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Bills from the 2025–26 session

Senate Joint Resolution 116

Prohibiting the governor from using the partial veto to create or increase any tax or fee (second consideration)

Topics: Constitutional amendments: Second consideration, Governor, Taxation

Adopted

Both chambers adopted it, the second on Feb 19, 2026. A doesn't go to the governor.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Dec 30, 2025

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 18 to 15

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 19, 2026

  5. Adopted, here now

    Resolutions end here.

Latest entry in the official record, Jun 23, 2026: “Published 6-23-2026. Enrolled Joint Resolution 14”

Read the proposal

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The same proposal was also filed in the Assembly as AJR 127. That version died when the session ended.

What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

EXPLANATION OF PROPOSAL This proposed constitutional amendment, to be given second consideration by the 2025 legislature for submittal to the voters in November 2026, was first considered by the 2023 legislature in 2023 Assembly Joint Resolution 112, which became 2023 Enrolled Joint Resolution 16.

This constitutional amendment provides that the governor, in exercising his or her partial veto power over an appropriation bill, may not create or increase or authorize the creation or increase of any tax or fee.

Read the full summary

Currently, in exercising the partial veto power, the governor is limited only in that he or she may not create a new word by rejecting individual letters in the words of the enrolled bill and may not create a new sentence by combining parts of two or more sentences of the enrolled bill. In Bartlett v. Ever s, 2020 WI 68, the Wisconsin Supreme Court further restricted the governor’s partial veto power, but there was no agreement by the court on the reasons for the new restrictions. The new restriction on the governor’s partial veto power contained in the amendment is in addition to the current restrictions in the constitution.

PROCEDURE FOR SECOND CONSIDERATION When a proposed constitutional amendment is before the legislature on second consideration, any change in the text approved by the preceding legislature causes the proposed constitutional amendment to revert to first consideration status so that second consideration approval would have to be given by the next legislature before the proposal may be submitted to the people for ratification [see joint rule 57 (2)].

If the legislature approves a proposed constitutional amendment on second consideration, it must also set the date for submitting the proposed constitutional amendment to the people for ratification and must determine the question or questions to appear on the ballot.

Who's behind it

7 senators are its ⁠. All 7 are Republicans.

27 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 34 names

Authors (7)

Signed on in support (27)

Versions and amendments

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

How lawmakers voted

There were 5 votes on this proposal.

Senate Committee on Licensing vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Jan 9, 2026

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

Official motion: “Report adoption 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 adopt it

Passed, 18 to 15 · Jan 21, 2026

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

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

Assembly vote

Passed, 54 to 41 · Feb 19, 2026 · 4 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (54)

No (41)

Didn't vote (4)

Official motion: “SHALL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND”. 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

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (54)

No (41)

Didn't vote (4)

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

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 15 · Mar 17, 2026

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

Official motion: “Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Jun 23, 2026

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 17, 2026

    “Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)

  3. Feb 23, 2026

    The Senate adopted it.

  4. Feb 19, 2026

    The Assembly adopted it too, 54 to 41.

  5. Feb 19, 2026

    “Point of Order Not Well Taken” (the official wording)

  6. Feb 19, 2026

    “Point of order that Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 is not properly before the Assembly” (the official wording)

  7. Feb 19, 2026

    The Assembly adopted it.

  8. Feb 18, 2026

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  9. Jan 22, 2026

    The Assembly received it.

  10. Jan 21, 2026

    The Senate adopted it, 18 to 15.

  11. Jan 9, 2026

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

  12. Jan 7, 2026

    The committee held a public hearing.

  13. Dec 30, 2025

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

  14. Dec 30, 2025

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Dec 30, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Kapenga, Bradley, Feyen, Hutton, Nass, Tomczyk and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Nedweski, Knodl, Kitchens, Sortwell, Allen, August, Behnke, Callahan, Dittrich, Donovan, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, Gustafson, B. Jacobson, Kreibich, Kurtz, Maxey, Moses, Murphy, Penterman, Steffen, Swearingen, Tucker, Tusler, Wichgers and Armstrong

  2. Dec 30, 2025 · Senate

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

  3. Jan 7, 2026 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Jan 9, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  5. Jan 9, 2026 · Senate

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

  6. Jan 9, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  7. Jan 16, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 1-21-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  8. Jan 21, 2026 · Senate

    Read a second time

  9. Jan 21, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  10. Jan 21, 2026 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give joint resolution its third reading

  11. Jan 21, 2026 · Senate

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

  12. Jan 21, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  13. Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  14. Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  15. Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 11:01 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14

  16. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Haywood

  17. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Haywood

  18. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  19. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Nedweski

  20. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted

  21. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  22. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  23. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Point of order that Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 is not properly before the Assembly

  24. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Point of Order Not Well Taken

  25. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Decision of the Chair appealed

  26. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Decision of the Chair upheld, Ayes 54, Noes 41

  27. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 54, Noes 41

  28. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  29. Feb 23, 2026 · Senate

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

  30. Mar 16, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  31. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  32. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Action ordered immediately messaged

  33. Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  34. Mar 30, 2026 · Senate

    Deposited in the office of the Secretary of State on 3-30-2026

  35. Jun 23, 2026 · Senate

    Published 6-23-2026. Enrolled Joint Resolution 14

Terms on this page

Joint resolution

A measure both chambers pass that doesn't go to the governor, such as a schedule or an honor.

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

Joint resolution

A measure both chambers pass that doesn't go to the governor, such as a schedule or an honor.

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