Maintained by the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), this page provides an overview of recent and upcoming activities in the Wisconsin Legislature. The LRB revises its content weekly. Links to more detailed information are highlighted in the text.
The most recent legislative floorperiod began on January 17, 2012, and concluded January 26. The next scheduled floorperiod is February 14 through 23.
The Assembly passed Assembly Bill 426, relating to the regulation of ferrous metallic mining and related activities, on January 26, by a vote of 59-36 (2 paired). An Assembly Substitute Amendment was adopted by a vote of 59-37. The bill is now in the Senate Select Committee on Mining Jobs.
The Legislature has RSS feeds for both recently introduced legislation and recent session activity. You can also view a listing of recently introduced bills here. Our Facebook page also has links to recently introduced bills.
More than 20 committee meetings will occur this week, Monday through Thursday. For details, see the Schedule of Committee Activities.
As of February 3, 114 acts have been signed into law during the 2011-12 legislative session. You can find them here.
To date, one act has been signed in calendar year 2012, but other bills awaiting action by the governor can be found under the enrolled bills section of the Legislative Documents site.
The 60-day recall petition drive ended on January 17, and petitions have been filed for recall elections for the following state offices: Governor Scott Walker, Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, Senator Scott Fitzgerald, Senator Van Wanggaard, Senator Terry Moulton, and Senator Pam Galloway.
The Government Accountability Board (GAB) is currently reviewing petitions and has scheduled a special meeting for February 7. For more information on recalls, including estimated numbers of signatures and images of the petitions, see the GAB recall information Web site.
On January 3, Wisconsin’s Presidential Primary Selection Committee selected seven Republicans and one Democrat to appear as candidates in the Presidential Primary vote on April 3, 2012. The Republican candidates on the primary ballot will be Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum. The Democratic candidate will be Barack Obama.
The 2011-2012 Wisconsin Blue Book is now available online. It may be ordered from the Department of Administration, Document Sales Unit (search Document Sales Catalog for "Wisconsin Blue Book"), (608) 266-3358. The price is $10.30 with shipping and $7.30 without. State Legislators are provided with complimentary copies to give to their constituents. You may contact your state senator or representative to ask about receiving one.
The Legislative Reference Bureau issued two study guides for the 2011-2012 Wisconsin Blue Book. Study Guide to the 2011-2012 Blue Book is geared toward high school students. Inside the 2011-2012 Wisconsin Blue Book is geared toward elementary school students.
For more information about Legislative Service Agency publications, see the left panel of the Spotlight index page.
Send comments to LRB.Reference@legis.wisconsin.gov
Last revised: November 19, 2012