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Bills from the 2025–26 session

Assembly Bill 248

Vacancies in appointive state offices

Topics: Governor: Appointments, Legislature, Public officers

Vetoed by the governor

Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Apr 3, 2026. Lawmakers did not ⁠, so it stands.

  1. Introduced, passed

    May 8, 2025

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 19, 2026

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 17 to 16

  5. Governor, stopped here

    Vetoed Apr 3, 2026.

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, May 13, 2026: “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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The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 249. That version died when the session ended.

What it would have done

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

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.

Who's behind it

16 representatives are its ⁠. All 16 are Republicans.

6 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 22 names

Authors (16)

Signed on in support (6)

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.

Assembly Committee on State Affairs vote to recommend it

Passed, 7 to 3 · Nov 20, 2025

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report passage recommended by Committee on State Affairs, Ayes 7, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Failed, 2 to 3 · Mar 12, 2026

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report concurrence by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 2, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 18 to 15 · Mar 17, 2026

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “SHALL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 17 to 16 · Mar 17, 2026

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

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

What happened

  1. May 13, 2026

    The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.

  2. Apr 3, 2026

    The governor vetoed it.

  3. Apr 2, 2026

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 17, 2026

    The Senate passed it too, 17 to 16.

  5. Mar 17, 2026

    “Point of order that Senate Substitute Amendment 1 was not germane well taken” (the official wording)

  6. Mar 12, 2026

    “Report concurrence by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 2, Noes 3” (the official wording)

  7. Mar 11, 2026

    The committee held a public hearing.

  8. Feb 25, 2026

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs.

  9. Feb 23, 2026

    The Senate received it.

  10. Feb 19, 2026

    The Assembly passed it.

  11. Feb 19, 2026

    The Assembly adopted it.

  12. Nov 20, 2025

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  13. Nov 20, 2025

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 3.

  14. Nov 12, 2025

    The committee held a public hearing.

  15. May 8, 2025

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on State Affairs.

  16. May 8, 2025

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  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

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

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.

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