Chapter 13 — LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

13.01 Number of legislators. The senate consists of 33 and the assembly of 99 members. History: 1971 c. 304.

13.02 Regular sessions. annually. The legislature shall meet 13.34 13.35 13.36 13.365 13.39 13.41 13.42 13.45 13.46 13.47 13.48 13.482 13.484 13.485 13.486 13.488 13.489 13.50 13.52 13.525 13.53 13.55 13.56 13.565 13.57 13.58 13.61 13.62 13.621 13.625 13.63 13.64 13.65 13.66 13.6…

13.03 Oaths of members. The speaker of the assembly, president of the senate, governor, secretary of state, attorney general, any court of record or the clerk thereof, any court of appeals judge or any justice of the supreme court may administer the oath of office to the members …

13.035 Designation of members. Members of the assembly shall be known as “representatives to the assembly”.

13.04 Legislators’ eligibility to other civil office. (1) No member of the legislature shall, during the term for which the legislator was elected, be appointed or elected to any civil office in this state, which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which shall have been…

13.05 Logrolling prohibited. Any member of the legislature who gives, offers or promises to give his or her vote or influence in favor of or against any measure or proposition pending or proposed to be introduced in the legislature in consideration or upon condition that any othe…

13.06 Executive favor. Any member of the legislature who gives, offers or promises to give his or her vote or influence in favor of or against any measure or proposition pending or proposed to be introduced in the legislature, or that has already been passed by either house of th…

13.07 Freedom of debate confirmed. Nothing in ss. 13.05 and 13.06 shall be construed as prohibiting free discussion and deliberation upon any question pending before the legislature by members thereof, privately or publicly, nor as prohibiting agreements by members to support any…

13.08 Mileage allowance. (1) The chief clerk of each house, immediately after the commencement of each regular or special session of the legislature, shall certify to the department of administration the names of all qualified members and the number of miles for which each member…

13.085 Bills increasing certain tax rates. (1) Except as May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 3 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. provided in sub. (2), no house of the legislature may pass a bill that increases the rate of the state sales tax or that increases any o…

13.09 Joint committee on finance. (1) There is created a joint standing committee, to be known as the joint committee on finance, consisting of 8 senators and 8 representatives to the assembly appointed as are the members of standing committees in their respective houses. (3) The…

13.093 Reference of bills to joint committee on finance. (1) All bills introduced in either house of the legislature for the appropriation of money, providing for revenue or relating to taxation shall be referred to the joint committee on finance before being passed. (2) (a) Any …

13.095 Review of programs started with federal aid. State agencies responsible for the administration of federal contract or grant-in-aid programs shall promptly notify the federal aid management service of the department of administration whenever any program or project, finance…

13.096 Review of bills establishing vehicle weight limit exceptions. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “department” means the department of transportation. (2) REPORT ON BILLS ESTABLISHING VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMIT EXCEPTIONS. (a) If any bill that is introduced in either house of the l…

13.0965 Review of bills proposing revocation of an operating privilege. If any bill that is introduced in either house of the legislature proposes to revoke a person’s operating privilege upon conviction of that person for any offense, the department of transportation shall, with…

13.0966 Review of bills or amendments establishing health insurance mandates. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “office” means the office of the commissioner of insurance. (2) REPORT ESTABLISHING HEALTH INSURANCE MANDATES. (a) Any bill that requires a report by the office under s.…

13.097 Review of legislation providing for conveyances of lake bed areas. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Department” means the department of natural resources. (b) “Lake bed area” means all or a portion of a navigable lake. (c) “Public trust purpose” means a purpose in fu…

13.0975 Review of legislative proposals impacting May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 13.0975 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH energy availability. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “commission” means the public service commission. (1m) REQUEST BY LEGISLATOR. When any pro…

13.098 Review of legislation relating to alcohol and other drug abuse. When legislation that relates to alcohol and other drug abuse policies, programs or services is introduced or offered in the legislature, the state council on alcohol and other drug abuse shall consider the le…

13.099 Review of bills affecting housing. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Department” means the department of administration. (b) “State housing strategy plan” means the plan developed under s. 16.302. (2) ANALYSIS OF BILLS AFFECTING HOUSING. (a) If any bill that is introd…

13.10 Joint committee on finance approvals. (1) Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, all matters before the joint committee on finance which require the affirmative action of the committee, except those related to the receipt of reports for which no committee action is …

13.101 Joint committee on finance; appropriation and position changes. (1) Following the procedures under s. 13.10, the joint committee on finance may take action under this section. (2) A department, board, commission or agency may request the committee to create or abolish a fu…

13.105 Marquette University Dental School reports to governor and joint committee on finance. The Marquette University School of Dentistry shall biennially report to the governor and the joint committee on finance on the: (1) Number of faculty and nonfaculty positions at the dent…

13.106 Medical College of Wisconsin and UW-Madison Medical School reports. (2) The Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School shall submit a biennial report containing financial summaries for the college and school to the governor and the …

