AB282: Bill Text

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE

LRB-1267/1

EVM:cdc

2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 282

May 30, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives Sortwell and Murphy, cosponsored by Senator Jacque. Referred to Committee on Local Government.

AB282,1,4 An Act to renumber and amend 61.32; to amend 62.03 (1); to repeal and recreate 62.11 (3) (e); to create 59.11 (4m), 60.20 (4) and 61.32 (6) of the statutes; relating to: local government rules of proceedings and consideration of ordinances or resolutions for which enactment or adoption previously failed.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under this bill, the rules of proceedings for a governing body of a political subdivision may not prohibit the body from taking up an ordinance or resolution that is substantially similar or identical to an earlier ordinance or resolution that was taken up and voted upon but not enacted or adopted if the later ordinance or resolution is taken up at least two years after the earlier.

For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB282,1 Section 1. 59.11 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB282,2,2 59.11 (4m) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), sub. (3), and ss. 59.02 (2) and (3) and 59.12, the board may determine the rules of its own proceedings.

AB282,2,7 (b) The rules of proceedings under par. (a) may not prohibit the board from taking up an ordinance or resolution that is substantially similar or identical to an earlier ordinance or resolution that was taken up and voted upon but not enacted or adopted if the later ordinance or resolution is taken up at least 2 years after the earlier.

AB282,2 Section 2. 60.20 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB282,2,10 60.20 (4) Rules of proceedings. (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and sub. (2), the town board may determine the rules of its own proceedings.

AB282,2,15 (b) The rules of proceedings under par. (a) may not prohibit the town board from taking up an ordinance or resolution that is substantially similar or identical to an earlier ordinance or resolution that was taken up and voted upon but not enacted or adopted if the later ordinance or resolution is taken up at least 2 years after the earlier.

AB282,3 Section 3. 61.32 of the statutes is renumbered 61.32 (1) and amended to read:

AB282,2,20 61.32 (1) The trustees of each village shall constitute a board designated the “Village Board of” (name of village) in which shall be vested all the powers of the village not specifically given some other officer.

AB282,2,22 (2) A majority of the members-elect of the village board shall constitute a quorum, but a less number may adjourn from time to time.

AB282,3,2 (3) The president of the village board shall preside at all meetings of the village board when present. In the president’s absence the board may select another trustee to preside.

AB282,3,4 (4) (a) Regular meetings of the village board shall be held at such time as may be prescribed by their bylaws.

AB282,3,7 (b) Special meetings of the village board may be called by any 2 trustees in writing, filed with the clerk, who shall thereupon seasonably notify all the trustees of the time and place thereof in the manner directed by the bylaws.

AB282,3,8 (5) All meetings of the village board shall be open to the public.

AB282,3,22 (7) The village board shall keep a record of all its proceedings, and if there is a newspaper published in any village, the board shall cause the proceedings to be published therein as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985. The proceedings for the purpose of publication shall include the substance of every official action taken by the governing body. If there is no newspaper published in the village, the board may cause the proceedings to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the village, posted in several public places or publicized in some other fashion, in such manner as the board directs. Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the republication of any proceeding, ordinance, or other matter or thing which has already been published according to law, nor shall anything herein be construed to relieve any village from publishing any proceeding, ordinance or other matter or thing required by law to be published. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 985.08 (4), the fee for any such publication shall not exceed the rates specified in s. 985.08 (1).

AB282,4,2 (8) The village board has power to preserve order at its meetings, compel attendance of trustees and punish nonattendance and it shall be judge of the election and qualification of its members.

AB282,4,5 (9) The president and board of trustees of any village, whether operating under general or special law, may by a three-fourths vote of all the members of the village board determine that a salary be paid the president and trustees.

AB282,4 Section 4. 61.32 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

AB282,4,8 61.32 (6) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and subs. (2), (3), (4) (b), and (9), the village board may determine the rules of its own proceedings.

AB282,4,13 (b) The rules of proceedings under par. (a) may not prohibit the village board from taking up an ordinance or resolution that is substantially similar or identical to an earlier ordinance or resolution that was taken up and voted upon but not enacted or adopted if the later ordinance or resolution is taken up at least 2 years after the earlier.

AB282,5 Section 5. 62.03 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB282,4,17 62.03 (1) This subchapter, except ss. 62.071, 62.08 (1), 62.09 (1) (e) and (11) (j), (k), and (m), 62.11 (3) (e) 2., 62.175, 62.23 (7) (em) and (he), and 62.237, does not apply to 1st class cities under special charter.

AB282,6 Section 6. 62.11 (3) (e) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB282,4,20 62.11 (3) (e) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2. and pars. (b), (d), and (f), the common council may determine the rules of its own proceedings.

AB282,5,2 2. The rules of proceedings under subd. 1. may not prohibit the common council from taking up an ordinance or resolution that is substantially similar or identical to an earlier ordinance or resolution that was taken up and voted upon but not enacted or adopted if the later ordinance or resolution is taken up at least 2 years after the earlier.

AB282,5,3 (end)