Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB227 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
2	2	LRB-2663/1
3	3	MPG:emw&skw
4	4	2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 227
5	5	April 23, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives SNODGRASS, RIVERA-WAGNER,
6	6	ANDERSON, ARNEY, BARE, BROWN, CLANCY, DESMIDT, EMERSON, HONG, J.
7	7	JACOBSON, JOERS, KIRSCH, MADISON, MAYADEV, MIRESSE, MOORE OMOKUNDE,
8	8	NEUBAUER, ORTIZ-VELEZ, PALMERI, PHELPS, ROE, SPAUDE, STROUD, UDELL
9	9	and VINING, cosponsored by Senators LARSON, SPREITZER, CARPENTER,
10	10	DASSLER-ALFHEIM, DRAKE, HESSELBEIN, KEYESKI and RATCLIFF. Referred to
11	11	Committee on Campaigns and Elections.
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13	13	*AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
14	14	AN ACT to renumber and amend 12.11 (1); to amend 12.11 (2); to create
15	15	12.11 (1) (b) and 12.11 (1m) (a) 5. and 6. of the statutes; relating to:
16	16	inducements to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers, recall
17	17	petitions, and certain other petitions.
18	18	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
19	19	Current law prohibits certain kinds of election bribery, including offering,
20	20	giving, lending, or providing money or anything of value to an elector or other
21	21	person to induce the elector to vote or refrain from voting. Under current law,
22	22	Xanything of valueY includes an object having utility independent of a political
23	23	message it contains, the value of which exceeds $1. Election bribery is a Class I
24	24	felony, the penalty for which is a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to
25	25	exceed three years and six months, or both.
26	26	This bill prohibits as election bribery such inducement of an elector to sign or
27	27	refrain from signing a petition supporting or opposing a candidate, referendum, or
28	28	proposition about political or social issues, state law, or proposed or potential
29	29	legislation, if the petition is related to an election or referendum or is circulated
30	30	during an election period, as defined in the bill.
31	31	Additionally, the bill prohibits as election bribery such inducement of an
32	32	elector to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers or a recall petition.
33	33	Finally, the bill defines Xanything of valueY for purposes of a violation of the
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37	37	4 2025 - 2026 Legislature
38	38	ASSEMBLY BILL 227
39	39	- 2 - LRB-2663/1
40	40	MPG:emw&skw
41	41	SECTION 1
42	42	bill[s provisions to include an object having utility independent of a political
43	43	message it contains, if the object[s value exceeds $5, rather than 1$.
44	44	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
45	45	enact as follows:
46	46	SECTION 1. 12.11 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 12.11 (1) (intro.) and
47	47	amended to read:
48	48	12.11 (1) (intro.) In this section, Xanything:
49	49	(a) XAnything of valueY includes any amount of money, or any object which has
50	50	utility independent of any political message it contains and the value of which
51	51	exceeds $1, or $5 for purposes of sub. (1m) (a) 5. and 6. The prohibitions of this
52	52	section apply to the distribution of material printed at public expense and available
53	53	for free distribution if such materials are accompanied by a political message.
54	54	SECTION 2. 12.11 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
55	55	12.11 (1) (b) XElection periodY means any of the following:
56	56	1. The period beginning on December 1 and ending on the date of the spring
57	57	election.
58	58	2. The period beginning on April 15 and ending on the date of the general
59	59	election.
60	60	3. The period beginning on the first day for circulating nomination papers for
61	61	a special election and ending on the date of the special election.
62	62	4. The period beginning on the first day for circulating nomination papers for
63	63	a recall election and ending on the date of the recall election.
64	64	SECTION 3. 12.11 (1m) (a) 5. and 6. of the statutes are created to read:
65	65	12.11 (1m) (a) 5. Sign or refrain from signing a petition supporting or
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85	85	20 2025 - 2026 Legislature
86	86	ASSEMBLY BILL 227
87	87	- 3 - LRB-2663/1
88	88	MPG:emw&skw
89	89	SECTION 3
90	90	opposing a candidate, referendum, or proposition about political or social issues,
91	91	state law, or proposed or potential legislation, if the petition relates to an election or
92	92	referendum or is circulated during an election period.
93	93	6. Sign or refrain from signing nomination papers or a petition for the recall of
94	94	an elective official.
95	95	SECTION 4. 12.11 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
96	96	12.11 (2) This section applies to any convention or meeting held for the
97	97	purpose of nominating any candidate for any election, and to the signing of any
98	98	nomination paper.
99	99	(END)
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