# Wisconsin AB377: An Act to amend 885.37 (1), 885.37 (3) (b) and 885.38 (3) (a) (intro.); to create 1.101 of the statutes; Relating to: establishing English as the official state language, use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing English language interpreters, and use of English for governmental oral and written communication and for nongovernmental purposes. (FE)

Wisconsin AB377, An Act to amend 885.37 (1), 885.37 (3) (b) and 885.38 (3) (a) (intro.); to create 1.101 of the statutes; Relating to: establishing English as the official state language, use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing English language interpreters, and use of English for governmental oral and written communication and for nongovernmental purposes. (FE), is a 2025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session) House bill sponsored by Elijah Behnke (Republican), Robert Brooks (Republican), Rick Gundrum (Republican) and 4 others; status failed, last action 2026-03-23 (Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB377-2025
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Wisconsin AB377
- State: Wisconsin
- Session: 2025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session)
- Title: An Act to amend 885.37 (1), 885.37 (3) (b) and 885.38 (3) (a) (intro.); to create 1.101 of the statutes; Relating to: establishing English as the official state language, use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing English language interpreters, and use of English for governmental oral and written communication and for nongovernmental purposes. (FE)
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-07-17
- Last action: 2026-03-23, Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
- Sponsors: Elijah Behnke (Republican), Robert Brooks (Republican), Rick Gundrum (Republican), Rob Kreibich (Republican), Dave Maxey (Republican), David Murphy (Republican), Jerry O'Connor (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: Data processing, English language, Municipality, Public document, State agencies
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 1 (51 yes, 45 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Elijah Behnke (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Robert Brooks (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Rick Gundrum (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Rob Kreibich (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Dave Maxey (Republican), House
- Sponsor: David Murphy (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Jerry O'Connor (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: André Jacque (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Steve Nass (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: David Steffen (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-01-15 | House | Read a third time and passed, Ayes 51, Noes 45, Paired 2 | pass | 51 | 45 |   |

## Actions (28)

- 2026-03-23: Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Jacque (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Available for scheduling (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development, Ayes 3, Noes 2 (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Executive action taken (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Public hearing held (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Read first time and referred to committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Received from Assembly (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Ordered immediately messaged (House)
- 2026-01-15: Read a third time and passed, Ayes 51, Noes 45, Paired 2 (House)
- 2026-01-15: Rules suspended (House)
- 2026-01-15: Ordered to a third reading (House)
- 2026-01-15: Assembly Amendment 2 adopted (House)
- 2026-01-15: Assembly Amendment 1 adopted (House)
- 2026-01-15: Read a second time (House)
- 2026-01-14: Representative Steffen added as a coauthor (House)
- 2026-01-13: Placed on calendar 1-15-2026 by Committee on Rules (House)
- 2025-11-12: Referred to committee on Rules (House)
- 2025-11-12: Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 4, Noes 2 (House)
- 2025-11-12: Report Assembly Amendment 2 adoption recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 6, Noes 0 (House)
- 2025-11-12: Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 6, Noes 0 (House)
- 2025-11-05: Executive action taken (House)
- 2025-11-04: Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representative Murphy (House)
- 2025-10-30: Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Murphy (House)
- 2025-10-22: Public hearing held (House)
- 2025-07-29: Fiscal estimate received (House)
- 2025-07-17: Read first time and referred to Committee on Science, Technology, and AI (House)
- 2025-07-17: Introduced by Representatives Murphy, Behnke, Brooks, Gundrum, Kreibich, Maxey and O'Connor; cosponsored by Senators Jacque and Nass (House)

## Bill text

- Assembly Amendment 1, 2026-01-15: [HTML](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/AB377-AA1), [PDF](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/AB377-AA1.pdf)
- Assembly Amendment 2, 2026-01-15: [HTML](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/AB377-AA2), [PDF](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/AB377-AA2.pdf)
- Bill Text: [HTML](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB377), [PDF](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB377.pdf)

## Related bills

- AB913: An Act to create 71.05 (6) (b) 57. of the statutes; Relating to: subtraction for certain income of members of the National Guard and Reserves. (FE) (signed)
- AB80: An Act to renumber 457.25 (1); to amend 46.90 (4) (ab) 4., 48.56 (2), 48.561 (2), 49.45 (30j) (a) 1., 51.03 (6) (a), 55.043 (1m) (a) 4., 146.81 (1) (hg), 146.8… (signed)
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- SB36: An Act to repeal 71.63 (6) (n) 1. and 71.63 (6) (n) 2.; to renumber and amend 71.63 (6) (n) (intro.); to amend 71.05 (6) (b) 19. cm., 71.05 (6) (b) 19. dm., 71… (vetoed)

## Sources
- [Assembly Amendment 1 (HTML)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/AB377-AA1)
- [Assembly Amendment 1 (PDF)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/AB377-AA1.pdf)
- [Assembly Amendment 2 (HTML)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/AB377-AA2)
- [Assembly Amendment 2 (PDF)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/AB377-AA2.pdf)
- [Bill Text (HTML)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB377)
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB377.pdf)

## Related
- [AB913: An Act to create 71.05 (6) (b) 57. of the statutes; Relating to: subtraction fo…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB913-2025)
- [AB80: An Act to renumber 457.25 (1); to amend 46.90 (4) (ab) 4., 48.56 (2), 48.561 (2…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB80-2025)
- [AB1027: An Act Relating to: requiring information relating to the food stamp program to…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB1027-2025)
- [AB674: An Act to create 157.06 (15m) of the statutes; Relating to: prohibiting knowing…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB674-2025)
- [SB176: An Act to create 71.05 (1) (j), 71.26 (1) (j), 71.34 (1k) (q) and 71.45 (1) (dp…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-SB176-2025)
- [SB36: An Act to repeal 71.63 (6) (n) 1. and 71.63 (6) (n) 2.; to renumber and amend 7…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-SB36-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB377-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).