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Bills from the 2021–22 session

Senate Bill 14

Justices or judges authorized to officiate a marriage

Became law

The governor signed it on Jul 9, 2021. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 28, 2021

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Apr 14, 2021

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Jun 22, 2021

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2021 Wisconsin Act 63

Latest entry in the official record, Jul 9, 2021: “Published 7-9-2021”

Read the bill

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What it does

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

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

7 senators are its ⁠. 5 are Republicans and 2 are Democrats.

6 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 13 names

Authors (7)

Signed on in support (6)

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 was one vote on this bill.

Senate Committee on Insurance vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 0 · Mar 12, 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 Insurance, Licensing and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Jul 9, 2021

    The new law was published.

  2. Jul 9, 2021

    The governor signed it. It became 2021 Wisconsin Act 63.

  3. Jul 6, 2021

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Jun 22, 2021

    The Assembly passed it too.

  5. Jun 18, 2021

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  6. Jun 15, 2021

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  7. Apr 14, 2021

    The Assembly received it.

  8. Apr 14, 2021

    The Senate passed it.

  9. Apr 14, 2021

    The Senate adopted it.

  10. Mar 12, 2021

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.

  11. Feb 17, 2021

    The committee held a public hearing.

  12. Jan 28, 2021

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Insurance, Licensing and Forestry.

  13. Jan 28, 2021

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 28, 2021 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Kooyenga, Carpenter, Felzkowski, Marklein, Nass, Roth and L. Taylor; cosponsored by Representatives Tusler, Duchow, Rozar, Skowronski and Subeck

  2. Jan 28, 2021 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Insurance, Licensing and Forestry

  3. Feb 17, 2021 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Mar 9, 2021 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  5. Mar 12, 2021 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Insurance, Licensing and Forestry, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  6. Mar 12, 2021 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  7. Mar 29, 2021 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Kooyenga and Carpenter

  8. Apr 13, 2021 · Senate

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

  9. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Read a second time

  10. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  11. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  12. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  13. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed

  14. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  15. Apr 14, 2021 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  16. Jun 15, 2021 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  17. Jun 16, 2021 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 6-22-2021 by Committee on Rules

  18. Jun 18, 2021 · Assembly

    Representative Brostoff added as a cosponsor

  19. Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly

    Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up

  20. Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  21. Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  22. Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  23. Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  24. Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  25. Jun 22, 2021 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  26. Jun 28, 2021 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  27. Jul 6, 2021 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 7-6-2021

  28. Jul 9, 2021 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 7-8-2021. 2021 Wisconsin Act 63

  29. Jul 9, 2021 · Senate

    Published 7-9-2021

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

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

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