SB 265

This bill requires legislative committees to hold public hearings on bills based

on petitions signed by individuals qualified to vote in Wisconsin, referred to as

“qualified electors” in the statutes.

Under the bill, any qualified elector may petition for a public hearing on any

bill. The bill requires that certain information be provided on the petition, including

the bill number and analysis of the bill prepared by the Legislative Reference

Bureau. Additionally, each qualified elector signing the petition must provide his or

her address for purposes of voting. The bill also authorizes use of electronic petitions,

which qualified electors may sign electronically. The bill requires the Elections

Commission to prescribe the form of the electronic petition.

Each petition under the bill is required to be filed with the Elections

Commission, which must then verify that the petition satisfies the bill's

requirements, including that all signers are qualified electors. If the commission

determines that a petition for a public hearing on a bill is signed by qualified electors

equaling at least 3 percent of the vote cast for the office of governor in the most recent

gubernatorial election, the commission must certify the bill for a public hearing and

file the certification with the legislature. Within 30 days after the commission files

the certification with the legislature, at least one legislative committee having

jurisdiction over the bill must hold a public hearing on the bill. The commission may

not certify a petition after February 1 of each even-numbered year, as the

legislature's biennial regular session is coming to a close.