106th Wisconsin Legislature explained
The One Hundred Sixth Wisconsin Legislature is the current ongoing legislative term in Wisconsin. It was convened on January 3, 2023, in regular session, and is scheduled to conclude on though it adjourned for legislative activity on [1] There has been one special session during this term.
This was the only legislative session under the legislative redistricting plan imposed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the 2022 case Johnson v. Wisconsin Elections Commission. The district plan was a Republican remedial proposal which closely adhered to districts adopted by the Republican legislature in 2011. During this legislative term, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declared that district plan unconstitutional on technical grounds, and the legislature and governor agreed on a new redistricting plan.
Senators representing odd-numbered districts are newly elected for this session and are serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members are elected to a two-year term. Assembly members and odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 8, 2022.[2] Senators representing even-numbered districts are serving the third and fourth year of their four-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 3, 2020.[3]
Major events
- January 3, 2023: Second inauguration of Tony Evers as Governor of Wisconsin.
- February 8, 2023: On his first trip after the 2023 State of the Union Address, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Dane County, Wisconsin, and spoke to workers at a LiUNA training center in DeForest, Wisconsin.
- February 12, 2023: Following the 2023 Chinese balloon incident, another suspected Chinese balloon was detected near northern Wisconsin and was shot down over Lake Huron.
- March 17, 2023: Wisconsin's longest-serving statewide elected officer, secretary of state Doug La Follette, retired after more than 40 years in office.
- April 4, 2023: 2023 Wisconsin Spring election:
- August 8, 2023: Governor Tony Evers called a special session of the Legislature to consider bills related to child care, higher education, and paid family leave.[5]
- September 20, 2023: The Wisconsin legislature opened and closed a special session within 38 seconds in response to the Governor's call for a special session devoted to bringing down soaring child care costs in the state.
- October 4, 2023: A man carrying a loaded pistol was arrested at the Wisconsin State Capitol while seeking a meeting with Wisconsin governor Tony Evers. The man made bail and returned later in the same day with a loaded rifle, and was arrested again.[6]
- December 22, 2023: The Wisconsin Supreme Court released their decision in the case of Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, finding that Wisconsin's legislative maps were unconstitutional and had to be re-drawn.
- January 26, 2024: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources established a protected conservation area of 67,000 acres of land in Pelican River Forest in northern Wisconsin, one of the largest conservation projects in state history.
- April 2, 2024: 2024 Wisconsin spring election:
- Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution:
- To restrict local elections administrators from soliciting or accepting private donations or grants to support election administration.
- To restrict participation in election administration to only those described in law.
- July 13, 2024: U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump was shot at and wounded in an attempted assassination in Butler County, Pennsylvania.
- July 15, 2024: The 2024 Republican National Convention began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- July 21, 2024: U.S. president Joe Biden announced in a written statement that he would not run for another term as president.
- August 13, 2024: Wisconsin fall partisan primary:
- Wisconsin voters rejected two amendments to the state constitution:
- To require that all state spending must be specifically appropriated by the legislature, not delegated to the executive or other agency.
- To require the governor to seek legislative approval before spending any money received from the federal government.
- November 5, 2024: 2024 United States general election.
Major legislation
- January 19, 2023: Joint Resolution to amend section 8 (2) of article I of the constitution; relating to: conditions for release prior to conviction, including the imposition of bail (second consideration), 2023 Senate Joint Resolution 2. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin.
- April 6, 2023: An Act ... relating to: statutory changes to implement the constitutional amendment relating to conditions of release, 2023 Act 3. Updated state law to reflect the constitutional amendments ratified in 2023 relating to bail.
