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Bills from the 2021–22 session

Senate Bill 943

Requiring the Elections Commission to send guidance documents to the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules

Vetoed by the governor

Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Apr 11, 2022. Lawmakers did not ⁠, so it stands.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 3, 2022

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 21 to 12

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 59 to 35

  5. Governor, stopped here

    Vetoed Apr 11, 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 requires the Elections Commission to weekly submit to the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules all documents and communications from the commission that the commission issued in the previous week that are applicable to municipal clerks generally and qualify as guidance documents. If JCRAR determines that such a document or communication satisfies the definition of a rule under current law, JCRAR must notify the commission of that determination and the commission must notify the municipal clerks that the document or communication is withdrawn and no longer applicable. Under this bill, the commission may promulgate the withdrawn document or communication as a rule, if necessary for preserving the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. For purposes of promulgating administrative rules, a “rule” is defined under current law as “a regulation, standard, statement of policy, or general order of general application that has the force of law and that is issued by an agency to implement, interpret, or make specific legislation enforced or administered by the agency or to govern the organization or procedure of the agency.” The bill also requires the commission to provide a disclaimer with all guidance documents that it provides to municipal clerks providing the statutory definition of “guidance document” and indicating that guidance documents do not have the force of law. Under current law, “guidance document” means, generally, any formal or official document or communication issued by a state agency that explains the agency's implementation of the current law that is enforced or administered by the agency or provides advice with respect to how a state agency is likely to apply the current law that is enforced or administered by the agency.

Who's behind it

4 senators are its ⁠. All 4 are Republicans.

19 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 23 names

Authors (4)

Signed on in support (19)

How lawmakers voted

There were 3 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Elections vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 9, 2022

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 Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 21 to 12 · Feb 22, 2022

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

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

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 59 to 35 · Feb 24, 2022 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 95 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (59)

Didn't vote (1)

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

What happened

  1. May 17, 2022

    The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.

  2. Apr 11, 2022

    The governor vetoed it.

  3. Apr 5, 2022

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 24, 2022

    The Assembly passed it too, 59 to 35.

  5. Feb 23, 2022

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Feb 23, 2022

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Feb 22, 2022

    The Senate passed it, 21 to 12.

  8. Feb 9, 2022

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

  9. Feb 8, 2022

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  10. Feb 7, 2022

    The committee held a public hearing.

  11. Feb 3, 2022 to Feb 7, 2022

    3 more representatives and 1 senator signed on in support.

  12. Feb 3, 2022

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

  13. Feb 3, 2022

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Feb 3, 2022 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Darling, Nass, Felzkowski and Stroebel; cosponsored by Representatives Spiros, Gundrum, Behnke, Steffen, Armstrong, Sanfelippo, Penterman, Cabral-Guevara, Tittl, Mursau, Rozar, Oldenburg, Knodl, Murphy, Wittke and Neylon

  2. Feb 3, 2022 · Senate

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

  3. Feb 3, 2022 · Senate

    Representatives Brooks, Duchow and Magnafici added as cosponsors

  4. Feb 7, 2022 · Senate

    Senator Ballweg added as a coauthor

  5. Feb 7, 2022 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  6. Feb 8, 2022 · Senate

    Representative Schraa added as a cosponsor

  7. Feb 9, 2022 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  8. Feb 9, 2022 · Senate

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

  9. Feb 9, 2022 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  10. Feb 18, 2022 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-22-2022 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  11. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Read a second time

  12. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  13. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  14. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 21, Noes 12

  15. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  16. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  17. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  18. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 8:14 AM on 2-24-2022 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 30

  19. Feb 24, 2022 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  20. Feb 24, 2022 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  21. Feb 24, 2022 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  22. Feb 24, 2022 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 59, Noes 35, Paired 4

  23. Feb 24, 2022 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  24. Feb 24, 2022 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  25. Mar 2, 2022 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  26. Apr 5, 2022 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 4-5-2022 by directive of the Majority Leader

  27. Apr 11, 2022 · Senate

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-8-2022

  28. May 17, 2022 · Senate

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

  29. 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