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Bills from the 2025–26 session

Assembly Bill 415

Use restrictions on state and local government electronic devices

Topics: Administration, Department of: Agency and general functions, Data processing, International relations, Legislative Technology Services Bureau, Municipality, State Courts, Director of, State agencies, Telecommunications

Vetoed by the governor

Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Mar 20, 2026. Lawmakers did not ⁠, so it stands.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Sep 15, 2025

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Jan 22, 2026

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 18 to 15

  5. Governor, stopped here

    Vetoed Mar 20, 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 400. 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 this bill, no official, employee, or contractor of a state agency or local governmental unit, other than a law enforcement officer for law enforcement purposes, may use an electronic device that is owned, operated, or leased by a state agency or local governmental unit to do any of the following:

1. Download, use, or access a web-based or other social media application, channel, or platform that is owned or operated by an entity located in a foreign country of concern.

Read the full summary

2. Use any software, software application, or artificial intelligence tool or algorithm that is owned or operated by an entity located in a foreign country of concern.

Under the bill a “foreign country of concern” is a country designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce as a foreign adversary of the United States. Those countries currently include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela under the regime of Nicolás Maduro.

In addition to law enforcement officers as noted above, the bill provides and exemption for an official, employee, or contractor of a state agency or local governmental unit who obtains a written waiver from the secretary of administration for limited purposes related to the performance of their duties. The secretary of administration may issue such waivers at his or her discretion.

Who's behind it

12 representatives are its ⁠. All 12 are Republicans.

3 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 15 names

Authors (12)

Signed on in support (3)

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 7 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Science vote on an amendment

Passed, 4 to 2 · Jan 16, 2026

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

Official motion: “Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adoption recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 4, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Science vote to recommend it

Passed, 4 to 2 · Jan 16, 2026

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

Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 4, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 53 to 44 · Jan 22, 2026 · 2 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (53)

No (44)

Didn't vote (2)

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

Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 4, 2026

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

Official motion: “Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 17, 2026

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

Official motion: “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 15 · Feb 18, 2026

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 18 to 15 · Feb 18, 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. Mar 20, 2026

    The governor vetoed it.

  3. Mar 18, 2026

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 18, 2026

    The Senate passed it too, 18 to 15.

  5. Feb 17, 2026

    “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  6. Feb 4, 2026

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  7. Jan 26, 2026

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.

  8. Jan 22, 2026

    The Senate received it.

  9. Jan 22, 2026

    The Assembly passed it, 53 to 44.

  10. Jan 22, 2026

    The Assembly adopted it.

  11. Jan 16, 2026

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  12. Jan 16, 2026

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 2.

  13. Oct 22, 2025

    The committee held a public hearing.

  14. Sep 15, 2025

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Science, Technology, and AI.

  15. Sep 15, 2025

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Sep 15, 2025 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Knodl, Gustafson, Dittrich, Duchow, Goeben, Gundrum, Melotik, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk and Tittl; cosponsored by Senators Cabral-Guevara, Bradley and Nass

  2. Sep 15, 2025 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Science, Technology, and AI

  3. Oct 21, 2025 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Knodl

  4. Oct 22, 2025 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  5. Nov 4, 2025 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Knodl

  6. Nov 4, 2025 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Knodl

  7. Nov 18, 2025 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Knodl

  8. Jan 14, 2026 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  9. Jan 16, 2026 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adoption recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 4, Noes 2

  10. Jan 16, 2026 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 4, Noes 2

  11. Jan 16, 2026 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  12. Jan 20, 2026 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 1-22-2026 by Committee on Rules

  13. Jan 21, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Knodl

  14. Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  15. Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted

  16. Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted

  17. Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  18. Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  19. Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 44

  20. Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  21. Jan 22, 2026 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  22. Jan 26, 2026 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation and Local Government

  23. Feb 4, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  24. Feb 4, 2026 · Senate

    Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  25. Feb 4, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  26. Feb 17, 2026 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  27. Feb 17, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-18-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  28. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Smith

  29. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Read a second time

  30. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  31. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  32. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  33. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  34. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  35. Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  36. Feb 25, 2026 · Assembly

    LRB correction (Assembly Substitute Amendment 3)

  37. Feb 25, 2026 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 2-25-2026

  38. Mar 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 3-18-2026

  39. Mar 20, 2026 · Assembly

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-20-2026

  40. May 12, 2026 · Assembly

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

  41. 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