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Bills from the 2021–22 session

Senate Bill 213

Actions for violations of elections laws

Vetoed by the governor

Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Apr 15, 2022. Lawmakers did not ⁠, so it stands.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Mar 16, 2021

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Apr 14, 2021

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 24, 2022

  5. Governor, stopped here

    Vetoed Apr 15, 2022.

  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

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What it would have done

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

This bill provides that in an action relating to a violation of state election laws, venue is proper in any county within the area covered by any office on the ballot for the election that is affected by the conduct alleged to be in violation of the state election laws. Under current law, for violations of state election laws, a defendant who is a resident of this state is generally tried in the circuit court for the county where the defendant resides, except that a defendant who is a resident of the state may move the court to change the place of trial to the county where the offense was committed.

Under current law, a voter who believes that an election official has acted contrary to law with regard to the administration of elections may file a written sworn complaint with the Elections Commission requesting that the official be required to conform his or her conduct to the law. No individual who is authorized to file a complaint, other than a district attorney or the attorney general, may commence an action or proceeding to test the validity of any decision, action, or failure to act on the part of any election official without first filing a complaint. Under this bill, any person may commence an action or proceeding to test the validity of any decision, action, or failure to act on the part of any election official without first filing a complaint.

Who's behind it

3 senators are its ⁠. All 3 are Republicans.

8 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 11 names

Authors (3)

Signed on in support (8)

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 4 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Elections vote on an amendment

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: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Elections vote to recommend it

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: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 20 to 11 · Apr 14, 2021 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 32 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Didn't vote (1)

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

Senate vote

Passed, 20 to 11 · Mar 8, 2022 · 2 didn't vote

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Didn't vote (2)

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

What happened

  1. May 17, 2022

    The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.

  2. Apr 15, 2022

    The governor vetoed it.

  3. Apr 14, 2022

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 8, 2022

    “Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)

  5. Mar 8, 2022

    “Point of order that Senate Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1 was not germane well taken” (the official wording)

  6. Feb 24, 2022

    The Senate adopted it.

  7. Feb 24, 2022

    The Assembly passed it too.

  8. Feb 24, 2022

    The Assembly adopted it.

  9. Feb 22, 2022

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  10. Dec 6, 2021

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary.

  11. Nov 16, 2021

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  12. Apr 14, 2021

    The Assembly received it.

  13. Apr 14, 2021

    The Senate passed it, 20 to 11.

  14. Apr 14, 2021

    The Senate adopted it.

  15. Apr 13, 2021

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  16. Apr 13, 2021

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics, Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  17. Apr 8, 2021

    The committee held a public hearing.

  18. Mar 18, 2021

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  19. Mar 16, 2021

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics.

  20. Mar 16, 2021

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Mar 16, 2021 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Stroebel, Darling and Felzkowski; cosponsored by Representatives Brooks, VanderMeer, Loudenbeck, Murphy, Knodl and Skowronski

  2. Mar 16, 2021 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics

  3. Mar 18, 2021 · Senate

    Representative Wichgers added as a cosponsor

  4. Apr 7, 2021 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Stroebel

  5. Apr 8, 2021 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  6. Apr 12, 2021 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senators Stroebel and Bernier

  7. Apr 13, 2021 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  8. Apr 13, 2021 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  9. Apr 13, 2021 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  10. Apr 13, 2021 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  11. Apr 13, 2021 · Senate

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

  12. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Read a second time

  13. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 adopted

  14. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  15. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  16. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 20, Noes 11

  17. Apr 14, 2021 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  18. Apr 14, 2021 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  19. Nov 16, 2021 · Assembly

    Representative Allen added as a cosponsor

  20. Dec 6, 2021 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary

  21. Feb 21, 2022 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Brooks

  22. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Withdrawn from committee on Judiciary and referred to committee on Rules pursuant to Assembly Rule 42 (3)(c)

  23. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 9:45 AM on 2-23-2022 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 29

  24. Feb 24, 2022 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  25. Feb 24, 2022 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  26. Feb 24, 2022 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  27. Feb 24, 2022 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  28. Feb 24, 2022 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in as amended

  29. Feb 24, 2022 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  30. Feb 24, 2022 · Senate

    Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  31. Mar 4, 2022 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-8-2022 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  32. Mar 8, 2022 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Senators Larson, Carpenter, Johnson, Agard, Smith, Bewley, Ringhand, Erpenbach, Wirch and Pfaff

  33. Mar 8, 2022 · Senate

    Point of order that Senate Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1 was not germane well taken

  34. Mar 8, 2022 · Senate

    Decision of the Chair stands as the judgement of the Senate, Ayes 20, Noes 11

  35. Mar 8, 2022 · Senate

    Assembly Amendment 1 concurred in

  36. Mar 8, 2022 · Senate

    Action ordered immediately messaged

  37. Mar 15, 2022 · Senate

    LRB correction (Assembly Amendment 1)

  38. Mar 15, 2022 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  39. Apr 14, 2022 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 4-14-2022

  40. Apr 15, 2022 · Senate

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-15-2022

  41. May 17, 2022 · Senate

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

  42. May 17, 2022 · Senate

    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