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Bills · 2023-2024 Regular Session

SJR 54

Adopted Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: the freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (first consideration).

Constitutional amendments — First consideration Governor Legislature Legislature — Committees Municipality Public health Religious societies

  1. Introduced, completed
  2. Passes Senate, completed
  3. Passes Assembly, completed
  4. Adopted, completed

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

This constitutional amendment, proposed to the 2023 legislature on first

consideration, provides that the state or a political subdivision of the state may not

order the closure of or forbid gatherings in places of worship in response to a state

of emergency at the national, state, or local level, including an emergency related to

public health.

A constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive legislatures,

and ratification by the people, before it can become effective.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Bradley (R) , Cabral-Guevara (R) , James (R) , Marklein (R) , Nass (R) , Quinn (R) , Stroebel (R) , Tomczyk (R)

27 cosponsors

Allen (R) , Armstrong (R) , Behnke (R) , Binsfeld (R) , Bodden (R) , Brandtjen (R) , Brooks (R) , Edming (R) , Goeben (R) , Green (R) , Gundrum (R) , Gustafson (R) , Hurd (R) , Magnafici (R) , Maxey (R) , Michalski (R) , Murphy (R) , O'Connor (R) , Penterman (R) , Rettinger (R) , Rozar (R) , Schmidt (R) , Schraa (R) , Schutt (R) , Tittl (R) , Tusler (R) , Wichgers (R)

Votes

Senate: Report adoption recommended by Committee on Licensing, Constitution and Federalism, Ayes 3, Noes 2

Passed 3–2 Aug 2, 2023 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: ADOPTION

Passed 21–10 Nov 7, 2023 official source full page

Not voting · 2

Assembly: CONCURRENCE

Passed 63–33 Feb 22, 2024 official source full page

Aye · 63

Not voting · 3

Full history

  1. Jun 14, 2023 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Tomczyk, Bradley, Cabral-Guevara, James, Marklein, Nass, Quinn and Stroebel; cosponsored by Representatives Bodden, Tusler, Behnke, Allen, Armstrong, Binsfeld, Brandtjen, Brooks, Edming, Goeben, Gundrum, Gustafson, Hurd, Magnafici, Maxey, Michalski, Murphy, O'Connor, Penterman, Rettinger, Rozar, Schmidt, Schraa, Schutt, Tittl, Wichgers and Green

  2. Jun 14, 2023 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Licensing, Constitution and Federalism

  3. Jul 18, 2023 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Aug 1, 2023 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  5. Aug 2, 2023 · Senate

    Report adoption recommended by Committee on Licensing, Constitution and Federalism, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  6. Aug 2, 2023 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  7. Nov 3, 2023 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 11-7-2023 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  8. Nov 7, 2023 · Senate

    Read a third time and adopted, Ayes 21, Noes 10

  9. Nov 7, 2023 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  10. Nov 7, 2023 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  11. Nov 7, 2023 · Senate

    Read a second time

  12. Nov 7, 2023 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  13. Nov 7, 2023 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give joint resolution its third reading

  14. Feb 14, 2024 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  15. Feb 20, 2024 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 10:02 AM on 2-22-2024 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 28

  16. Feb 22, 2024 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  17. Feb 22, 2024 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  18. Feb 22, 2024 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  19. Feb 22, 2024 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 63, Noes 33

  20. Feb 22, 2024 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  21. Feb 22, 2024 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  22. Feb 28, 2024 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  23. Mar 6, 2024 · Senate

    Deposited in the office of the Secretary of State on 3-6-2024

  24. May 1, 2024 · Senate

    Published 4-29-2024. Enrolled Joint Resolution 11