- June 21, 2023: An Act ... relating to: county and municipal aid; imposing a city and county sales tax to pay the unfunded liability of city and county retirement systems; requiring certain newly hired city and county employees to be enrolled in the Wisconsin Retirement System; fire and police commissions of first class cities; eliminating the personal property tax; reporting certain crimes and other incidents on school property or school transportation; advisory referenda; local health officers; local public protection services; local levy limits; local regulation of certain quarry operations; emergency services; local approval of projects and activities under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program; and granting rule-making authority, 2023 Act 12. A long-overdue compromise allowing Wisconsin municipalities to raise revenue. Shared revenue for Wisconsin municipalities was slashed in 2011 and placed on an unsustainable trajectory in order to give the appearance of a state budget surplus, at the same time local options to raise revenue independent of state authority were also constrained. This act allowed some easing of those rules to allow municipalities to avoid bankruptcy or mass layoffs.
- July 6, 2023: An Act relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2023 legislature, 2023 Act 19. Vetoed in part.
- December 6, 2023: An Act ... relating to: baseball park district administration, funding for improvement of professional baseball park facilities, use of the Milwaukee County sales tax, expiration of the Milwaukee County sales tax, and Milwaukee County pension obligation bonds, 2023 Act 40. Setting up funding sources for improvements to American Family Field to ensure that the Milwaukee Brewers franchise remains in Milwaukee.
- December 6, 2023: An Act ... relating to: funding for improvement of baseball park facilities, administration of county and municipal sales taxes, and making an appropriation, 2023 Act 41. Along with Act 40, providing funding for improvements to the American Family Field to ensure that the Milwaukee Brewers franchise remains in Milwaukee.
- February 19, 2024: An Act ... relating to: legislative redistricting, 2023 Act 94. This was a remedial legislative redistricting plan, passed by the legislature after the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the existing map. If the law stands, it will be the end of 12 years of extreme partisan gerrymandering in the Wisconsin legislature.
Party summary
Senate summary
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
| Total | |
|---|
| | |
| Democratic | Republican | Vacant |
|---|
| nowrap style="font-size:80%" | End of previous legislature | 12 | | 21 | 33 | 0 |
|---|
|
| nowrap style="font-size:80%" | Start of session[7] | 11 | | 21 | 32 | 1 |
|---|
| nowrap style="font-size:80%" | From May 3, 2023[8] | 22 | 33 | 0 |
|---|
| nowrap style="font-size:80%" | From Jan. 26, 2024[9] | 10 | 32 | 1 |
|---|
|
| Current voting share | | | | < | -- |
|---|
|
| Beginning of next session | | | 33 | 0 --> | |
|---|
Assembly summary
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
| Total | |
|---|
| | |
| Democratic | Republican | Vacant |
|---|
| nowrap style="font-size:80%" | End of previous legislature | 38 | | 57 | 95 | 4 |
|---|
|
| nowrap style="font-size:80%" | Start of session | 35 | | 64 | 99 | 0 |
|---|
| nowrap style="font-size:80%" | From May 3, 2023[10] | | 63 | 98 | 1 |
|---|
| nowrap style="font-size:80%" | From Aug. 7, 2023[11] | 64 | 99 | 0 |
|---|
| nowrap style="font-size:80%" | From Jul. 31, 2024[12] | 34 | 98 | 1 |
|---|
|
| Current voting share | | | | < | -- |
|---|
|
| Beginning of next session | | | 99 | 0 --> | |
|---|
Sessions
- Regular session: January 3, 2023January 6, 2025
- September 2023 special session: September 20, 2023
Leadership
Senate leadership
- Senate majority leadership (Republican)
- Senate minority leadership (Democratic)
Assembly leadership
- Assembly majority leadership (Republican)
- Assembly minority leadership (Democratic)
Members
Members of the Senate
Members of the Senate for the One Hundred Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:[13]
| Dist. | Senator | Party | Age | Home | First
elected |
|---|
| | | Rep. | | De Pere, Brown County | 2018 |
| | | Rep. | | Green Bay, Brown County | 1987 |
| | | Dem. | | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 2002 |
| | | Dem. | | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 2004 |
| --Vacant since Jan. 26, 2024-- |
| | | Rep. | | Brookfield, Waukesha County | 2022 |
| | | Dem. | | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 2016 |
| | | Dem. | | Milwaukee, Milwaukee County | 2010 |
| --Vacant until May 3, 2023-- |
| | Rep. | | Germantown, Washington County | 2023 |
| | | Rep. | | Oostburg, Sheboygan County | 2014 |
| | | Rep. | | New Richmond, St. Croix County | 2020 |
| | | Rep. | | Whitewater, Walworth County | 2014 |
| | | Rep. | | Irma, Lincoln County | 2020 |
| | | Rep. | | Watertown, Jefferson County | 2021 |
| | | Rep. | | Markesan, Green Lake County | 2020 |
| | | Dem. | | Beloit, Rock County | 2022 |
| | | Dem. | | Madison, Dane County | 2020 |
| | | Rep. | | Spring Green, Sauk County | 2014 |
| | | Rep. | | Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County | 2016 |
| | | Rep. | | Appleton, Outagamie County | 2022 |
| 20 | | | Rep. | | | 2015 |
| | | Rep. | | Racine, Racine County | 2014 |
| | | Dem. | | Somers, Kenosha County | 1996 |
| | | Rep. | | Altoona, Eau Claire County | 2022 |
| | | Rep. | | Stevens Point, Portage County | 2016 |
| | | Rep. | | Cameron, Barron County | 2022 |
| | | Dem. | | Madison, Dane County | 2020 |
| | | Dem. | | Middleton, Dane County | 2022 |
| | | Rep. | | Franklin, Milwaukee County | 2020 |
| | | Rep. | | Mosinee, Marathon County | 2022 |
| | | Rep. | | Green Bay, Brown County | 2020 |
| | | Dem. | | Brunswick, Eau Claire County | 2018 |
| | | Dem. | | Onalaska, La Crosse County | 2020 |
| | | Rep. | | Delafield, Waukesha County | 2015 | |
Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the One Hundred Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:[13]
Committees
Senate committees
- Senate Committee on Agriculture and TourismJ. Ballweg, chair
- Senate Committee on Economic Development and Technical CollegesD. Feyen, chair
- Senate Committee on EducationJ. Jagler, chair
- Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting HeritageR. Stafsholt, chair
- Senate Committee on Government OperationsD. Stroebel, chair
- Senate Committee on HealthR. Cabral-Guevara, chair
- Senate Committee on Housing, Rural Issues and ForestryR. R. Quinn, chair
- Senate Committee on Insurance and Small BusinessM. Felzkowski, chair
- Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public SafetyV. Wanggaard, chair
- Senate Committee on Labor, Regulatory Reform, Veterans and Military AffairsP. Testin, chair
- Senate Committee on Licensing, Constitution and FederalismA. Jacque, chair
- Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and FamiliesJ. L. James, chair
- Senate Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyR. L. Cowles, chair
- Senate Committee on Senate OrganizationD. LeMahieu, chair
- Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer ProtectionD. Knodl, chair
- Senate Committee on Transportation and Local GovernmentC. Tomczyk, chair
- Senate Committee on Universities and RevenueR. Hutton, chair
- Senate Committee on Utilities and TechnologyJ. Bradley, chair
Assembly committees
- Assembly Committee on AgricultureT. Tranel, chair
- Assembly Committee on Assembly OrganizationR. Vos, chair
- Assembly Committee on AuditR. Wittke, chair
- Assembly Committee on Campaigns and ElectionsS. Krug, chair
- Assembly Committee on Children and FamiliesP. Snyder, chair
- Assembly Committee on Colleges and UniversitiesD. Murphy, chair
- Assembly Committee on Consumer ProtectionC. T. Callahan, chair
- Assembly Committee on CorrectionsM. Schraa, chair
- Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public SafetyJ. Spiros, chair
- Assembly Committee on EducationJ. Kitchens, chair
- Assembly Committee on Energy and UtilitiesD. Steffen, chair
- Assembly Committee on EnvironmentL. Oldenburg, chair
- Assembly Committee on Family LawD. M. Rozar, chair
