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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SJR 139

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: slavery or involuntary servitude in punishment of a crime (first consideration).

Constitutional amendments — First consideration Consumer protection Crime and criminals

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Senate, not reached
  3. Passes Assembly, not reached
  4. Adopted, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

The Wisconsin Constitution prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, but the constitution includes an exception to that prohibition if the slavery or involuntary servitude is imposed as punishment for a crime for which an individual has been duly convicted. This constitutional amendment, proposed to the 2025 legislature on first consideration, eliminates that exception. Under this constitutional amendment, slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited without exception.

A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it becomes effective.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Dassler-Alfheim (D) , Drake (D) , L. Johnson (D) , Larson (D) , Ratcliff (D) , Roys (D) , Spreitzer (D) , Wall (D)

22 cosponsors

Arney (D) , Bare (D) , Brown (D) , Clancy (D) , Goodwin (D) , Haywood (D) , Joers (D) , Kirsch (D) , Madison (D) , McCarville (D) , Miresse (D) , Moore Omokunde (D) , Neubauer (D) , Palmeri (D) , Rivera-Wagner (D) , Roe (D) , Sinicki (D) , Stubbs (D) , Subeck and Anderson , Taylor (D) , Tenorio (D) , Udell (D)

Full history

  1. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Drake, L. Johnson, Dassler-Alfheim, Larson, Ratcliff, Roys, Spreitzer and Wall; cosponsored by Representatives Madison, Moore Omokunde, Arney, Goodwin, Haywood, Rivera-Wagner, Stubbs, Taylor, Bare, Brown, Clancy, Joers, Kirsch, McCarville, Miresse, Neubauer, Roe, Sinicki, Tenorio and Udell

  2. Mar 12, 2026 · Senate

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

  3. Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

    Representatives Subeck and Anderson added as cosponsors

  4. Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Palmeri added as a cosponsor

  5. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to adopt pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1