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Bills from the 2023–24 session

Senate Bill 916

Requiring local governments to designate an individual for consultation required under a federal program regarding refugee resettlement and assistance. (FE)

Vetoed by the governor

Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Mar 29, 2024. Lawmakers did not ⁠, so it stands.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 11, 2024

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 20, 2024

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 62 to 35

  5. Governor, stopped here

    Vetoed Mar 29, 2024.

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, May 14, 2024: “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 a procedure for providing notice of, and designating local consultation regarding, certain refugee resettlement and assistance. Under the bill, if an employee or officer of a city, village, town, county, or school district (local governmental unit) contacts or is contacted by the federal government or a private nonprofit voluntary agency regarding certain proposed placements of refugees in the local governmental unit, the employee or officer must report the contact to the chief elected official (placement report). The chief elected official must then notify each local governmental unit located, entirely or partially, within a 100-mile radius. The governing body of each local governmental unit receiving one of these notifications must meet and 1) include on the meeting agenda an informational item that the notification has been received and allow for a public comment on the item, and 2) designate a representative for the local governmental unit for purposes of consultation with the federal government or a private nonprofit voluntary agency.

Under the bill, all designees in the county with regard to a particular placement report must meet as a county refugee placement committee to discuss the proposed placement of refugees. The committee must then hold a public hearing regarding the proposed placement of refugees. After the hearing, the committee must make a recommendation on whether the local governmental unit should pass a resolution regarding its position on the proposed refugee placement and provide each designee with guidance on all considerations that should be included as part of a consultation with the federal government or a private nonprofit voluntary agency regarding the proposed placement of refugees. Designees must also report to the governing body of the local governmental unit for which the designee is a representative any plan relating to the proposed refugee placement established after consultation with the federal government or a private nonprofit voluntary agency.

Who's behind it

8 senators are its ⁠. All 8 are Republicans.

20 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 28 names

Authors (8)

Signed on in support (20)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

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 Transportation and Local Government vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 16, 2024

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 Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 16, 2024

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 Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 22 to 10 · Feb 20, 2024

See how each of the 32 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

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

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 62 to 35 · Feb 22, 2024 · 2 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (62)

Didn't vote (2)

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

What happened

  1. May 14, 2024

    The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.

  2. Mar 29, 2024

    The governor vetoed it.

  3. Mar 26, 2024

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 22, 2024

    The Assembly passed it too, 62 to 35.

  5. Feb 20, 2024

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Feb 20, 2024

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Feb 20, 2024

    The Senate passed it, 22 to 10.

  8. Feb 20, 2024

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Feb 20, 2024

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  10. Feb 16, 2024

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

  11. Feb 16, 2024

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  12. Feb 6, 2024

    The committee held a public hearing.

  13. Jan 11, 2024

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.

  14. Jan 11, 2024

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 11, 2024 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Tomczyk, James, Ballweg, Cabral-Guevara, Jacque, Nass, Quinn and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Hurd, Summerfield, Pronschinske, Petryk, Armstrong, Gustafson, Behnke, Bodden, Brandtjen, Dittrich, Edming, Goeben, Green, Magnafici, Maxey, Murphy, Mursau, Penterman, Rozar and Schmidt

  2. Jan 11, 2024 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government

  3. Feb 6, 2024 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Feb 9, 2024 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Tomczyk

  5. Feb 15, 2024 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  6. Feb 16, 2024 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  7. Feb 16, 2024 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  8. Feb 16, 2024 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  9. Feb 19, 2024 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-20-2024 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  10. Feb 20, 2024 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  11. Feb 20, 2024 · Senate

    Read a second time

  12. Feb 20, 2024 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  13. Feb 20, 2024 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  14. Feb 20, 2024 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  15. Feb 20, 2024 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 22, Noes 10

  16. Feb 20, 2024 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  17. Feb 20, 2024 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  18. Feb 20, 2024 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  19. Feb 20, 2024 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 10:52 AM on 2-22-2024 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 28

  20. Feb 22, 2024 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  21. Feb 22, 2024 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  22. Feb 22, 2024 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  23. Feb 22, 2024 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 62, Noes 35

  24. Feb 22, 2024 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  25. Feb 23, 2024 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  26. Feb 27, 2024 · Senate

    LRB correction

  27. Feb 27, 2024 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  28. Mar 26, 2024 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 3-26-2024

  29. Mar 29, 2024 · Senate

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-29-2024

  30. May 13, 2024 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 5-14-2024 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  31. May 14, 2024 · 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

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. 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.

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

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote