summary
Introduced
02/26/2026
02/26/2026
In Committee
02/26/2026
02/26/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires the Department of Administration to issue a request for proposals to solicit bids on a contract for the operation of a public affairs network in Wisconsin. Under the bill, the contract must include all of the following requirements and prohibitions: 1. The public affairs network must provide unedited live video and audio coverage, including online, of state government proceedings. State government proceedings include floor sessions of the senate and assembly, meetings of legislative committees, meetings of executive branch agencies, supreme court and other judicial proceedings, news conferences by legislators or other state government officials, and related civic events. Under the bill, in making coverage decisions, the public affairs network must prioritize floor sessions of the senate and assembly, meetings of legislative committees, meetings of executive branch agencies, and supreme court and other judicial proceedings and may, if practicable, provide coverage of eligible news conferences and civic events. 2. The public affairs network must provide coverage by live stream online of all legislative proceedings that are open to the public. 3. The public affairs network must permanently maintain and provide online public access to unedited digital archives of all of its coverage of all such state government proceedings. 4. No fee may be charged to access live or archived coverage of floor sessions of the senate and assembly or meetings of the Joint Committee on Finance. 5. The public affairs network must be strictly nonpartisan. 6. The public affairs network must provide that its coverage may not be used for campaign purposes.
AI Summary
This bill mandates that the Department of Administration in Wisconsin must solicit bids for a contract to operate a public affairs network, which will provide unedited live video and audio coverage of state government proceedings, including legislative sessions, committee meetings, executive agency meetings, and judicial proceedings, both live online and through permanent digital archives accessible to the public. While prioritizing legislative and judicial proceedings, the network may also cover news conferences and civic events if practical. Importantly, access to live and archived coverage of floor sessions of the senate and assembly, and meetings of the Joint Committee on Finance, will be free of charge, and the network must remain strictly nonpartisan and ensure its coverage is not used for campaign purposes.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (19)
Lindee Brill (R)*,
Nate Gustafson (R)*,
Rob Kreibich (R)*,
Chuck Wichgers (R)*,
Julian Bradley (R),
Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R),
Mary Felzkowski (R),
Dan Feyen (R),
Rob Hutton (R),
André Jacque (R),
Jesse James (R),
Devin LeMahieu (R),
Howard Marklein (R),
Steve Nass (R),
Romaine Quinn (R),
Rob Stafsholt (R),
Patrick Testin (R),
Cory Tomczyk (R),
Van Wanggaard (R),
Last Action
Read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs (on 02/26/2026)
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/ab1054 |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB1054.pdf |
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