Senate Bill 420
Prohibiting rights of nature ordinances. (FE)
Topics: Natural resource, Ordinance
Vetoed by the governor
Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Mar 20, 2026. Lawmakers did not , so it stands.
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Introduced, passed
Sep 4, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed 19 to 14
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed 54 to 41
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Governor, stopped here
Vetoed Mar 20, 2026.
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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”
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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 421. That version died when the session ended.
Terms on this page
Veto override
Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.
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
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill prohibits a city, village, town, or county from enacting a “rights of nature ordinance,” meaning an ordinance conferring legal rights to a natural resource to exist, to be protected against pollution, or to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
8 more lawmakers .
See all 10 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
- Cory Tomczyk · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (8)
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Lindee Brill · Republican, Assembly
- Joy Goeben · Republican, Assembly
- Gus Gustafson · Republican, Assembly
- Clint Moses · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Amanda Nedweski · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There were 3 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government vote to recommend it
Passed, 3 to 2 · Jan 13, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Passed, 19 to 14 · Feb 11, 2026
See how each of the 33 senators voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (19)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Brad Pfaff (D, 32)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Cory Tomczyk (R, 29)
- Dan Feyen (R, 20)
- Devin LeMahieu (R, 9)
- Eric Wimberger (R, 2)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Jesse James (R, 23)
- John Jagler (R, 13)
- Julian Bradley (R, 28)
- Mary Felzkowski (R, 12)
- Patrick Testin (R, 24)
- Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R, 19)
- Rob Hutton (R, 5)
- Rob Stafsholt (R, 10)
- Romaine Quinn (R, 25)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Van Wanggaard (R, 21)
No (14)
- Bob Wirch (D, 22)
- Chris Larson (D, 7)
- Dianne Hesselbein (D, 27)
- Dora Drake (D, 4)
- Jamie Wall (D, 30)
- Jeff Smith (D, 31)
- Jodi Habush Sinykin (D, 8)
- Kelda Roys (D, 26)
- Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D, 18)
- LaTonya Johnson (D, 6)
- Mark Spreitzer (D, 15)
- Melissa Ratcliff (D, 16)
- Sarah Keyeski (D, 14)
- Tim Carpenter (D, 3)
Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 54 to 41 · Feb 19, 2026 · 4 didn't vote
See how each of the 99 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (54)
- Adam Neylon (R, 15)
- Alex Dallman (R, 39)
- Amanda Nedweski (R, 32)
- Barbara Dittrich (R, 99)
- Ben Franklin (R, 88)
- Bob Donovan (R, 61)
- Bob Wittke (R, 63)
- Brent Jacobson (R, 87)
- Calvin Callahan (R, 35)
- Chanz Green (R, 74)
- Chuck Wichgers (R, 84)
- Cindi Duchow (R, 97)
- Clint Moses (R, 92)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Dave Armstrong (R, 67)
- Dave Maxey (R, 83)
- Dave Murphy (R, 56)
- David Steffen (R, 4)
- Dean Kaufert (R, 53)
- Duke Tucker (R, 75)
- Elijah Behnke (R, 6)
- Gus Gustafson (R, 55)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jerry O'Connor (R, 60)
- Jessie Rodriguez (R, 21)
- Jim Piwowarczyk (R, 98)
- Joel Kitchens (R, 1)
- John Spiros (R, 86)
- Joy Goeben (R, 5)
- Karen Hurd (R, 69)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lindee Brill (R, 27)
- Mark Born (R, 37)
- Nancy VanderMeer (R, 70)
- Pat Snyder (R, 85)
- Paul Melotik (R, 22)
- Paul Tittl (R, 25)
- Rick Gundrum (R, 58)
- Rob Brooks (R, 59)
- Rob Kreibich (R, 28)
- Rob Summerfield (R, 68)
- Rob Swearingen (R, 34)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Ron Tusler (R, 3)
- Scott Allen (R, 82)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Shae Sortwell (R, 2)
- Shannon Zimmerman (R, 30)
- Todd Novak (R, 51)
- Tony Kurtz (R, 41)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Treig Pronschinske (R, 29)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Will Penterman (R, 38)
No (41)
- Alex Joers (D, 81)
- Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D, 90)
- Andrew Hysell (D, 48)
- Angela Stroud (D, 73)
- Angelina Cruz (D, 62)
- Angelito Tenorio (D, 14)
- Ann Roe (D, 44)
- Ben DeSmidt (D, 65)
- Brienne Brown (D, 43)
- Christian Phelps (D, 93)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Clint Anderson (D, 45)
- Darrin Madison (D, 10)
- Deb Andraca (D, 23)
- Francesca Hong (D, 76)
- Greta Neubauer (D, 66)
- Jenna Jacobson (D, 50)
- Jill Billings (D, 95)
- Joan Fitzgerald (D, 46)
- Joe Sheehan (D, 26)
- Kalan Haywood (D, 16)
- Karen DeSanto (D, 40)
- Karen Kirsch (D, 7)
- Lee Snodgrass (D, 52)
- Lisa Subeck (D, 79)
- Lori Palmeri (D, 54)
- Margaret Arney (D, 18)
- Maureen McCarville (D, 42)
- Mike Bare (D, 80)
- Randy Udell (D, 47)
- Renuka Mayadev (D, 77)
- Robyn Vining (D, 13)
- Russell Goodwin (D, 12)
- Ryan Clancy (D, 19)
- Sequanna Taylor (D, 11)
- Shelia Stubbs (D, 78)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Supreme Moore Omokunde (D, 17)
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D, 8)
- Tip McGuire (D, 64)
- Vinnie Miresse (D, 71)
Didn't vote (4)
- Jodi Emerson (D, 91)
- Priscilla Prado (D, 9)
- Ryan Spaude (D, 89)
- Tara Johnson (D, 96)
Official motion: “CONCURRENCE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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May 13, 2026
The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.
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Mar 20, 2026
The governor vetoed it.
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Mar 18, 2026
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 19, 2026
The Assembly passed it too, 54 to 41.
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Feb 18, 2026
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Feb 12, 2026
The Assembly received it.
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Feb 11, 2026
The Senate passed it, 19 to 14.
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Jan 13, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.
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Dec 9, 2025
The committee held a public hearing.
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Sep 12, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Sep 4, 2025
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.
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Sep 4, 2025
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Sep 4, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Nass and Tomczyk; cosponsored by Representatives Goeben, Brill, Moses, Gustafson, Murphy, Behnke, Nedweski and Wichgers
- Sep 4, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government
- Sep 12, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Dec 9, 2025 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 19, Noes 14
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 11:19 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 54, Noes 41
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 23, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 26, 2026 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Mar 18, 2026 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 3-18-2026
- Mar 20, 2026 · Senate
Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-20-2026
- May 12, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- 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.
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.
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
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote