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Bills from the 2025–26 session

Senate Bill 277

The expiration of administrative rules. (FE)

Topics: Administrative code, Joint Legislative Council, Legislature: Review of Administrative Rules, Joint Committee for, Sunset

Vetoed by the governor

Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Mar 20, 2026. Lawmakers did not ⁠, so it stands.

  1. Introduced, passed

    May 21, 2025

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 11, 2026

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 12, 2026

  5. Governor, stopped here

    Vetoed Mar 20, 2026.

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, May 13, 2026: “Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82”

Read the governor's veto message · All vetoes this session

Read the bill

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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 274. 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 provides for the expiration of each chapter of the Wisconsin Administrative Code after seven years, unless the chapter is readopted by the agency through the readoption process established under the bill.

Under current law, an agency may promulgate administrative rules when it is granted rule-making authority under the statutes. Once promulgated, administrative rules remain in effect indefinitely unless repealed or amended by the agency or suspended by the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules.

Read the full summary

This bill provides that each chapter of the code expires seven years after a rule that creates, or repeals and recreates, the chapter takes effect or after the chapter is readopted. The bill requires JCRAR to establish a schedule for the expiration of all existing code chapters that are in effect on the effective date of the bill. Under the bill, in the year before a code chapter is set to expire, an agency may send to JCRAR and the appropriate standing committees a notice of its intention to readopt the chapter. If no member of JCRAR or the standing committees objects to the readoption notice, the chapter is considered readopted without further action. If any member of JCRAR or either standing committee objects to readoption of the chapter, the chapter expires on its expiration date unless the agency promulgates a rule to readopt the chapter using the standard rule-making process. Under the bill, JCRAR may extend the effective date of the chapter that is set to expire for up to one year to accommodate readoption of the chapter through the standard rule-making process. The bill also requires agencies to avoid in rules the use of words and phrases that are outdated or that are now understood to be derogatory or offensive.

Who's behind it

9 senators are its ⁠. All 9 are Republicans.

32 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 41 names

Authors (9)

Signed on in support (32)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

How lawmakers voted

There were 4 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Licensing vote on an amendment

Passed, 3 to 2 · Nov 7, 2025

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Licensing vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Nov 7, 2025

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 18 to 15 · Feb 11, 2026

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 53 to 45 · Feb 12, 2026 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (53)

No (45)

Didn't vote (1)

Official motion: “CONCURRENCE AS AMENDED”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. May 13, 2026

    The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.

  2. Mar 20, 2026

    The governor vetoed it.

  3. Mar 18, 2026

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 18, 2026

    “Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)

  5. Feb 13, 2026

    The Senate adopted it.

  6. Feb 12, 2026

    The Assembly passed it too, 53 to 45.

  7. Feb 12, 2026

    The Assembly adopted it.

  8. Feb 12, 2026

    “Read” (the official wording)

  9. Feb 12, 2026

    The Assembly received it.

  10. Feb 11, 2026

    The Senate passed it, 18 to 15.

  11. Feb 11, 2026

    The Senate adopted it.

  12. Jan 6, 2026

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  13. Nov 25, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  14. Nov 7, 2025

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  15. Nov 7, 2025

    “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  16. Oct 9, 2025 to Oct 15, 2025

    2 more representatives signed on in support.

  17. Oct 9, 2025

    The committee held a public hearing.

  18. Aug 15, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  19. Jun 30, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  20. Jun 23, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  21. Jun 20, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  22. Jun 18, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  23. Jun 10, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  24. Jun 5, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  25. Jun 4, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  26. Jun 3, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  27. May 21, 2025

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs.

  28. May 21, 2025

    Introduced in the Senate.

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

    Introduced by Senators Nass, Bradley, Quinn, Kapenga, Tomczyk, Hutton, Stafsholt, Cabral-Guevara and Feyen; cosponsored by Representatives Neylon, Tusler, Armstrong, Behnke, Brooks, Callahan, Dallman, Dittrich, Donovan, Duchow, Goeben, Green, Gustafson, B. Jacobson, Knodl, Kreibich, Maxey, Melotik, Moses, Murphy, Mursau, Nedweski, O'Connor, Piwowarczyk, Rodriguez, Sortwell, Tittl, Tranel, Wichgers and Wittke

  2. May 21, 2025 · Senate

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

  3. Jun 3, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Jun 4, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Jun 4, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Jun 5, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  7. Jun 10, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  8. Jun 18, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  9. Jun 20, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  10. Jun 23, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  11. Jun 30, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  12. Aug 15, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  13. Oct 9, 2025 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  14. Oct 9, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Steffen added as a cosponsor

  15. Oct 15, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Allen added as a cosponsor

  16. Nov 3, 2025 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Nass

  17. Nov 7, 2025 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  18. Nov 7, 2025 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  19. Nov 7, 2025 · Senate

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

  20. Nov 7, 2025 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  21. Nov 25, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  22. Jan 6, 2026 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  23. Feb 9, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  24. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Read a second time

  25. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  26. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  27. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  28. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  29. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  30. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Subeck

  31. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Subeck

  32. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  33. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Read

  34. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended to withdraw from Senate message and take up

  35. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  36. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Neylon

  37. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted

  38. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  39. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  40. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 53, Noes 45

  41. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  42. Feb 13, 2026 · Senate

    Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted

  43. Feb 17, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-18-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  44. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 concurred in

  45. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Action ordered immediately messaged

  46. Feb 24, 2026 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  47. Mar 18, 2026 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 3-18-2026

  48. Mar 20, 2026 · Senate

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-20-2026

  49. May 12, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  50. May 13, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

Terms on this page

Veto override

Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.

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

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary

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

Veto override

Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.

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

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate

More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote

More in the glossary