Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate 1 R cosponsors

SR 2 — Relating to: the senate rules.

Last action — Adopted

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

131 added · 218 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recently passed Senate Resolution 2 updates several senate rules regarding communication and beverage consumption in the chamber. It clarifies that the president or presiding officer must receive messages from the assembly and can announce them, enhancing transparency in communication. Additionally, it lifts the blanket ban on consuming beverages in the chamber, allowing limited beverage consumption but maintaining that the presiding officer can restrict it as needed to keep the decorum. This change could foster a more relaxed atmosphere while still respecting the formal setting of the senate.

→
Previous
Latest
- 2024 LEGISLATURE LRB-0198/1 RAC:amn&cjs SENATE RESOLUTION 2 April 17, 2023 - Introduced by Senator L E M AHIEU.
Senate Resolution 2 ENGROSSED RESOLUTION To renumber and amend senate rule 8 (4);
Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.
to amend senate rule 4 (8), senate rule 11 (6), senate rule (1b), senate rule 25 (1) (c), senate rule 25 (4) (b), senate rule 28, senate rule 33 (2), senate rule 34 (1), senate rule 35, senate rule 36 (2) (a), senate rule 36 (2) (c), senate rule 41 (1) (a), senate rule 41 (1) (b), senate rule 47 (5) and senate rule 98 (4);
To renumber and amend senate rule 8 (4);
to amend senate rule 4 (8), senate rule 11 (6), senate rule 18 (1b), senate rule 25 (1) (c), senate rule 25 (4) (b), senate rule 28, senate rule 33 (2), senate rule 34 (1), senate rule 35, senate rule 36 (2) (a), senate rule 36 (2) (c), senate rule 41 (1) (a), senate rule 41 (1) (b), senate rule 47 (5) and senate rule 98 (4);
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This resolution makes the following changes to the senate rules:
Receipt of messages Current senate rules require the president or presiding officer to receive messages from the other branches of government and announce them to the senate.
The resolution clarifies that the president or presiding officer must also receive messages from the assembly and may announce all messages to the senate.
Consumption of beverages on senate floor Current senate rules prohibit the consumption of beverages within the senate chamber.
The resolution eliminates this prohibition, but provides that the presiding officer, at any time, may prohibit or restrict beverage consumption to preserve decorum.
For the purpose of consuming beverages within the senate chamber, the resolution requires the presiding officer to designate appropriate beverage LRB-0198/1 - 2024 Legislature - 2 - RAC:amn&cjs containers and places at or on which the containers may be placed or stored.
In no instance may a beverage container be placed or stored on the top of a member's desk in the senate chamber.
Access to the senate floor Current senate rules provide that only certain individuals may be admitted to the senate floor and that all other individuals must specifically be invited on the senate floor by the Committee on Senate Organization.
The resolution authorizes the presiding officer also to invite other individuals on the senate floor.
Consideration of assembly companion proposals Current senate rules require that an assembly proposal initially received for consideration of the senate must be referred.
The resolution provides that an assembly proposal initially received for consideration of the senate that is a companion proposal to a senate proposal that is on that day's calendar, as determined by the presiding officer, shall be taken up immediately unless referred by the presiding officer to a standing committee.
Availability of unintroduced legislation at committee meetings Current senate rules require that if unintroduced legislation will be considered at a committee meeting, copies of the unintroduced legislation must be available at the senate chief clerk's office.
The resolution clarifies that this requirement applies only to unintroduced bills, joint resolutions, and resolutions and not to unintroduced amendments.
Minority reports Current senate rules provide that a committee member who objects to a committee report may file a minority report on the same or next legislative day that the committee report is filed.
The resolution provides instead that a committee member who objects to a committee report must first notify the committee chairperson that he or she intends to file a minority report.
The minority report must then be filed with the committee chairperson no later than the second business day after the committee's vote to adopt the committee report.
Proposals to be on file Current senate rules provide generally that bills and joint resolutions, after introduction, must lay over for 24 hours before being considered.
The resolution clarifies that this layover requirement applies only to senate actions on passage, adoption, or concurrence.
Consideration of amendments The resolution provides specifically that reports of conference committees are not amendable.
This conforms the senate rules to the joint rules.
Technical changes The resolution makes a number of technical changes for purposes of clarity and consistency.
LRB-0198/1 - 2024 Legislature - 3 - RAC:amn&cjs SECTION 1 SECTION 1.
SECTION 1.
SENATE RULE 8 (4) (a) A member or other person may not, within the senate chamber, read newspapers, periodicals, magazines, books, or similar materials, unless the publication is relevant to the debate on the senate floor;
SENATE R ULE 8 (4) (a) A member or other person may not, within the senate chamber, read newspapers, periodicals, magazines, books, or similar materials, unless the publication is relevant to the debate on the senate floor;
consume food, beverages, or tobacco products;
