Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: requiring legislative approval for the expenditure or obligation, encumbrance, or other commitment of bond revenue for purposes of conservation and nature-based outdoor recreation in Wisconsin and for the expenditure of moneys from a fund created by law specially for any such purpose (first consideration).
Appropriation Constitutional amendments — First consideration Legislature Natural resource Recreation
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Adopted, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
In
Evers v. Marklein
, 2024 WI 31, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that laws requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of certain expenditures under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program were unconstitutional as a violation of the separation of powers.
This constitutional amendment, proposed to the 2025 legislature on first consideration, provides that no revenue from the issuance of public debt may be obligated, encumbered, or otherwise committed, or expended if not previously obligated, encumbered, or otherwise committed, for the purpose of conservation or nature-based outdoor recreation in this state, and no moneys may be expended from a fund created by law specially for any such purpose, without the approval of the legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule, including by any legislative rule requiring approval by a joint legislative committee, if the amount of the obligation, encumbrance, commitment, or expenditure, or the total cost of the project or activity for which the obligation, encumbrance, commitment, or expenditure is made, exceeds an amount established by law.
A constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive legislatures and ratification by the people before it can become effective.
Sponsors
Registered lobbying interests · 1
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record