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Bill > SB233
WI SB233
Inducements to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers, recall petitions, and certain other petitions.
summary
Introduced
04/29/2025
04/29/2025
In Committee
04/29/2025
04/29/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Current law prohibits certain kinds of election bribery, including offering, giving, lending, or providing money or anything of value to an elector or other person to induce the elector to vote or refrain from voting. Under current law, Xanything of valueY includes an object having utility independent of a political message it contains, the value of which exceeds $1. Election bribery is a Class I felony, the penalty for which is a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed three years and six months, or both. This bill prohibits as election bribery such inducement of an elector to sign or refrain from signing a petition supporting or opposing a candidate, referendum, or proposition about political or social issues, state law, or proposed or potential legislation, if the petition is related to an election or referendum or is circulated during an election period, as defined in the bill. Additionally, the bill prohibits as election bribery such inducement of an elector to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers or a recall petition. Finally, the bill defines Xanything of valueY for purposes of a violation of the LRB-2797/1 MPG:emw&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 233 bill[s provisions to include an object having utility independent of a political message it contains, if the object[s value exceeds $5, rather than 1$.
AI Summary
This bill expands Wisconsin's election bribery laws to more comprehensively prohibit attempts to influence petition signing during election periods. Specifically, the bill creates new restrictions that make it illegal to offer money or anything valued over $5 to induce someone to sign or refrain from signing petitions related to candidates, referendums, propositions, political or social issues, state laws, potential legislation, nomination papers, or recall petitions during defined election periods. The bill establishes four specific election periods: the period from December 1 to the spring election, from April 15 to the general election, the period between the first day of circulating nomination papers and a special election, and the period between the first day of circulating nomination papers and a recall election. The existing penalties for election bribery remain unchanged, which include potential fines up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three and a half years. By broadening the definition of election bribery and clarifying what constitutes an "election period," the bill aims to protect the integrity of the petition and electoral processes by preventing undue influence through monetary or valuable inducements.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (21)
Tim Carpenter (D)*,
Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D)*,
Dora Drake (D)*,
Dianne Hesselbein (D)*,
Sarah Keyeski (D)*,
Chris Larson (D)*,
Melissa Ratcliff (D)*,
Mark Spreitzer (D)*,
Clint Anderson (D),
Margaret Arney (D),
Mike Bare (D),
Brienne Brown (D),
Ryan Clancy (D),
Ben DeSmidt (D),
Jodene Emerson (D),
Francesca Hong (D),
Jenna Jacobson (D),
Alex Joers (D),
Karen Kirsch (D),
Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D),
Lee Snodgrass (D),
Last Action
Representative Sinicki added as a cosponsor (on 06/24/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb233 |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB233.pdf |
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