Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: To Executive 30 R cosponsors

AB 955 — Relating to: the rule-making authority of agencies. (FE)

Last action — Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

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

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 29, 2026. It awaits signature.

Vetoed by Governor Tony Evers (Democratic) on April 08, 2026.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 37 sponsors

    1 primary, 36 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (30 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

An Act to repeal 227.11 (2) (a) (intro.); to renumber 227.11 (2) (a) 1. to 3.; to amend 18.03 (2) (b) and 227.11 (2) (d); to create 227.11 (1m) of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

65 added · 48 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments in Assembly Bill 955 change how state agencies can create rules related to the laws they enforce. Previously, agencies could interpret laws as they saw fit, but the updated bill now requires them to have specific authorization from the legislature to make any related rules. This change is significant because it aims to limit agency power, ensuring that any regulatory actions are clearly defined by law, which may lead to more transparency and accountability in regulatory processes.

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- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-5970/1 MED:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 955 January 29, 2026 - Introduced by RepresentativACOBSON , USTAFSON , URD , TUCKER , USLER , ORTWELL , LLEN, BEHNKE, CALLAHAN , ITTRICH, OEBEN , G REEN, GUNDRUM , KAUFERT, KNODL , KREIBIC, M AXEY, MOSES, MURPHY , N EYLON, O'CONNOR , PENTERMAN , PETERSEN , PIWOWARCZYK , RODRIGUEZ , VANDER M EER, WICHGERS , WITTKE, MELOTIK and SPIROS, cosponsored by Senators JACQUE, HUTTON , QUINN, KAPENGA, BRADLEY, NASS and CABRAL - G UEVARA.
Date of enactment:
Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency.
Assembly Bill 955 Date of publication*:
A N A CT to repeal 227.11 (2) (a) (intro.);
WISCONSIN ACT A N A CT to repeal 227.11 (2) (a) (intro.);
to renumber 227.11 (2) (a) 1.
to renumber and amend 227.11 (2) (a) 1.
to amend 18.03 (2) (b) and 227.11 (2) (d);
to amend 18.03 (2) (b), 227.10 (2m), 227.11 (2) (d), 227.11 (3) and 227.135 (2);to create 227.11 (1m) of the statutes;relating to:
to create 227.11 (1m) of the statutes;
the rule- making and regulatory authority of agencies.
relating to:
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in sen- istered by the agency without explicit and specific statu- ate and assembly, do enact as follows:
the rule-making authority of agencies.
tory authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Currently under the general law governing administrative procedure for state agencies, each agency may promulgate rules interpreting the provisions of any statute enforced or administered by the agency, if the agency considers it necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statute.
This bill repeals this language and instead provides that no agency may promulgate rules interpreting the provisions of any statute enforced or administered by the agency without explicit and specific statutory authority.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
18.03 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
18.03 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended SECTION 4.
18.03 (2) (b) The commission may interpret the statutes enforced or - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-5970/1 MED:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 955 SECTION 1 administered by it as it considers to be necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statutes.
227.11 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is to read:
The authority granted by this paragraph shall not exceed the authority granted by s.
repealed.
227.11 (2) (a).
SECTION 5.
S ECTION 2.
227.11 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
227.11 (1m) No agency may promulgate rules interpreting the provisions of any statute enforced or administered by the agency without explicit and specific statutory authority.
S ECTION 3.
227.11 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is repealed.
S ECTION 4.
of the statutes are renumbered 227.11 (4) to (6).
of the statutes are 18.03 (2) (b) The commission may interpret the statutes enforced or administered by it as it considers to renumbered 227.11 (4) to (6), and 227.11 (4) and (5), as be necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statutes.
S ECTION 5.
renumbered, are amended to read:
227.11 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
The authority granted by this paragraph shall not exceed 227.11 (4) A statutory or nonstatutory provision the authority granted by s.
227.11 (2) (d) An agency may promulgate rules implementing or interpreting a statute that it will enforce or administer after publication of the authorizing statute but prior to the statute’s effective date.
227.11 (2) (a).
A rule promulgated under this paragraph may not take effect prior to the effective date of the authorizing statute that it implements or interprets.
containing a statement or declaration of legislative in- tent, purpose, findings, or policy does not confer rule- SECTION 2.
(END)
227.10 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
making authority on the agency or augment the agency’s 227.10 (2m) No agency may implement or enforce rule-making authority beyond the rule-making author- any standard, requirement, or threshold, including as a ity that is explicitly and specifically conferred on the term or condition of any license issued by the agency, agency by the legislature.
unless that standard, requirement, or threshold is explic- (5) A statutory provision describing the agency’s itly and specifically required or explicitly and specifi- general powers or duties does not confer rule-making cally permitted by statute or by a rule that has been pro- authority on the agency or augment the agency’s rule- mulgated in accordance with this subchapter, except as making authority beyond the rule-making authority that provided in s.
186.118 (2) (c) and (3) (b) 3.
The gover- is explicitly and specifically conferred on the agency by nor, by executive order, may prescribe guidelines to en- the legislature.
sure that rules are promulgated in compliance with this SECTION 6.
227.11 (2) (d) of the statutes is subchapter.
amended to read:
SECTION 3.
227.11 (1m) of the statutes is created to 227.11 (2) (d) An agency may promulgate rules im- read:
plementing or interpreting a statute that it will enforce 227.11 (1m) No agency may promulgate rules inter- or administer after publication of the authorizing statute preting the provisions of any statute enforced or admin- but prior to the statute’s effective date.
A rule promul- * Section 991.11, ISCONSINSTATUTES:
Effective date of acts.
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“Every act and every portion of an act enacted by the legislature over the gov- ernor's partial veto which does not expressly prescribe the time when it takes effect shall take effect on the day after its date of publication.” Wisconsin Act - 2 - 2025 Assembly Bill 955 gated under this paragraph may not take effect prior to shall make a determination as to whether the agency has the effective date of the authorizing statute that it imple- the explicit and specific authority to promulgate the rule ments or interprets.
as proposed in the statement of scope and shall report SECTION 7.
227.11 (3) of the statutes is amended to the statement of scope and its determination to the gov- read:
ernor who, in his or her discretion, may approve or reject 227.11 (3) (a) A plan that is submitted to the federal the statement of scope.
The agency may not send the government for the purpose of complying with a re- statement to the legislative reference bureau for publica- quirement of federal law does not confer rule-making tion under sub.
(3) until the governor issues a written authority and cannot be used by an agency as authority notice of approval of the statement.
The agency shall to promulgate rules.
No agency may agree to promul- also present the statement to the individual or body with gate a rule as a component of a compliance plan unless policy-making powers over the subject matter of the pro- the agency has explicit and specific statutory authority posed rule for approval.
The individual or body with to promulgate the rule at the time the compliance plan is policy-making powers may not approve the statement submitted.
until at least 10 days after publication of the statement (b) A settlement agreement, consent decree, or under sub.
(3) and, if a preliminary public hearing and court order does not confer rule-making authority and comment period are held by the agency under s.
cannot be used by an agency as authority to promulgate 227.136, until the individual or body has received and rules.
No agency may agree to promulgate a rule as a reviewed any public comments and feedback received term in any settlement agreement, consent decree, or from the agency under s.
227.136 (5).
No state em- stipulated order of a court unless the agency has explicit ployee or official may perform any activity in connec- and specific statutory authority to promulgate the rule at tion with the drafting of a proposed rule, except for an the time the settlement agreement, consent decree, or activity necessary to prepare the statement of the scope stipulated order of a court is executed.
of the proposed rule until the governor and the individ- SECTION 8.
227.135 (2) of the statutes is amended ual or body with policy-making powers over the subject to read:
matter of the proposed rule approve the statement.
This 227.135 (2) An agency that has prepared a state- subsection does not prohibit an agency from performing ment of the scope of the proposed rule shall present the an activity necessary to prepare a petition and proposed statement to the department of administration, which rule for submission under s.
227.26 (4).
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Action History

  1. Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

  2. Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  3. Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-8-2026

  4. Fiscal estimate received

  5. Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026

  6. Report correctly enrolled on 3-26-2026

  7. Received from Senate concurred in

  8. Ordered immediately messaged

  9. Read a third time and concurred in

  10. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  11. Ordered to a third reading

  12. Read a second time

  13. Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  14. Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  15. Fiscal estimate received

  16. Fiscal estimate received

  17. Fiscal estimate received

  18. Fiscal estimate received

  19. Fiscal estimate received

  20. Fiscal estimate received

  21. Available for scheduling

  22. Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  23. Received from Assembly

  24. Ordered immediately messaged

  25. Read a third time and passed

  26. Rules suspended

  27. Ordered to a third reading

  28. Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  29. Read a second time

  30. Fiscal estimate received

  31. Placed on calendar 2-12-2026 by Committee on Rules

  32. Referred to committee on Rules

  33. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency, Ayes 6, Noes 3

  34. Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency, Ayes 6, Noes 3

  35. Executive action taken

  36. Fiscal estimate received

  37. Fiscal estimate received

  38. Fiscal estimate received

  39. Fiscal estimate received

  40. Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Knodl

  41. Fiscal estimate received

  42. Fiscal estimate received

  43. Fiscal estimate received

  44. Public hearing held

  45. Fiscal estimate received

  46. Fiscal estimate received

  47. Fiscal estimate received

  48. Fiscal estimate received

  49. Fiscal estimate received

  50. Representative Armstrong added as a coauthor

  51. Read first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency

  52. Introduced 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, Melotik and Spiros; cosponsored by Senators Jacque, Hutton, Quinn, Kapenga, Bradley, Nass and Cabral-Guevara

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 36 co-sponsors · 95 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (36)

Not signed on (95)

95 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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.

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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 955 do?
An Act to repeal 227.11 (2) (a) (intro.); to renumber 227.11 (2) (a) 1. to 3.; to amend 18.03 (2) (b) and 227.11 (2) (d); to create 227.11 (1m) of the statutes;
Who sponsors AB 955?
AB 955 is sponsored by Neylon, Adam (Republican), Murphy, David (Republican), Moses, Clint (Republican), Maxey, Dave (Republican), Kreibich, Rob (Republican), Knodl, Daniel (Republican), Kaufert, Dean (Republican), Gundrum, Rick (Republican), Green, Chanz (Republican), Goeben, Joy (Republican), Callahan, Calvin (Republican), Behnke, Elijah (Republican), Allen, Scott (Republican), Sortwell, Shae (Republican), Tusler, Ron (Republican), Jacobson, Brent (Republican), Jacque, Hutton, Quinn, Melotik, Paul (Republican), Wittke, Robert (Republican), Wichgers, Chuck (Republican), VanderMeer, Nancy (Republican), Rodriguez, Jessie (Republican), Petersen, Kevin (Republican), Penterman, William (Republican), Kapenga, Bradley, Nass, Cabral-Guevara, Spiros, John (Republican), Piwowarczyk, Jim (Republican), O'Connor, Jerry (Republican), Dittrich, Barbara (Republican), Tucker, Duke (Republican), Hurd, Karen (Republican), and Gustafson, Nate (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 955?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 29, 2026. It awaits signature.
Where can I track AB 955?
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