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Bills from the 2025–26 session

Senate Bill 144

Eliminating a judgeship from district IV of the court of appeals and establishing an additional judgeship for district III of the court of appeals

Topics: Court: Appellate, Elections, Judge

Stopped in committee

It had a but no committee vote, so it never came up for a vote. The last day for votes this session was Mar 19, 2026. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Mar 21, 2025

  2. Committee, stopped here

    Stopped here. It had a hearing but no committee vote.

  3. Senate vote, not reached

  4. Assembly vote, not reached

  5. Governor, not reached

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 23, 2026: “Failed to pass pursuant to ⁠”

It sat with the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 144. 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.

This bill reduces the number of judgeships in district IV of the court of appeals upon the expiration of the term of the judge whose current judicial term ends July 31, 2026. The bill also establishes an additional judgeship in district III of the court of appeals, effective beginning August 1, 2026. Under the bill, as of August 1, 2026, each of the districts of the court of appeals would have four judges. The bill provides that the initial election for the fourth judge for district III of the court of appeals will be held at the spring election of 2026 for a term beginning on August 1, 2026, and ending on July 31, 2032.

Who's behind it

Eric Wimberger, a Republican, is its ⁠.

8 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 9 names

Author (1)

Signed on in support (8)

What happened

  1. Mar 23, 2026

    The session ended, and the bill died with it.

  2. Apr 30, 2025

    The committee held a public hearing.

  3. Mar 21, 2025

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

  4. Mar 21, 2025

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Mar 21, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senator Wimberger; cosponsored by Representatives Tusler, Behnke, Brill, Callahan, Green, B. Jacobson, Knodl and O'Connor

  2. Mar 21, 2025 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  3. Apr 30, 2025 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

Terms on this page

Committee

A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.

More in the glossary

Public hearing

A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.

More in the glossary

Senate Joint Resolution 1

The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.

Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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

From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source

Committee

A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.

Public hearing

A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.

Senate Joint Resolution 1

The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.

Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1

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

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor