The One Hundred Sixth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 3, 2023, to January 6, 2025, in regular session, though it adjourned for legislative activity on March 12, 2024.[1] The Legislature also convened in a special session on September 20, 2023.
This was the only legislative term under the redistricting plan imposed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the 2022 case Johnson v. Wisconsin Elections Commission. The district plan was a Republican remedial proposal which closely adhered to districts adopted by the Republican legislature in 2011. During this legislative term, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declared that district plan unconstitutional on technical grounds, and the legislature and governor agreed on a new redistricting plan.
Senators representing odd-numbered districts were elected for this session and served the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were elected to a two-year term. Assembly members and odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 8, 2022.[2] Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of their four-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 3, 2020.[3]
February 12, 2023: Following the 2023 Chinese balloon incident, another suspected Chinese balloon was detected near northern Wisconsin and was shot down over Lake Huron.
March 17, 2023: Wisconsin's longest-serving statewide elected officer, secretary of state Doug La Follette, retired after more than 40 years in office.
Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution related to guidance to judges on questions of pre-trial release and bail conditions.
Dan Knodl won a special election to a vacant seat in the Wisconsin State Senate, giving Republicans a supermajority in the chamber.[4]
August 8, 2023: Governor Tony Evers called a special session of the Legislature to consider bills related to child care, higher education, and paid family leave.[5]
September 20, 2023: The Wisconsin legislature opened and closed a special session within 38 seconds in response to the Governor's call for a special session devoted to bringing down soaring child care costs in the state.
October 4, 2023: A man carrying a loaded pistol was arrested at the Wisconsin State Capitol while seeking a meeting with Wisconsin governor Tony Evers. The man made bail and returned later in the same day with a loaded rifle, and was arrested again.[6]
December 22, 2023: The Wisconsin Supreme Court released their decision in the case of Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, finding that Wisconsin's legislative maps were unconstitutional and had to be re-drawn.
January 26, 2024: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources established a protected conservation area of 67,000 acres of land in Pelican River Forest in northern Wisconsin, one of the largest conservation projects in state history.
January 19, 2023: Joint Resolution to amend section 8 (2) of article I of the constitution; relating to: conditions for release prior to conviction, including the imposition of bail (second consideration), 2023 Senate Joint Resolution 2. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin.
April 6, 2023: An Act ... relating to: statutory changes to implement the constitutional amendment relating to conditions of release, 2023 Act 3. Updated state law to reflect the constitutional amendments ratified in 2023 relating to bail.
June 21, 2023: An Act ... relating to: county and municipal aid; imposing a city and county sales tax to pay the unfunded liability of city and county retirement systems; requiring certain newly hired city and county employees to be enrolled in the Wisconsin Retirement System; fire and police commissions of first class cities; eliminating the personal property tax; reporting certain crimes and other incidents on school property or school transportation; advisory referenda; local health officers; local public protection services; local levy limits; local regulation of certain quarry operations; emergency services; local approval of projects and activities under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program; and granting rule-making authority, 2023 Act 12. A long-overdue compromise allowing Wisconsin municipalities to raise revenue. Shared revenue for Wisconsin municipalities was slashed in 2011 and placed on an unsustainable trajectory in order to give the appearance of a state budget surplus, at the same time local options to raise revenue independent of state authority were also constrained. This act allowed some easing of those rules to allow municipalities to avoid bankruptcy or mass layoffs.
July 6, 2023: An Act relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2023 legislature, 2023 Act 19. Vetoed in part.
December 6, 2023: An Act ... relating to: baseball park district administration, funding for improvement of professional baseball park facilities, use of the Milwaukee County sales tax, expiration of the Milwaukee County sales tax, and Milwaukee County pension obligation bonds, 2023 Act 40. Setting up funding sources for improvements to American Family Field to ensure that the Milwaukee Brewers franchise remains in Milwaukee.
December 6, 2023: An Act ... relating to: funding for improvement of baseball park facilities, administration of county and municipal sales taxes, and making an appropriation, 2023 Act 41. Along with Act 40, providing funding for improvements to the American Family Field to ensure that the Milwaukee Brewers franchise remains in Milwaukee.
February 19, 2024: An Act ... relating to: legislative redistricting, 2023 Act 94. This was a remedial legislative redistricting plan, passed by the legislature after the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the existing map. If the law stands, it will be the end of 12 years of extreme partisan gerrymandering in the Wisconsin legislature.
