# Wisconsin SB597: An Act to repeal 6.86 (2) and 6.87 (4) (b) 2.; to amend 6.18 (intro.), 6.86 (1) (a) 3., 6.86 (1) (ac), 6.86 (1) (b), 6.86 (2m) (a), 6.87 (1), 6.87 (2) (intro.), 6.875 (3) (a), 6.875 (4) (a), 7.08 (1) (c) and 7.15 (1) (j); to create 5.02 (24d), 6.86 (1) (ad), 12.13 (6) and 12.60 (1) (e) of the statutes; Relating to: allowing voters to automatically receive absentee ballots for every election, eliminating the indefinitely confined voter status for receiving absentee ballots, and providing a penalty. (FE)

Wisconsin SB597, An Act to repeal 6.86 (2) and 6.87 (4) (b) 2.; to amend 6.18 (intro.), 6.86 (1) (a) 3., 6.86 (1) (ac), 6.86 (1) (b), 6.86 (2m) (a), 6.87 (1), 6.87 (2) (intro.), 6.875 (3) (a), 6.875 (4) (a), 7.08 (1) (c) and 7.15 (1) (j); to create 5.02 (24d), 6.86 (1) (ad), 12.13 (6) and 12.60 (1) (e) of the statutes; Relating to: allowing voters to automatically receive absentee ballots for every election, eliminating the indefinitely confined voter status for receiving absentee ballots, and providing a penalty. (FE), is a 2025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session) Senate bill sponsored by Cory Tomczyk (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-03-23 (Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-SB597-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Wisconsin SB597
- State: Wisconsin
- Session: 2025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session)
- Title: An Act to repeal 6.86 (2) and 6.87 (4) (b) 2.; to amend 6.18 (intro.), 6.86 (1) (a) 3., 6.86 (1) (ac), 6.86 (1) (b), 6.86 (2m) (a), 6.87 (1), 6.87 (2) (intro.), 6.875 (3) (a), 6.875 (4) (a), 7.08 (1) (c) and 7.15 (1) (j); to create 5.02 (24d), 6.86 (1) (ad), 12.13 (6) and 12.60 (1) (e) of the statutes; Relating to: allowing voters to automatically receive absentee ballots for every election, eliminating the indefinitely confined voter status for receiving absentee ballots, and providing a penalty. (FE)
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-10-30
- Last action: 2026-03-23, Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
- Sponsor: Cory Tomczyk (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Subjects: Sen Bill 597, Elections -- Ballots, Municipality -- Officers, Persons with disabilities
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Cory Tomczyk (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Scott Allen (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Robert Brooks (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Cindi Duchow (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Karen Hurd (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Joel Kitchens (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Daniel Knodl (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Scott Krug (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jerry O'Connor (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: William Penterman (Republican), House

## Actions (6)

- 2026-03-23: Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Senate)
- 2025-11-03: LRB correction (Senate)
- 2025-11-03: Fiscal estimate received (Senate)
- 2025-10-31: Representative Brooks added as a cosponsor (Senate)
- 2025-10-30: Read first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development (Senate)
- 2025-10-30: Introduced by Senator Tomczyk; cosponsored by Representatives Duchow, Knodl, Penterman, O'Connor, Hurd, Allen, Krug and Kitchens (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [HTML](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB597), [PDF](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB597.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)
- AB1027: An Act Relating to: requiring information relating to the food stamp program to be compiled and provided to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (FE) (vetoed)
- 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)
- AB674: An Act to create 157.06 (15m) of the statutes; Relating to: prohibiting knowingly covering organ transplantation and related care under health insurance polici… (vetoed)
- SB176: An Act to create 71.05 (1) (j), 71.26 (1) (j), 71.34 (1k) (q) and 71.45 (1) (dp) of the statutes; Relating to: an income and franchise tax exemption for broadb… (vetoed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (HTML)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB597)
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB597.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)
- [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)
- [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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-SB597-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).