Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: grants for the purchase of election supplies and equipment and making an appropriation. (FE)
County — Elections Elections commission Municipality — Elections
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill authorizes the Elections Commission to award grants to municipalities for the purchase of election supplies and equipment, including electronic poll books and accessibility supplies and equipment. Under the bill, a municipality must apply for a grant no later than 180 days before a general election and agree to have the commission conduct at least one random inspection of the supplies and equipment that the municipality purchases with the grant moneys.
The bill also allows a county to apply for a grant on behalf of a municipality located in the county, and the county may administer the grant if authorized by the municipality. Under the bill, no grant may be less than $250. In addition, the bill requires the commission to conduct an audit of the grant program no later than 90 days after each general election and submit an audit report to the legislature.
What it would cost
Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs
Sponsors
Introduced by: Carpenter (D) , Dassler-Alfheim (D) , Hesselbein (D) , Larson (D) , Ratcliff (D) , Roys (D) , Smith (D) , Spreitzer (D)
25 cosponsors
Andraca (D) , Arney (D) , Bare (D) , DeSmidt (D) , Emerson (D) , Fitzgerald (D) , Hong (D) , J. Jacobson (D) , Joers (D) , Kirsch (D) , Madison (D) , Mayadev (D) , Miresse (D) , Moore Omokunde (D) , Neubauer (D) , Palmeri (D) , Phelps (D) , Prado (D) , Roe (D) , Sheehan (D) , Sinicki (D) , Snodgrass (D) , Stroud (D) , Stubbs (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
- Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Smith, Spreitzer, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Hesselbein, Ratcliff, Roys and Larson; cosponsored by Representatives Snodgrass, Mayadev, Andraca, Arney, Bare, DeSmidt, Emerson, Fitzgerald, Hong, J. Jacobson, Joers, Kirsch, Madison, Miresse, Moore Omokunde, Neubauer, Phelps, Prado, Roe, Sinicki, Stroud, Stubbs and Udell
- Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development
- Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Representative Palmeri added as a cosponsor
- Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Feb 20, 2026 · Senate
Representative Sheehan added as a cosponsor
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1