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Bill > AJR127


WI AJR127

WI AJR127
Prohibiting the governor from using the partial veto to create or increase any tax or fee (second consideration).


summary

Introduced
01/06/2026
In Committee
01/15/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/23/2026

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

relating to: prohibiting the governor from using the partial veto to create or increase any tax or fee (second consideration). Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau EXPLANATION OF PROPOSAL This proposed constitutional amendment, to be given second consideration by the 2025 legislature for submittal to the voters in November 2026, was first considered by the 2023 legislature in 2023 Assembly Joint Resolution 112, which became 2023 Enrolled Joint Resolution 16. This constitutional amendment provides that the governor, in exercising his or her partial veto power over an appropriation bill, may not create or increase or authorize the creation or increase of any tax or fee. Currently, in exercising the partial veto power, the governor is limited only in that he or she may not create a new word by rejecting individual letters in the words of the enrolled bill and may not create a new sentence by combining parts of two or more sentences of the enrolled bill. In Bartlett v. Evers, 2020 WI 68, the Wisconsin Supreme Court further restricted the governor’s partial veto power, but there was no agreement by the court on the reasons for the new restrictions. The new restriction on the governor’s partial veto power contained in the amendment is in addition to the current restrictions in the constitution. LRB-1701/1 MPG:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature PROCEDURE FOR SECOND CONSIDERATION When a proposed constitutional amendment is before the legislature on second consideration, any change in the text approved by the preceding legislature causes the proposed constitutional amendment to revert to first consideration status so that second consideration approval would have to be given by the next legislature before the proposal may be submitted to the people for ratification [see joint rule 57 (2)]. If the legislature approves a proposed constitutional amendment on second consideration, it must also set the date for submitting the proposed constitutional amendment to the people for ratification and must determine the question or questions to appear on the ballot.

AI Summary

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit the governor from using their partial veto power to create or increase any tax or fee. Currently, the governor's ability to veto parts of appropriation bills is limited by rules preventing them from creating new words or sentences by manipulating the text, and a recent Supreme Court decision also placed further restrictions. This amendment would add a new restriction, specifically preventing the governor from using the partial veto to establish or raise taxes or fees. This proposal, having been considered and agreed to by the 2023 legislature, is now before the 2025 legislature for a second consideration, and if approved again, it will be submitted to voters in November 2026 for ratification.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (35)

Last Action

Failed to adopt pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 (on 03/23/2026)

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