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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

AB 248

Vetoed Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: vacancies in appointive state offices.

Governor — Appointments Legislature Legislature — Committees Public officers

  1. Introduced, completed
  2. Passes Assembly, completed
  3. Passes Senate, stopped here
  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, vacancies in public office may occur in a number of ways, including when the incumbent resigns, dies, or is removed from office, or, in the case of elected office, when the incumbent’s term expires. However, as the Wisconsin Supreme Court held in

State ex rel. Kaul v. Prehn

, 2022 WI 50, expiration of an incumbent’s term of office does not create a vacancy if the office is filled by appointment for a fixed term. Absent a vacancy or removal for cause, these incumbents may remain in office until their successors are appointed and qualified.

Under this bill, a vacancy in public office is created if the office is an appointive state office for a fixed term and the incumbent’s term expires.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Allen (R) , Behnke (R) , Brill (R) , Brooks (R) , Goeben (R) , Green (R) , Gundrum (R) , Knodl (R) , Kreibich (R) , Maxey (R) , Murphy (R) , O'Connor (R) , Penterman (R) , Piwowarczyk (R) , Steffen (R) , Wichgers (R)

6 cosponsors

Bradley (R) , Cabral-Guevara (R) , Feyen (R) , Marklein (R) , Nass (R) , Quinn (R)

Registered lobbying interests · 3

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

Votes

Assembly: Report passage recommended by Committee on State Affairs, Ayes 7, Noes 3

Passed 7–3 Nov 20, 2025 official source full page

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

Senate: Report concurrence by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 2, Noes 3

Failed 2–3 Mar 12, 2026 official source full page

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

Senate: SHALL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND

Passed 18–15 Mar 17, 2026 official source full page

Senate: CONCURRENCE

Passed 17–16 Mar 17, 2026 official source full page

Full history

  1. May 8, 2025 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Allen, Maxey, Behnke, Brill, Brooks, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Steffen and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Bradley, Quinn, Cabral-Guevara, Feyen, Marklein and Nass

  2. May 8, 2025 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs

  3. Nov 12, 2025 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  4. Nov 20, 2025 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  5. Nov 20, 2025 · Assembly

    Report passage recommended by Committee on State Affairs, Ayes 7, Noes 3

  6. Nov 20, 2025 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  7. Jan 13, 2026 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 1-15-2026 by Committee on Rules

  8. Jan 15, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Bare

  9. Jan 15, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Neubauer

  10. Jan 15, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Snodgrass

  11. Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 11:12 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14

  12. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  13. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 4 offered by Representative Allen

  14. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 4 adopted

  15. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  16. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  17. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  18. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  19. Feb 23, 2026 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  20. Feb 25, 2026 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs

  21. Mar 11, 2026 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  22. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  23. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

    Report concurrence by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 2, Noes 3

  24. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  25. Mar 16, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  26. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senators Larson, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Habush Sinykin, Hesselbein, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Ratcliff, Roys, Smith, Spreitzer and Wirch

  27. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Read a second time

  28. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Point of order that Senate Substitute Amendment 1 was not germane well taken

  29. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  30. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  31. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  32. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 17, Noes 16

  33. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  34. Mar 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  35. Mar 24, 2026 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 3-24-2026

  36. Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026

  37. Apr 3, 2026 · Assembly

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-3-2026

  38. May 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  39. May 13, 2026 · Assembly

    Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82