Relating to: the expiration of administrative rules. (FE)
SB 277 establishes a 6-year expiration cycle for most Wisconsin administrative rules, requiring state agencies to proactively renew rules before they expire. It mandates that agencies submit renewal notices between January 1 and March 1 each year for rules expiring that year, including detailed justifications and statutory references. Rules not renewed through this process will automatically be removed from the Wisconsin Administrative Code on January 1 following expiration. This directly affects state agencies responsible for creating and maintaining administrative rules, ensuring regular legislative review of regulatory changes.
Bill status
vetoed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Nov 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
Assembly Passage
Feb 2026
Vetoed
Mar 2026
Introduced May 21, 2025
Vetoed Mar 20, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Bill Text
→
Text as Enrolled
·
5 edits
MODERATE
This bill establishes a seven-year expiration rule for all Wisconsin administrative code chapters, requiring agencies to actively re-adopt them to remain in effect. It creates a streamlined readoption process where chapters automatically renew unless objected to, while also mandating that agencies review their rules to remove outdated or offensive language.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of administrative rule management by introducing a mandatory expiration timeline and new reporting requirements for agencies regarding small business impacts and rule readoptions.
REQUIREMENT
Requires all administrative code chapters to expire seven years after enactment or readoption unless explicitly re-adopted by the agency.
Mandates that agencies avoid using words or phrases in rules that are outdated, derogatory, or offensive.
Requires agencies to submit readoption notices to legislative committees and provides for automatic readoption unless an objection is formally raised.
Adds specific requirements for agencies to analyze cost impacts and consider small business effects when proposing new or revised rules.
TIMELINE
Establishes a schedule for the expiration of existing code chapters, with expirations beginning on January 1, 2028.
Floor votes · Assembly Feb 12, 2026
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
49
Key actions
8
Committee
1
Amendments
8
Mar 20, 2026
Vetoed
Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-20-2026
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 concurred in
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 53, Noes 45
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Neylon
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Subeck
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Subeck
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adopted
upper
Nov 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Nov 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Nov 3, 2025
Introduced
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Nass
upper
May 21, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Senators Nass, Bradley, Quinn, Kapenga, Tomczyk, Hutton, Stafsholt, Cabral-Guevara and Feyen;
cosponsored by Representatives Neylon, Tusler, Armstrong, Behnke, Brooks, Callahan, Dallman, Dittrich, Donovan, Duchow, Goeben, Green, Gustafson, B. Jacobson, Knodl, Kreibich, Maxey, Melotik, Moses, Murphy, Mursau, Nedweski, O'Connor, Piwowarczyk, Rodriguez, Sortwell, Tittl, Tranel, Wichgers and Wittke
upper
9 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 277
Scope: WI
Hi! I can help you understand SB 277. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline