. Mar 23, 2021 · Assembly

    Decision of the Chair upheld, Ayes 59, Noes 36

  24. Mar 23, 2021 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  25. Mar 23, 2021 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  26. Mar 23, 2021 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 60, Noes 33, Paired 2

  27. Mar 23, 2021 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  28. Mar 23, 2021 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  29. Mar 24, 2021 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  30. Mar 24, 2021 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  31. Apr 13, 2021 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  32. Apr 13, 2021 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 4-14-2021 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  33. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Read a second time

  34. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  35. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  36. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in

  37. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  38. Apr 14, 2021 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  39. Apr 15, 2021 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 4-15-2021

  40. Apr 21, 2021 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 4-21-2021 by directive of the Speaker

  41. Apr 23, 2021 · Assembly

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-23-2021

  42. May 6, 2021 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  43. May 6, 2021 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 5-11-2021 by Committee on Rules

  44. May 17, 2022 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 5-17-2022 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  45. May 17, 2022 · Assembly

    Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

Terms on this page

Veto override

Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.

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

Veto override

Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.

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