summary
Introduced
08/29/2025
08/29/2025
In Committee
08/29/2025
08/29/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Current law authorizes the speaker of the assembly, the senate majority leader, and the cochairpersons of the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization to retain legal counsel for a number of purposes. These purposes include retention of legal counsel for matters affecting the interests of the assembly, senate, or legislature. Also, by longstanding practice and constitutional authority, each house, or the houses jointly, may retain legal counsel by action of the full body or bodies or by action of the Committee on Assembly Organization, the Committee on Senate Organization, or JCLO. This bill provides that the assembly, the senate, and the houses jointly, and any legislator or legislative committee, may not obtain legal counsel other than from the Department of Justice unless that action is submitted to the full house, or houses in the case of a joint appointment, and the appointment of legal counsel is approved by a majority of the members present and voting of the house or houses.
AI Summary
This bill modifies the existing statutes regarding how the Wisconsin legislature can obtain legal counsel by adding a new requirement that any legal counsel hired from outside the Department of Justice must be approved by a majority vote of the full legislative body. Currently, the speaker of the assembly, senate majority leader, and cochairpersons of the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization (JCLO) have sole discretion to obtain legal counsel for matters affecting their respective bodies. The new provision (Section 4) mandates that before hiring external legal counsel, the assembly, senate, houses jointly, or any individual legislator or legislative committee must first submit the proposed legal counsel to a full vote. The external legal counsel can only be retained if approved by a majority of members present and voting. This change aims to increase transparency and collective decision-making in the selection of legal representation for legislative bodies by requiring broader approval instead of allowing unilateral decisions by leadership.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (23)
Deb Andraca (D)*,
Mike Bare (D)*,
Ryan Clancy (D)*,
Joan Fitzgerald (D)*,
Russell Goodwin (D)*,
Andrew Hysell (D)*,
Alex Joers (D)*,
Karen Kirsch (D)*,
Darrin Madison (D)*,
Vincent Miresse (D)*,
Supreme Moore Omokunde (D)*,
Christian Phelps (D)*,
Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D)*,
Ann Roe (D)*,
Joe Sheehan (D)*,
Christine Sinicki (D)*,
Angela Stroud (D)*,
Shelia Stubbs (D)*,
Angelito Tenorio (D)*,
LaTonya Johnson (D),
Chris Larson (D),
Melissa Ratcliff (D),
Mark Spreitzer (D),
Last Action
Representative Arney added as a coauthor (on 09/09/2025)
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/asm/bill/ab396 |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB396.pdf |
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