SB 940 Wisconsin Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: the rule-making authority of agencies. (FE)

SB 940 limits state agencies' rule-making authority by requiring explicit and specific statutory permission for agencies to interpret or implement laws. It prohibits agencies from using policy statements, federal compliance plans, settlement agreements, or court orders as justification for creating rules. The bill also adds a new requirement that agencies must obtain approval from the governor and the relevant policy-making body before drafting new rules. This directly affects state agencies responsible for creating regulations, such as environmental or health departments, by tightening oversight of their regulatory actions.
Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 6, 2026 Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Amendments
2
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Feb 12, 2026
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
Feb 10, 2026
Introduced
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Jacque
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Introduced
Introduced by Senators Jacque, Quinn, Hutton, Kapenga, Nass, Bradley and Cabral-Guevara; cosponsored by Representatives B. Jacobson, Gustafson, Hurd, Tucker, Tusler, Sortwell, Allen, Behnke, Callahan, Dittrich, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, Kaufert, Knodl, Kreibich, Maxey, Moses, Murphy, Neylon, O'Connor, Penterman, Petersen, Piwowarczyk, Rodriguez, VanderMeer, Wichgers, Wittke, Spiros and Armstrong
upper
7 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors