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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 212

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: the form of referendum questions.

Constitution wisconsin Referendum

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Senate, not reached
  3. Passes Assembly, not reached
  4. Governor signs, not reached
  5. Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, any referendum question submitted to the voters, including to approve or reject a constitutional amendment, must be concise and may not be worded in such a manner as to require a negative vote to approve a proposition or an affirmative vote to disapprove a proposition.

This bill adds the requirement that the referendum question be in plain language. The bill additionally adds the requirement that for a proposed constitutional amendment, the question must clearly indicate whether any part of the constitutional amendment is contained in the statutes as of the date of final passage of the joint resolution directing that the question be submitted to a vote of the people.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Dassler-Alfheim (D) , Drake (D) , Habush Sinykin (D) , Hesselbein (D) , Keyeski (D) , Ratcliff (D) , Roys (D) , Spreitzer (D) , Wall (D)

24 cosponsors

Andraca (D) , Brown (D) , Clancy (D) , DeSmidt (D) , Emerson (D) , Fitzgerald (D) , Haywood (D) , J. Jacobson (D) , Joers (D) , Johnson (D) , Madison (D) , Mayadev (D) , Miresse (D) , Ortiz-Velez (D) , Palmeri (D) , Prado (D) , Rivera-Wagner (D) , Roe (D) , Sheehan (D) , Sinicki (D) , Snodgrass (D) , Subeck (D) , Tenorio (D) , Vining (D)

Registered lobbying interests · 4

Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record

Full history

  1. Apr 16, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Habush Sinykin, Wall, Roys, Ratcliff, Dassler-Alfheim, Hesselbein, Keyeski, Drake and Spreitzer; cosponsored by Representatives Andraca, Snodgrass, Joers, DeSmidt, Rivera-Wagner, Brown, Sheehan, Roe, Fitzgerald, Clancy, Prado, Subeck, Sinicki, Madison, Tenorio, Vining, Ortiz-Velez, Mayadev, Johnson and Miresse

  2. Apr 16, 2025 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs

  3. Apr 18, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Haywood added as a cosponsor

  4. Apr 21, 2025 · Senate

    Representative J. Jacobson added as a cosponsor

  5. Apr 23, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Palmeri added as a cosponsor

  6. May 28, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Emerson added as a cosponsor

  7. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1