Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: establishing English as the official state language, use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing English language interpreters, and use of English for governmental oral and written communication and for nongovernmental purposes. (FE)
Data processing English language Environmental protection Municipality Public document State agencies
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
Currently, Wisconsin has no official language. This bill provides that the official language of this state is English. The bill also allows any state or local governmental entity to provide a person with access to artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing an English language interpreter if the entity is authorized or required by law to appoint an interpreter for the person.
Additionally, the bill provides that, unless otherwise specifically required by law, all oral and written communication by all state and local governmental entities must be in the English language, except that such communication may be in another language when appropriate to the circumstances of an individual case, the implementation of a program in a specific instance, or the discharge of a responsibility in a particular situation. The bill also permits state and local government officers and employees to use a language other than English in oral or written communication whenever necessary for one or more of eight specified purposes.
Finally, the bill precludes any state or local governmental entity from prohibiting any person from becoming proficient in any language or restricting the oral or written use of any language for a nongovernmental purpose.
What it would cost
Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs
Sponsors
Registered lobbying interests · 10
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record
- American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Inc
- Disability Rights Wisconsin
- Kids Forward
- League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Inc
- National Association of Social Workers - Wisconsin Chapter
- Oneida Nation
- PROFS
- State Bar of Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Association for Justice
- Wisconsin Education Association Council
Votes
Assembly: Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 6, Noes 0
Passed 6–0 Nov 12, 2025 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Assembly: Report Assembly Amendment 2 adoption recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 6, Noes 0
Passed 6–0 Nov 12, 2025 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Assembly: Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 4, Noes 2
Passed 4–2 Nov 12, 2025 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Aye · 51
- Adam Neylon (15)
- Alex Dallman (39)
- Amanda Nedweski (32)
- Barbara Dittrich (99)
- Ben Franklin (88)
- Bob Donovan (61)
- Bob Wittke (63)
- Brent Jacobson (87)
- Calvin Callahan (35)
- Chanz Green (74)
- Chuck Wichgers (84)
- Cindi Duchow (97)
- Clint Moses (92)
- Dan Knodl (24)
- Dave Armstrong (67)
- Dave Maxey (83)
- Dave Murphy (56)
- Dean Kaufert (53)
- Duke Tucker (75)
- Elijah Behnke (6)
- Gus Gustafson (55)
- Jeff Mursau (36)
- Jerry O'Connor (60)
- Jim Piwowarczyk (98)
- Joel Kitchens (1)
- John Spiros (86)
- Joy Goeben (5)
- Karen Hurd (69)
- Kevin Petersen (57)
- Lindee Brill (27)
- Mark Born (37)
- Nancy VanderMeer (70)
- Pat Snyder (85)
- Paul Melotik (22)
- Rick Gundrum (58)
- Rob Brooks (59)
- Rob Kreibich (28)
- Rob Summerfield (68)
- Rob Swearingen (34)
- Robin Vos (33)
- Ron Tusler (3)
- Scott Allen (82)
- Scott Krug (72)
- Shae Sortwell (2)
- Shannon Zimmerman (30)
- Todd Novak (51)
- Tony Kurtz (41)
- Travis Tranel (49)
- Treig Pronschinske (29)
- Tyler August (31)
- Will Penterman (38)
Nay · 45
- Alex Joers (81)
- Andrew Hysell (48)
- Angela Stroud (73)
- Angelina Cruz (62)
- Angelito Tenorio (14)
- Ann Roe (44)
- Ben DeSmidt (65)
- Brienne Brown (43)
- Christian Phelps (93)
- Christine Sinicki (20)
- Clint Anderson (45)
- Darrin Madison (10)
- Deb Andraca (23)
- Francesca Hong (76)
- Greta Neubauer (66)
- Jenna Jacobson (50)
- Jessie Rodriguez (21)
- Jill Billings (95)
- Joan Fitzgerald (46)
- Jodi Emerson (91)
- Joe Sheehan (26)
- Kalan Haywood (16)
- Karen DeSanto (40)
- Karen Kirsch (7)
- Lee Snodgrass (52)
- Lisa Subeck (79)
- Lori Palmeri (54)
- Margaret Arney (18)
- Maureen McCarville (42)
- Mike Bare (80)
- Priscilla Prado (9)
- Randy Udell (47)
- Renuka Mayadev (77)
- Robyn Vining (13)
- Russell Goodwin (12)
- Ryan Clancy (19)
- Ryan Spaude (89)
- Sequanna Taylor (11)
- Shelia Stubbs (78)
- Steve Doyle (94)
- Supreme Moore Omokunde (17)
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (8)
- Tara Johnson (96)
- Tip McGuire (64)
- Vinnie Miresse (71)
Not voting · 1
- David Steffen (4)
Senate: Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development, Ayes 3, Noes 2
Passed 3–2 Mar 11, 2026 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Full history
- Jul 17, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Murphy, Behnke, Brooks, Gundrum, Kreibich, Maxey and O'Connor; cosponsored by Senators Jacque and Nass
- Jul 17, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Science, Technology, and AI
- Jul 29, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Oct 22, 2025 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Oct 30, 2025 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Murphy
- Nov 4, 2025 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representative Murphy
- Nov 5, 2025 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Nov 12, 2025 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Nov 12, 2025 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 6, Noes 0
- Nov 12, 2025 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 2 adoption recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 6, Noes 0
- Nov 12, 2025 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 4, Noes 2
- Jan 13, 2026 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 1-15-2026 by Committee on Rules
- Jan 14, 2026 · Assembly
Representative Steffen added as a coauthor
- Jan 15, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jan 15, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
- Jan 15, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 2 adopted
- Jan 15, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 15, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jan 15, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 51, Noes 45, Paired 2
- Jan 15, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 16, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Jan 16, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development
- Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 12, 2026 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Jacque
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1