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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 530

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: eliminating the advisory referenda restrictions under 2023 Wisconsin Act 12.

County Municipality Property tax 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, a county may not conduct a countywide advisory referendum except for an advisory referendum regarding a political subdivision revenue sharing agreement or capital expenditures proposed to be funded by the county property tax levy. In addition, current law prohibits a municipality from conducting an advisory referendum except for an advisory referendum regarding tax incremental financing, a local government telecommunications utility, or capital expenditures proposed to be funded by the municipality’s property tax levy.

This bill eliminates the above restrictions and allows a county or municipality to conduct advisory referenda for any purpose, which a county or municipality was allowed to do prior to enactment of

2023 Wisconsin Act 12

.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Carpenter (D) , Hesselbein (D) , Keyeski (D) , Larson (D) , Ratcliff (D) , Roys (D) , Smith (D) , Spreitzer (D) , Wirch (D)

23 cosponsors

Anderson (D) , Andraca (D) , Arney (D) , Bare (D) , Clancy (D) , Emerson (D) , Fitzgerald (D) , Hysell (D) , J. Jacobson (D) , Joers (D) , Johnson (D) , Madison (D) , McCarville (D) , Miresse (D) , Ortiz-Velez (D) , Palmeri (D) , Rivera-Wagner (D) , Roe (D) , Sinicki (D) , Snodgrass (D) , Stroud (D) , Subeck (D) , Udell (D)

Registered lobbying interests · 1

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. Oct 9, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Ratcliff, Smith, Carpenter, Hesselbein, Keyeski, Larson, Roys, Spreitzer and Wirch; cosponsored by Representatives Joers, Anderson, Andraca, Arney, Bare, Clancy, Emerson, Fitzgerald, Hysell, Johnson, Madison, McCarville, Miresse, Ortiz-Velez, Palmeri, Rivera-Wagner, Roe, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Stroud and Udell

  2. Oct 9, 2025 · Senate

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

  3. Oct 10, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Subeck added as a cosponsor

  4. Feb 9, 2026 · Senate

    Representative J. Jacobson added as a cosponsor

  5. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1