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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SJR 4

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: the freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (second consideration).

Constitutional amendments — Second consideration Governor Legislature Municipality Public health Religious societies

  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

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 Senate Joint Resolution 54, which became 2023 Enrolled Joint Resolution 11.

This constitutional amendment provides that the state or a political subdivision of the state may not order the closure of or forbid gatherings in places of worship in response to a state of emergency at the national, state, or local level, including an emergency related to public health.

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.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Bradley (R) , Cabral-Guevara (R) , Felzkowski (R) , James (R) , Kapenga (R) , Nass (R) , Quinn (R) , Tomczyk (R)

26 cosponsors

Allen (R) , Armstrong (R) , B. Jacobson (R) , Behnke (R) , Brill (R) , Brooks (R) , Callahan (R) , Dittrich (R) , Donovan (R) , Franklin (R) , Goeben (R) , Green (R) , Gundrum (R) , Gustafson (R) , Hurd (R) , Knodl (R) , Kreibich (R) , Maxey (R) , Murphy (R) , Nedweski (R) , O'Connor (R) , Penterman (R) , Piwowarczyk (R) , Tittl (R) , Tusler (R) , Wichgers (R)

Registered lobbying interests · 3

Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record

Votes

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

Passed 3–2 Jan 9, 2026 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Full history

  1. Feb 5, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Tomczyk, Nass, Bradley, Cabral-Guevara, Felzkowski, James, Kapenga and Quinn; cosponsored by Representatives Tusler, Green, Allen, Armstrong, Behnke, Brill, Brooks, Callahan, Dittrich, Donovan, Franklin, Goeben, Gundrum, Gustafson, Hurd, B. Jacobson, Knodl, Kreibich, Maxey, Murphy, Nedweski, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Tittl and Wichgers

  2. Feb 5, 2025 · Senate

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

  3. Nov 12, 2025 · 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. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to adopt pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1