13.11 Records of joint committee on finance. The joint committee on finance shall keep a complete record of all legislation referred to it, and of its proceedings thereon. At the close of the session, such record shall be transmitted to the chief clerks and deposited by them with…

13.111 Joint committee on employment relations. (1) CREATION. There is created a permanent joint legislative committee known as the joint committee on employment relations with such powers and authority as are provided by law and composed of the following 8 members: (a) Senate co…

13.123 Legislators’ expenses. (1) IN-SESSION EXPENSES. (a) 1. Any member of the legislature who has signified, by affidavit filed with the department of administration, the necessity of establishing a temporary residence at the state capital for the period of any regular or speci…

13.124 Legal representation. (1) (a) The speaker of the assembly, in his or her sole discretion, may authorize a representative to the assembly or assembly employee who requires legal representation to obtain legal counsel other than from the department of justice, with the cost …

13.125 Chaplains. The officiating chaplain of the senate and assembly shall be paid such amount as may be established by each house for each day of service from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b). Payment shall be made on certification by the chief clerk of the sena…

13.127 Advice and consent of the senate. Any individual nominated by the governor or another state officer or agency, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to any office or position may not hold the office or position, be nominated again for the office or posit…

13.13 Speaker; deputy speaker; president of senate. (1) SPEAKER. The assembly shall elect by roll call vote one of its members as speaker who shall hold office during the term for which elected to the assembly unless separated by death, resignation or removal by a majority of the…

13.14 Miscellaneous expenses. (2) FLORAL PIECES. The senate and assembly may procure floral pieces for deceased or ill members of the legislature and state officers who, in the judgment of the presiding officer and chief clerk, have been identified with the legislative process. S…

13.15 Chief clerks. (1) ELECTION. Each house, at the commencement of each regular session, shall elect a chief clerk who shall perform all duties as by custom appertain to the office and all duties imposed by law or by the rules. In the absence of the chief clerk, the duties shal…

13.16 Chief clerks’ duties. The chief clerk of each house shall be personally responsible for the safekeeping of every bill, memorial, joint resolution or other document or paper pertaining to legislation, received personally or through a deputy or assistant from any member, comm…

13.17 Journals. A journal of the senate and assembly shall LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 13.176 be prepared under the direction of the chief clerks of the respective houses. When completed, each journal shall be printed as provided by law. The chief clerk of each house shall certify one cop…

13.172 State agency reports. (1) In this section, “agency” means an office, department, agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, that is entitled to expend …

13.175 Referenda. Every proposal for legislation which is to be submitted to the voters for their approval or for an expression of their opinion including, without limitation because of enumeration, proposed constitutional amendments, advisory referenda, and legislation designed …

13.176 Article V convention. (1) In this section: (a) “Alternate delegate” means an individual appointed under May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 13.176 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH sub. (2) (b) to fill a vacancy in the delegation appointed…

13.18 Sergeants at arms. (1) ELECTION. Each house, at the commencement of each regular session, shall elect a sergeant May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 13 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. at arms who shall perform all such duties as by custom appertain to the o…

13.19 Arrest of officers. No officer of the senate or assembly, while in actual attendance upon the duties of that person’s office, shall be liable to arrest on civil process. History: 1991 a. 316.

13.20 Legislative employees. (1) NUMBER AND PAY RANGE OF LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES. The legislature or either house thereof may employ under the unclassified service such policy research personnel, assistants to legislators, and research staff assigned to legislative committees and s…

13.21 State departments to cooperate in providing legislative help. (1) Because of the difficulty in securing necessary help to fill legislative positions in regular sessions of the legislature, due to the manpower shortage, each department and agency of the state government and …

13.22 Payroll, legislative employees. The chief clerk and sergeant at arms of each house shall certify to the department of administration the payrolls for legislative employees in their respective houses. Such certificates shall be approved as provided by the rules of each house…

13.23 Election contests; notice. Any person wishing to contest the election of any senator or member of the assembly shall, within 30 days after the decision of the board of canvassers, serve a notice in writing on the person whose election the contestant intends to contest, stat…

13.235 Election contests; legislative inquiry. (1) Either house of the legislature may by resolution inquire into a contested legislative election of its own house notwithstanding failure to comply with s. 13.23. (2) The procedure of s. 13.24 shall be followed except that deposit…

13.24 Testimony in election contests. (1) After the service of the notice required by s. 13.23 either party may proceed to take the depositions of witnesses before any judge, circuit or supplemental court commissioner or a municipal judge in the district where the contest is pend…

13.25 Expenses of election contest; limitation. Not more than $300 shall be allowed by the legislature to any contes- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 13.25 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH tant or contestee for any fees or expenses of any ki…

13.26 Contempt. (1) Each house may punish as a contempt, by imprisonment, a breach of its privileges or the privileges of its members; but only for one or more of the following offenses: (a) Arresting a member or officer of the house, or procuring such member or officer to be arr…