Relating to: eliminating the advisory referenda restrictions under 2023 Wisconsin Act 12.
SB 530 removes restrictions that previously limited Wisconsin counties from holding advisory referendums on most issues. It amends statute 59.52(25) to eliminate the exception requiring specific approval for advisory votes, except for those about capital expenditures funded by property taxes, and repeals the related statute 66.0144. This change directly affects county boards, allowing them to seek voter input on a broader range of local policy matters through non-binding advisory votes. The bill makes no changes to binding referendums or voting outcomes, only expanding the scope of advisory input available to local governments.
Bill status
failed
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Oct 9, 2025
Last action Mar 23, 2026
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Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
5
Key actions
0
Committee
0
Oct 9, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Senators Ratcliff, Smith, Carpenter, Hesselbein, Keyeski, Larson, Roys, Spreitzer and Wirch;
cosponsored by Representatives Joers, Anderson, Andraca, Arney, Bare, Clancy, Emerson, Fitzgerald, Hysell, Johnson, Madison, McCarville, Miresse, Ortiz-Velez, Palmeri, Rivera-Wagner, Roe, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Stroud and Udell
upper
9 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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