Skip to content

Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

AB 224

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: the form of referendum questions.

Constitution wisconsin Referendum

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Assembly, not reached
  3. Passes Senate, not reached
  4. Governor signs, not reached
  5. Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, any referendum question submitted to the voters, including to approve or reject a constitutional amendment, must be concise and may not be worded in such a manner as to require a negative vote to approve a proposition or an affirmative vote to disapprove a proposition.

This bill adds the requirement that the referendum question be in plain language. The bill additionally adds the requirement that for a proposed constitutional amendment, the question must clearly indicate whether any part of the constitutional amendment is contained in the statutes as of the date of final passage of the joint resolution directing that the question be submitted to a vote of the people.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Andraca (D) , Brown (D) , Clancy (D) , DeSmidt (D) , Fitzgerald (D) , Joers (D) , Johnson (D) , Madison (D) , Mayadev (D) , Miresse (D) , Ortiz-Velez (D) , Palmeri (D) , Prado (D) , Rivera-Wagner (D) , Roe (D) , Sheehan (D) , Sinicki (D) , Snodgrass (D) , Subeck (D) , Tenorio (D) , Vining (D)

11 cosponsors

Dassler-Alfheim (D) , Drake (D) , Emerson (D) , Habush Sinykin (D) , Haywood (D) , Hesselbein (D) , Keyeski (D) , Ratcliff (D) , Roys (D) , Spreitzer (D) , Wall (D)

Registered lobbying interests · 5

Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record

Full history

  1. Apr 23, 2025 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Andraca, Snodgrass, Joers, DeSmidt, Rivera-Wagner, Brown, Sheehan, Roe, Fitzgerald, Clancy, Prado, Subeck, Sinicki, Madison, Tenorio, Vining, Ortiz-Velez, Mayadev, Johnson, Miresse and Palmeri; cosponsored by Senators Habush Sinykin, Wall, Roys, Ratcliff, Dassler-Alfheim, Hesselbein, Keyeski, Drake and Spreitzer

  2. Apr 23, 2025 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections

  3. May 13, 2025 · Assembly

    Representative Haywood added as a coauthor

  4. May 28, 2025 · Assembly

    Representative Emerson added as a coauthor

  5. Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1