consume food, beverages,tobacco products;
SENATE RULE 8 (4) (b) A member or other person may consume beverages within the senate chamber;
SENATE R ULE 8 (4) (b) A member or other person may consume beverages within the senate chamber;
In no instance may a beverage container be placed or stored on the top of a member's desk in the senate chamber.
In no instance may a beverage container be placed or stored on the top of a member’s desk in the senate chamber.
SENATE RULE 11 (6) Persons who are not specified in subs.
Senate Resolution 2 − 2− SENATE R ULE 11 (6) Persons who are not specified in subs.
SENATE RULE 18 (1b) Messages from the assembly or from the governor may be received and read, and any proposal referenced in the messages that is an assembly LRB-0198/1 - 2024 Legislature - 4 - RAC:amn&cjs SECTION 5 proposal initially received for consideration of the senate shall be referred, except as provided in sub.
SENATE RULE 18 (1b) Messages from the assembly or from the governor may be received and read, and any proposal referenced in the messages that is an assembly proposal initially received for consideration of the senate shall be referred, except as provided in sub.
SENATE RULE 18 (1f) An assembly proposal initially received for consideration of the senate that is a companion proposal to a senate proposal that is on that day's calendar, as determined by the presiding officer, shall be taken up immediately unless referred by the presiding officer to a standing committee.
SENATE RULE 18 (1f) An assembly proposal initially received for consideration of the senate that is a companion proposal to a senate proposal that is on that day’s calendar, as determined by the presiding officer, shall be taken up immediately unless referred by the presiding officer to a standing committee.
If an unintroduced legislation proposal will be considered at the meeting, the notice shall indicate the draft number assigned to the legislation proposal by the legislative reference bureau and the relating clause of the legislation proposal, and shall indicate that copies of the draft legislation proposal are available at the chief clerk's office.
If an unintroduced legislation proposal will be considered at the meeting, the notice shall indicate the draft number assigned to the legislation proposal by the legislative reference bureau and the relating clause of the legislation proposal, and shall indicate that copies of the draft legislation proposal are available at the chief clerk’s office.
The chairperson shall provide a copy of the draft legislation proposal to the chief clerk before publishing the notice.
The chairperson shall provide a copy of the draft legislationsal to the chief clerk before publishing the notice.
(am), public notice shall be posted on the bulletin board of each house prior LRB-0198/1 - 2024 Legislature - 5 - RAC:amn&cjs S ECTION 8 to the circulation of the ballot as provided under sub.
(am), public notice shall be posted on the bulletin board of each house prior to the circulation of the ballot as provided under sub.
The notice shall indicate the day and hour when the ballot will be circulated and the number, author, and relating clause of each proposal to be considereunintroduced legislation proposal will be considered, the notice shall indicate the draft number assigned to the legislationoposal by the legislative reference bureau and the relating clause of the legislation proposal, and shall indicate that copies of the draft legislation proposal are available at the chief clerk's office.
The notice shall indicate the day and hour when the ballot will be circulated and the number, author, and relating clause of each proposal to be considered.
If an unintroduced legislation proposal will be considered, the notice shall indicate the draft number assigned to the legislation proposal by the legislative reference bureau and the relating clause of the legislation proposal, and shall indicate that copies of the draft legislation proposal are available at the chief clerk’s office.
The chief clerk shall make available a copy of the draft legproposal to any person who requests a copy.
The chief clerk shall make available a copy of the draft legislation proposal to any person who requests a copy.
S ECTION 9.
SECTION 9.
Show all 69 changed rows (29 more)
Previous
Latest
S ENATER ULE28.
SENATE R ULE 28.
Any member or members dissenting from a report of a committee may make, at the time of the committee's final vote on the matter, notify the chairperson of his or her intent to file a separate minority report stating the reasons and conclusions;
Any member or members dissenting from a report of a committee may make, at the time of the committee’s final vote on the matter, notify the chairperson of his or her intent to file a separate minority report stating the reasons and conclusions;
A minority report must be filed with the committee chairperson no later than the 2nd business day after the committee's vote.
A minority report must be filed with the committee chairperson no later than the 2nd business day after the committee’s vote.
S ECTION 10.
SECTION 10.
S ENATER ULE33 (2) A senateproposal identical with one already rejected may not be introduced or offered.
Senate Resolution 2 − 3− S ENATE RULE 33 (2) A senate proposal identical with one already rejected may not be introduced or offered.
However, an assembly bill or joint resolution that is identical to a senate bill or joint resolution previously rejected by the senate or may be considered for concurrence and any bill repealing a former act of the same biennial session may be introduced or offered.
However, an assembly bill or joint resolution that is identical to a senate bill or joint resolution previously rejected by the senate orconsidered for concurrence and any bill repealing a former act of the same biennial session may be introduced or offered.
