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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 249

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: vacancies in appointive state offices.

Governor — Appointments Legislature Legislature — Committees Public officers

  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, vacancies in public office may occur in a number of ways, including when the incumbent resigns, dies, or is removed from office, or, in the case of elected office, when the incumbent’s term expires. However, as the Wisconsin Supreme Court held in

State ex rel. Kaul v. Prehn

, 2022 WI 50, expiration of an incumbent’s term of office does not create a vacancy if the office is filled by appointment for a fixed term. Absent a vacancy or removal for cause, these incumbents may remain in office until their successors are appointed and qualified.

Under this bill, a vacancy in public office is created if the office is an appointive state office for a fixed term and the incumbent’s term expires.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Bradley (R) , Cabral-Guevara (R) , Feyen (R) , Marklein (R) , Nass (R) , Quinn (R) , Tomczyk (R)

16 cosponsors

Allen (R) , Behnke (R) , Brill (R) , Brooks (R) , Goeben (R) , Green (R) , Gundrum (R) , Knodl (R) , Kreibich (R) , Maxey (R) , Murphy (R) , O'Connor (R) , Penterman (R) , Piwowarczyk (R) , Steffen (R) , Wichgers (R)

Registered lobbying interests · 2

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

Votes

Senate: Report passage by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 2, Noes 3

Failed 2–3 Mar 12, 2026 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Full history

  1. May 9, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Bradley, Quinn, Cabral-Guevara, Feyen, Marklein, Nass and Tomczyk; cosponsored by Representatives Allen, Maxey, Behnke, Brill, Brooks, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Steffen and Wichgers

  2. May 9, 2025 · Senate

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

  3. Mar 4, 2026 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Bradley

  4. Mar 11, 2026 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  5. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  6. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

    Report passage by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 2, Noes 3

  7. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  8. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1