Senate Bill 440
Newspaper publication and typeface for certain legal notices
Topics: Newspaper and magazine, Public document
Became law
The governor signed it on Dec 10, 2025. It's .
-
Introduced, passed
Sep 29, 2025
-
Committee, passed
Approved
-
Senate vote, passed
Passed Nov 18, 2025
-
Assembly vote, passed
Passed Nov 19, 2025
-
Governor, passed
Signed
-
Law, here now
2025 Wisconsin Act 72
Latest entry in the official record, Dec 10, 2025: “Published 12-10-2025”
Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.
Embed this on your site
Paste this code into your page. The card shows the latest record each time it loads. Preview the card
The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 433. That version died when the session ended.
Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. 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
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 does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, certain legal notices are required by statute or by order of a court to be published in a newspaper. Currently, legal notices must be published in Arial typeface, and a standard line rate applies for all publications. This bill requires that legal notices be published in a sans serif typeface, rather than Arial specifically.
The bill also repeals obsolete language regarding newspaper publication of proposed constitutional amendments and other resolutions.
Who's behind it
5 senators are its . 3 are Democrats and 2 are Republicans.
15 more lawmakers .
See all 20 names Hide the names
Authors (5)
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Brad Pfaff · Democrat, Senate
- Romaine Quinn · Republican, Senate
- Kelda Roys · Democrat, Senate
- Mark Spreitzer · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (15)
- Rick Gundrum · Republican, Assembly
- Tara Johnson · Democrat, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Kreibich · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Todd Novak · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Lori Palmeri · Democrat, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Piwowarczyk · Republican, Assembly
- Melissa Ratcliff · Democrat, Senate
- Ann Roe · Democrat, Assembly
- Rob Swearingen · Republican, Assembly
- Travis Tranel · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Nov 10, 2025
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 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
-
Dec 10, 2025
The new law was published.
-
Dec 10, 2025
The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 72.
-
Dec 4, 2025
Sent to the governor.
-
Nov 19, 2025
The Assembly passed it too.
-
Nov 19, 2025
“Read” (the official wording)
-
Nov 19, 2025
The Assembly received it.
-
Nov 18, 2025
1 more senator signed on in support.
-
Nov 18, 2025
The Senate passed it.
-
Nov 10, 2025
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
-
Nov 5, 2025
The committee held a public hearing.
-
Sep 29, 2025
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.
-
Sep 29, 2025
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Sep 29, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Quinn, Marklein, Pfaff, Roys and Spreitzer; cosponsored by Representatives Novak, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Roe, Swearingen, Tranel, Wichgers, Johnson and Palmeri
- Sep 29, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government
- Nov 5, 2025 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Nov 10, 2025 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Nov 10, 2025 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Nov 10, 2025 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Nov 14, 2025 · Senate
Placed on calendar 11-18-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Nov 18, 2025 · Senate
Read a second time
- Nov 18, 2025 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 18, 2025 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Nov 18, 2025 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Nov 18, 2025 · Senate
Senator Ratcliff added as a coauthor
- Nov 18, 2025 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Read
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from Senate message and take up
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 20, 2025 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Nov 24, 2025 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Dec 4, 2025 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 12-4-2025
- Dec 10, 2025 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 12-9-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 72
- Dec 10, 2025 · Senate
Published 12-10-2025
Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. 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
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
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote