Senate Bill 408
Public funds for substantially identical materials distributed by state senators and representatives to the assembly prior to a general election and providing a penalty
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 8, 2024. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Sep 8, 2023
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Nov 14, 2023
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jan 25, 2024
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2023 Wisconsin Act 105
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 8, 2024: “Published 3-9-2024”
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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
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, no person elected to state or local office who becomes a candidate for national, state, or local office may use public funds for the cost of materials or distribution for 50 or more pieces of substantially identical material distributed after the following:
1. In the case of a candidate who is nominated by nomination papers, the first day authorized by law for circulation of nomination papers as a candidate.
Read the full summary Show less
2. In the case of a candidate who is nominated at a primary election by write-in votes, the day the board of canvassers issues its determination that the person is nominated.
3. In the case of a candidate who is nominated at a caucus, the date of the caucus.
4. In the case of any other candidate who is nominated solely by filing a declaration of candidacy, the first day of the month preceding the month that includes the last day for filing the declaration.
Under this bill, that 50-piece limitation applies to a representative to the assembly who becomes a candidate at an election for partisan office only after the last day authorized by law for filing nomination papers for that election. Additionally, under the bill, with respect to any election for partisan office, a state senator, regardless of whether the senator becomes a candidate at that election, may not use public funds for the cost of materials or distribution for 150 or more pieces of substantially identical material distributed after the last day authorized by law for filing nomination papers for that election.
The bill establishes penalties for violation of all of the above requirements, whether under current law or under the bill.
The bill also provides that all of the above requirements, whether under current law or under the bill, do not apply during a state of emergency declared by the federal government, the governor, or a local government with respect to any elective office representing any part of the territory that is subject to the emergency declaration if the materials distributed are substantially related to the emergency or a government order issued in connection with the emergency.
Who's behind it
3 lawmakers are its . All 3 are Republicans.
8 more lawmakers .
See all 11 names Hide the names
Authors (3)
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (8)
- Gus Gustafson · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Treig Pronschinske · Republican, Assembly
- Christine Sinicki · Democrat, Assembly
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
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 3 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Shared Revenue vote on an amendment
Passed, 5 to 0 · Nov 8, 2023
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 1 recommended by Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Shared Revenue vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Nov 8, 2023
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 Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Passed, 27 to 6 · Nov 14, 2023
See how each of the 33 senators voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (27)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Brad Pfaff (D, 32)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Cory Tomczyk (R, 29)
- Dan Feyen (R, 20)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Devin LeMahieu (R, 9)
- Duey Stroebel (R, 20)
- Eric Wimberger (R, 2)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Jeff Smith (D, 31)
- Jesse James (R, 23)
- Joan Ballweg (R, 14)
- John Jagler (R, 13)
- Julian Bradley (R, 28)
- Lena Taylor (D, 4)
- Mark Spreitzer (D, 15)
- Mary Felzkowski (R, 12)
- Melissa Agard (D, 16)
- Patrick Testin (R, 24)
- Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R, 19)
- Rob Cowles (R, 2)
- Rob Hutton (R, 5)
- Rob Stafsholt (R, 10)
- Romaine Quinn (R, 25)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Van Wanggaard (R, 21)
No (6)
- Bob Wirch (D, 22)
- Chris Larson (D, 7)
- Dianne Hesselbein (D, 27)
- Kelda Roys (D, 26)
- LaTonya Johnson (D, 6)
- Tim Carpenter (D, 3)
Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 8, 2024
The new law was published.
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Mar 8, 2024
The governor signed it. It became 2023 Wisconsin Act 105.
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Mar 4, 2024
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 20, 2024
The Assembly passed it too.
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Feb 20, 2024
“Read” (the official wording)
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Feb 20, 2024
The Assembly received it.
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Feb 20, 2024
The Senate passed it.
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Feb 20, 2024
The Senate adopted it.
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Feb 13, 2024
“Recalled fron enrolling pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 113” (the official wording)
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Jan 25, 2024
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Jan 25, 2024
The Assembly passed it too.
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Jan 22, 2024
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Nov 14, 2023
The Assembly received it.
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Nov 14, 2023
The Senate passed it, 27 to 6.
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Nov 14, 2023
The Senate adopted it.
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Nov 14, 2023
“Placed on the foot of the 14th order of business on the calendar of 11-14-2023” (the official wording)
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Nov 8, 2023
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Nov 8, 2023
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Nov 6, 2023
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Sep 26, 2023
The committee held a public hearing.
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Sep 8, 2023
Sent to the Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection.
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Sep 8, 2023
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Sep 8, 2023 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Knodl, Marklein and Nass; cosponsored by Representatives Steffen, Murphy, O'Connor, Pronschinske, Sinicki and Wichgers
- Sep 8, 2023 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection
- Sep 26, 2023 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Oct 11, 2023 · Senate
LRB correction
- Oct 30, 2023 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Knodl
- Nov 3, 2023 · Senate
LRB correction
- Nov 6, 2023 · Senate
Representative Subeck added as a cosponsor
- Nov 8, 2023 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Nov 8, 2023 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Nov 8, 2023 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Nov 8, 2023 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Nov 13, 2023 · Senate
Placed on calendar 11-14-2023 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Nov 14, 2023 · Senate
Placed on the foot of the 14th order of business on the calendar of 11-14-2023
- Nov 14, 2023 · Senate
Read a second time
- Nov 14, 2023 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 adopted
- Nov 14, 2023 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 14, 2023 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Nov 14, 2023 · Senate
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 27, Noes 6
- Nov 14, 2023 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 14, 2023 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Jan 22, 2024 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Jan 23, 2024 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 10:17 AM on 1-25-2024 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 23
- Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly
Representative Gustafson added as a cosponsor
- Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 25, 2024 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Jan 30, 2024 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Feb 13, 2024 · Senate
Recalled fron enrolling pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 113
- Feb 13, 2024 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 16, 2024 · Senate
Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senator LeMahieu
- Feb 19, 2024 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-20-2024 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 20, 2024 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 20, 2024 · Senate
Senate Amendment 2 adopted
- Feb 20, 2024 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 20, 2024 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 20, 2024 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Feb 20, 2024 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 20, 2024 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 20, 2024 · Assembly
Read
- Feb 20, 2024 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from Senate message and take up
- Feb 20, 2024 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 20, 2024 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 20, 2024 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 20, 2024 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 20, 2024 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 21, 2024 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 29, 2024 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Mar 4, 2024 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 3-4-2024 by directive of the Majority Leader
- Mar 8, 2024 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 3-8-2024. 2023 Wisconsin Act 105
- Mar 8, 2024 · Senate
Published 3-9-2024
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
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
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote