Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: referendum questions for certain referenda that affect property taxes. (FE)
Bonds — Municipal Property tax Referendum
- 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
Under current law, a county, city, village, town, school district, or technical college district may exceed its property tax levy limit if the electors of that political subdivision or district approve the increase at a referendum. The ballot question must indicate the dollar amount of the increase in the levy limit. Under this bill, the ballot question must also provide a good faith estimate of the annual dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the political subdivision or district that would result from passage of the referendum.
Also under current law, in certain cases when local governmental units authorize the issuance of bonds, the local governmental unit must adopt a resolution stating the purpose of the bonding and the maximum amounts of borrowing. The local governmental unit, in certain cases, is required or authorized to seek approval of the bonding authorization at a referendum. Among other things, the referendum question must contain a statement of the purpose for which bonds are to be issued and the maximum amount of the bonds to be issued. Under the bill, the question must also provide all of the following:
1. The estimated interest rate and amount of the interest accruing on the bonds.
2. Any fees that will be incurred if the bonds are defeased.
3. A good faith estimate of the dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the local governmental unit that would result from passage of the referendum.
What it would cost
Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs
Sponsors
Registered lobbying interests · 17
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record
- Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin Inc
- Association of Wisconsin School Administrators
- City of Madison
- League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Inc
- Legend Lake Property Owners Association
- Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance
- Wisconsin Association of School Boards Inc
- Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials
- Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators
- Wisconsin Association of School Personnel Administrators
- Wisconsin Builders Association
- Wisconsin Council for Administrators of Special Services
- Wisconsin Counties Association
- Wisconsin Education Association Council
- Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
- Wisconsin Property Taxpayers Inc
- Wisconsin REALTORS Association
Full history
- Feb 24, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Allen, Piwowarczyk, Behnke, Brill, Dittrich, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Maxey, Murphy, O'Connor and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Cabral-Guevara, Jacque, Kapenga and Nass
- Feb 24, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Education
- Mar 6, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 7, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1