- Assembly Committee on Financial InstitutionsC. Duchow, chair
- Assembly Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor RecreationJ. Mursau, chair
- Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and OversightD. Knodl, chair (until May 3, 2023), D. Steffen, vice-chair
- Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term CareC. P. Moses, chair
- Assembly Committee on Housing and Real EstateR. Brooks, chair
- Assembly Committee on InsuranceB. Dittrich, chair
- Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economy and Small Business DevelopmentR. Gundrum, chair
- Assembly Committee on JudiciaryR. Tusler, chair
- Assembly Committee on Labor and Integrated EmploymentW. Penterman, chair
- Assembly Committee on Local GovernmentT. Novak, chair
- Assembly Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse PreventionP. Tittl, chair
- Assembly Committee on Regulatory Licensing ReformS. A. Sortwell, chair
- Assembly Committee on RulesT. August, chair
- Assembly Committee on Rural DevelopmentD. Armstrong, chair
- Assembly Committee on Sporting HeritageT. E. Pronschinske, chair
- Assembly Committee on State AffairsR. Swearingen, chair
- Assembly Committee on TourismG. Magnafici, chair
- Assembly Committee on TransportationN. VanderMeer, chair
- Assembly Committee on Veterans and Military AffairsJ. Edming, chair
- Assembly Committee on Ways and MeansJ. Macco, chair
- Assembly Committee on Workforce Development and Economic OpportunitiesW. Petryk, chair
Joint committees
- Joint Legislative Audit CommitteeE. Wimberger (Sen.) & R. Wittke (Asm.), co-chairs
- Joint Legislative CouncilC. Kapenga (Sen.) & N. VanderMeer (Asm.), co-chairs
- Joint Committee for Review of Administrative RulesS. L. Nass (Sen.) & A. Neylon (Asm.), co-chairs
- Joint Committee on Employment RelationsC. Kapenga (Sen.) & R. Vos (Asm.), co-chairs
- Joint Committee on FinanceH. Marklein (Sen.) & M. Born (Asm.), co-chairs
- Joint Committee on Information Policy and TechnologyJ. Bradley (Sen.) & S. Zimmerman (Asm.), co-chairs
- Joint Committee on Legislative OrganizationC. Kapenga (Sen.) & R. Vos (Asm.), co-chairs
- Joint Review Committee on Criminal PenaltiesR. Hutton (Sen.), chair
- Joint Survey Committee on Retirement SystemsD. Feyen (Sen.) & T. August (Asm.), co-chairs
- Joint Survey Committee on Tax ExemptionsP. Testin (Sen.) & T. August (Asm.), co-chairs
Employees
Senate employees
- Chief Clerk: Michael Queensland
- Sergeant at Arms: Tom Engels
Assembly employees
- Chief Clerk: Ted Blazel
- Sergeant at Arms: Anne Tonnon Byers
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Joint Resolution relating to: the session schedule for the 2023–2024 biennial session period . 2024 . Senate Joint Resolution . 1 . . February 10, 2024 .
- Canvass Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022 . . November 30, 2022 . January 2, 2023 .
- Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 . . November 18, 2020 . January 2, 2023 .
- Web site: 2023-04-05 . GOP lawmaker wins Wis. Senate seat, creating supermajority . 2023-09-20 . AP News . en.
- Web site: Hess . Corri . 2023-08-08 . Gov. Tony Evers calls special session to address child care, workforce challenges . 2023-09-20 . Wisconsin Public Radio . en.
- News: Armed Man Seeking Wisconsin Governor Posts Bail and Returns With Rifle . Michael . Levenson . October 5, 2023 . . October 5, 2023 .
- Republican Alberta Darling (District 8) resigned before the start of the session.
- Republican Dan Knodl (District 8) was sworn in to replace Alberta Darling.
- Democrat Lena Taylor (District 4) resigned after being appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge.
- Republican Dan Knodl (District 24) resigned to take office in the State Senate.
- Republican Paul Melotik (District 24) sworn in to replace Dan Knodl.
- Democrat Marisabel Cabrera (District 9) resigned after her election as a circuit judge.
- Wisconsin Blue Book 2023 - 2024 . . 2023 . 978-1-7333817-2-7 . https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2023_2024/030_state_legislators.pdf . State Legislature . February 11, 2024 .
