Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: slavery or involuntary servitude in punishment of a crime (first consideration).
Constitutional amendments — First consideration Consumer protection Crime and criminals
- 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
The Wisconsin Constitution prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, but the constitution includes an exception to that prohibition if the slavery or involuntary servitude is imposed as punishment for a crime for which an individual has been duly convicted. This constitutional amendment, proposed to the 2025 legislature on first consideration, eliminates that exception. Under this constitutional amendment, slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited without exception.
A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it becomes effective.
Sponsors
Introduced by: Anderson (D) , Arney (D) , Bare (D) , Brown (D) , Clancy (D) , Goodwin (D) , Haywood (D) , Joers (D) , Kirsch (D) , Madison (D) , McCarville (D) , Miresse (D) , Moore Omokunde (D) , Neubauer (D) , Rivera-Wagner (D) , Roe (D) , Sinicki (D) , Stubbs (D) , Taylor (D) , Tenorio (D) , Udell (D)
8 cosponsors
Dassler-Alfheim (D) , Drake (D) , L. Johnson (D) , Larson (D) , Ratcliff (D) , Roys (D) , Spreitzer (D) , Wall (D)
Full history
- Mar 19, 2026 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Madison, Moore Omokunde, Arney, Goodwin, Haywood, Rivera-Wagner, Stubbs, Taylor, Bare, Brown, Clancy, Joers, Kirsch, McCarville, Miresse, Neubauer, Roe, Sinicki, Tenorio, Udell and Anderson; cosponsored by Senators Drake, L. Johnson, Dassler-Alfheim, Larson, Ratcliff, Roys, Spreitzer and Wall
- Mar 19, 2026 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs
- Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly
Failed to adopt pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1