LRB-0198/1 - 2024 Legislature - 6 - RAC:amn&cjs SECTION 11 SECTION 11.
S ECTION 11.
SENATE RULE 34 (1) All bills and joint resolutions, and all resolutions except those privileged for immediate consideration under rule 69, after introduction, must lay over at least 24 hours before being considered for passage, adoption, or concurrence.
S ENATER ULE 34 (1) All bills and joint resolutions, and all resolutions except those privileged for immediate consideration under rule 69, after introduction, must lay over at least 24 hours before being considered for passage, adoption, or concurrence.
SECTION 12.
S ECTION 12.
SENATE R ULE 35.
S ENATER ULE 35.
Every bill, and every joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution, must receive 3 separate readings by relating clause prior to its passage or adoption except where otherwise provided, but may not receive 2 readings on the same day.
Every bill, and every joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution, must receive 3 separate readings by relating clause prior to its passage or adoptionxcept where otherwise provided, but may not receive 2 readings on the same day.
SECTION 13.
S ECTION 13.
SENATE RULE 36 (2) (a) Except as provided in pars..
S ENATER ULE 36 (2) (a) Except as provided in pars.
par.
SECTION 14.
S ECTION 14.
SENATE RULE 36 (2) (c) Notwithstanding par.
S ENATE RULE 36 (2) (c) Notwithstanding par.
(a), the The president may refer a bill that pertains only incidentally to a matter of concern to a joint survey committee directly to the committee appropriate to the major substance of that bill, and in that case shall direct the appropriate joint survey committee to prepare its report on the bill while that bill is in the possession of the other committee.
(a), thee president may refer a bill that pertains only incidentally to a matter of concern to a joint survey committee directly to the committee appropriate to the major substance of that bill, and in that case shall direct the appropriate joint survey committee to prepare its report on the bill while that bill is in the possession of the other committee.
LRB-0198/1 - 2024 Legislature - 7 - RAC:amn&cjs SECTION 15 SECTION 15.
S ECTION 15.
SENATE RULE 41 (1) (a) A proposal or other matter may be rereferred at any time prior to its passage, except that a motion to withdraw the proposal or other matter from committee may not take effect during the 7 days preceding any scheduled committee meeting on that proposal or other matterhe 7 days following the date on which such a committee meeting is held.
S ENATER ULE 41 (1) (a) A proposal or other matter may be rereferred at any time prior to its passage, except that a motion to withdraw the proposal or other matter from committee may not take effect during the 7 days preceding any scheduled committee meeting on that proposal or other matter or the 7 days following the date on which such a committee meeting is held.
SECTION 16.
S ECTION 16.
SENATE RULE 41 (1) (b) A motion to withdraw and rerefer or to withdraw is in order, except that if the senate has once refused to withdraw and rerefer or to withdraw a proposal or other matter from committee, any subsequent motion to withdraw and rerefer or to withdraw the proposal or other matter from committee requires a suspension of the rules.
S ENATER ULE 41 (1) (b) A motion to withdraw and rerefer or to withdraw is in order, except that if the senate has once refused to withdraw and rerefer or to withdraw a proposal or other matter from committee, any subsequent motion to withdraw and rerefer or to withdraw the proposal or other matter from committee requires a suspension of the rules.
SECTION 17.
S ECTION 17.
SENATE RULE 47 (5) Amendments are not in order upon consideration of an executive veto or a report of a conference committee.
S ENATER ULE 47 (5) Amendments are not in order upon consideration of an executive veto or a report of a conference committee.
SECTION 18.
S ECTION 18.
SENATE RULE 98 (4) All citations on behalf of the senate must be prepared on an artistic form, must first be approved by the committee on senate organization, must be suitable for framing, and must be in substantially the following form:
S ENATER ULE 98 (4) All citations on behalf of the senate must be prepared on an artistic form, must first be approved by the committee on senate organization, must be suitable for framing, and must be in substantially the following form:
Whereas, ...;
Senate Resolution 2 − 4− Whereas, ...;
now, LRB-0198/1 - 2024 Legislature - 8 - RAC:amn&cjs SECTION 18 Therefore, The Members of the Wisconsin Senate, on the motion of Senator(s)...hereby ....
now, Therefore, The Members of the Wisconsin Senate, on the motion of Senator(s)...hereby ....
(Appropriate Signatures) (END)
(Appropriate Signatures) S t a t e C a p i t o l Senator Chris Kapenga Madison, Wisconsin President of the Senate Date Michael J.
Queensland Senate Chief Clerk
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Adopted

  2. Placed on calendar 4-19-2023 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  3. Available for scheduling

  4. Read and referred to Committee on Senate Organization

  5. Introduced by Senator LeMahieu

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 131 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (131)

131 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 131 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

elections
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SR 2?
SR 2 is sponsored by LeMahieu, Devin (Republican).
What is the current status of SR 2?
This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SR 2?
Track SR 2 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SR 2

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SR 2

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →