Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (b) is shown as amended eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 126. Prior to 7-1-25 it reads: Effective date text(b) A conduit or committee that is subject to par. (a) shall pay the fee specified in par. (a) together with the report filed by that conduit or committee on the 15th day of the month of January in each year. If a conduit or committee that is subject to par. (a) registers under this chapter or changes status so that par. (a) becomes applicable to the conduit or committee during a calendar year, the conduit or committee shall pay the fee for that year with the filing of the conduit’s or committee’s registration statement or at any time before the change in status becomes effective.
11.0102(2)(d)(d) Paragraph (a) does not apply to any committee for any year during which the committee does not make disbursements exceeding a total of $2,500. 11.0102(2)(e)(e) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a conduit for any year during which the conduit does not release contributions totaling more than $2,500. 11.0102(3)(3) A filing officer, as defined under s. 5.02 (4v) (b) to (d), shall notify the commission, in writing, of any facts within the filing officer’s knowledge or evidence in the officer’s possession that may be grounds for civil action or criminal prosecution. The commission may transmit a copy of the notification submitted under this subsection to the district attorney. Effective date noteNOTE: Sub. (3) is shown as repealed and recreated eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 126. Prior to 7-1-25 it reads: Effective date text(3) Each filing officer, other than the commission, shall do all of the following:
Effective date text(a) Obtain the forms and manuals prescribed by the commission under s. 11.1304 (1) and (3) and election laws provided by the commission under s. 7.08 (4).
Effective date text(b) Develop a filing, coding, and cross-indexing system consonant with the purposes of this chapter.
Effective date text(c) Make all of the following available, without charge, to any committee required to file reports or statements with the officer:
Effective date text1. Forms prescribed by the commission for the making of reports and statements. The filing officer shall notify the committee that all forms are available on the commission’s Internet site. Whenever a filing officer sends a form or notice of the filing requirements under this chapter to the treasurer of a candidate committee, the filing officer shall also send a notice to the candidate.
Effective date text2. Upon request, copies of manuals under par. (a).
Effective date text(d) The filing officer shall provide copies of manuals and election laws to persons other than a committee under par. (c) at cost.
Effective date text(e) Notify the commission, in writing, of any facts within the filing officer’s knowledge or evidence in the officer’s possession, including errors or discrepancies in reports or statements and delinquencies in filing which may be grounds for civil action or criminal prosecution. The commission may transmit a copy of the notification submitted under this paragraph to the district attorney.
Effective date text(f) Make available a list of delinquents for public inspection.
Effective date text(g) Compile and maintain on an electronic system a current list of all reports and statements received by or required of and pertaining to each committee registered under this chapter.
Effective date text(h) Make the reports and statements filed with the officer available for public inspection and copying, commencing as soon as practicable but not later than the end of the 2nd day following the day during which they are received.
Effective date text(i) Upon the request of any person, permit copying of any report or statement described under par. (g) at cost.
Effective date text(j) Determine whether each report or statement required to be filed under this chapter has been filed in the form and by the time prescribed by law, and whether it conforms on its face to the requirements of this chapter. The officer shall immediately send to any committee that is delinquent in filing, or that has filed otherwise than in the proper form, a notice that the committee has failed to comply with this chapter. Whenever a candidate committee has appointed an individual other than the candidate as campaign treasurer, the officer shall send the notice to both the candidate and the treasurer of the candidate committee.
11.0103(1)(a)(a) Each committee and conduit required to register under this chapter shall be subject to the reporting requirements applicable to that committee or conduit. Each committee and conduit required to file a report under this chapter shall make a good faith effort to obtain all required information. 11.0103(1)(b)(b) Failure to receive a form or notice from the commission does not exempt a committee or conduit from a reporting requirement under this chapter. Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (b) is shown as amended eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 126. Prior to 7-1-25 it reads: Effective date text(b) Failure to receive a form or notice from a filing officer does not exempt a committee or conduit from a reporting requirement under this chapter.
11.0103(2)(2) Contributions; when received; when reported. 11.0103(2)(a)1.1. A contribution is received by a candidate committee for purposes of this chapter when it is under the control of the candidate or the treasurer or agent of the candidate. 11.0103(2)(a)2.2. A contribution is received by a committee for purposes of this chapter when it is under the control of the treasurer or agent of the committee. 11.0103(2)(b)(b) Unless it is returned or donated within 15 days of receipt under par. (a), a contribution must be reported as received on the date received. 11.0103(3)(3) Contents of report; filing dates; certification; short form; contents. 11.0103(3)(a)(a) A committee shall begin each report filed under this chapter with the first contribution received, disbursement made, or obligation incurred during the reporting period, and shall include all contributions received, disbursements made, and obligations incurred as of the end of: 11.0103(3)(a)1.1. The 15th day preceding the primary or election in the case of the preprimary and preelection report. 11.0103(3)(a)2.2. The last day of the immediately preceding month in the case of a continuing report required under this chapter. 11.0103(3)(a)3.3. The 22nd day following the special election in the case of a postelection report required under this chapter. 11.0103(3)(a)4.4. September 23 in the case of a September report required under this chapter. 11.0103(3)(b)(b) Each committee shall ensure that each report is filed with the commission on the dates designated in this chapter. In the event that any report is required to be filed under this chapter on a nonbusiness day, a committee may file the report on the next business day thereafter. Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (b) is shown as amended eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 126. Prior to 7-1-25 it reads: Effective date text(b) Each committee shall ensure that each report is filed with the appropriate filing officer on the dates designated in this chapter. In the event that any report is required to be filed under this chapter on a nonbusiness day, a committee may file the report on the next business day thereafter.
11.0103(3)(c)1.1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the committee’s treasurer shall certify to the correctness of each report filed under this chapter. 11.0103(3)(c)2.2. Either the candidate or the treasurer of the candidate’s committee shall certify to the correctness of each report filed under this chapter. 11.0103(3)(d)(d) The commission shall prescribe a simplified, short form for compliance with this section by a committee treasurer who has not engaged in any financial transaction since the last date included on the treasurer’s preceding report. 11.0103(4)(4) Preprimary and preelection reports; inactivity. 11.0103(4)(a)(a) A contribution made or accepted, a disbursement made, or an obligation incurred to support or oppose a candidate at a primary that is made, accepted, or incurred during the period covered by the preprimary report is considered to be made, accepted, or incurred to support or oppose that candidate at the primary, regardless of whether the candidate is opposed at the primary. 11.0103(4)(b)(b) A contribution made or accepted, disbursement made, or obligation incurred to support or oppose a candidate at an election that is made, accepted, or incurred during the period covered by the preelection report is considered to be made, accepted, or incurred to support or oppose that candidate at the election, regardless of whether the candidate is opposed at the election. 11.0103(4)(c)1.a.a. Except as provided in subd. 2., a committee that makes or accepts a contribution, makes a disbursement, or incurs an obligation to support or oppose a candidate at a primary during the period covered by the preelection report, but does not engage in such activity during the period covered by the preprimary report, is not required to file a preprimary report. 11.0103(4)(c)1.b.b. Except as provided in subd. 2., a committee that makes or accepts a contribution, makes a disbursement, or incurs an obligation to support or oppose a candidate at an election during the period covered by the report that follows the preelection report, but does not engage in such activity during the period covered by the preelection report, is not required to file a preelection report. 11.0103(4)(c)2.2. A candidate committee that makes or accepts a contribution, makes a disbursement, or incurs an obligation to support or oppose a candidate at a primary during the period covered by the preprimary report shall file both the preprimary and preelection reports, regardless of whether the candidate committee engages in such activity during the period covered by the preelection report. 11.0103(5)(5) Nonresident reporting. Notwithstanding the reporting requirements that would otherwise apply under this chapter, but subject to the applicable thresholds for submitting reports, a committee that does not maintain an office or a street address in this state shall submit reports on a form prescribed by the commission of all disbursements made and obligations incurred with respect to an election for a state or local office in this state and contributions from sources in this state. 11.0103 AnnotationA minor political party that historically has been the object of harassment by government officials and private parties cannot be required to disclose the identities of contributors and recipients of campaign disbursements. Brown v. Socialist Workers ’74 Campaign Committee, 459 U.S. 87, 103 S. Ct. 416, 74 L. Ed. 2d 250 (1982). See also Wisconsin Socialist Workers 1976 Campaign Committee v. McCann, 433 F. Supp. 540 (1977). 11.010411.0104 Reporting exemptions: limited activity. 11.0104(1)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (bm), any committee which does not anticipate accepting or making contributions, making disbursements, or incurring obligations, and any conduit which does not anticipate accepting or releasing contributions, in an aggregate amount exceeding $2,500 in a calendar year may claim an exemption from filing campaign finance reports by filing a registration statement or an amended registration statement with the commission indicating the necessary facts, as described in this paragraph, to claim the exemption. The committee or conduit shall certify the registration statement or amended registration statement in the manner required under s. 11.0103 (3) (c). Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (a) is shown as amended eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 126. Prior to 7-1-25 it reads: Effective date text(a) Except as provided in par. (bm), any committee which does not anticipate accepting or making contributions, making disbursements, or incurring obligations, and any conduit which does not anticipate accepting or releasing contributions, in an aggregate amount exceeding $2,500 in a calendar year may claim an exemption from filing campaign finance reports by filing a registration statement or an amended registration statement with the appropriate filing officer indicating the necessary facts, as described in this paragraph, to claim the exemption. The committee or conduit shall certify the registration statement or amended registration statement in the manner required under s. 11.0103 (3) (c).
11.0104(1)(bm)1.1. A candidate committee of a candidate for state office may not claim the exemption under par. (a) during the calendar year of an election in which the candidate is appearing on the ballot or participating as a write-in candidate and shall file the continuing report that is due on January 15 of the year after he or she appeared on the ballot or participated as a write-in candidate, unless the committee has dissolved, as provided in s. 11.0105. 11.0104(1)(bm)2.2. A candidate committee of a candidate for state office may claim the exemption under par. (a) during the calendar year after the year in which the candidate appeared on the ballot or participated as a write-in candidate by filing an amended registration statement no sooner than the day after the election and no later than January 15 of the year after the election. 11.0104(1)(bm)3.3. A candidate committee of a candidate for state office may claim the exemption under par. (a) during a subsequent year by filing an amended registration statement no later than December 31 of the year preceding the year in which the exemption will apply. 11.0104(1)(bm)4.4. A candidate committee of a candidate for state office that fails to claim the exemption under par. (a) before the expiration of the deadline under subd. 2. or 3., as applicable, is ineligible for the exemption and shall file all required campaign finance reports for the following calendar year. 11.0104(1)(c)(c) A candidate committee of a candidate for local office is eligible for an exemption under par. (a) at any time and may claim the exemption on its initial registration statement or on an amended registration statement. An exemption claimed under this paragraph applies until the committee exceeds the threshold established under par. (a), amends its registration statement to become a state candidate committee, or is dissolved, as provided in s. 11.0105. 11.0104(1)(d)(d) If the commission receives a registration statement or amended registration statement seeking to claim the exemption under par. (a) and the commission knows that the candidate committee is not eligible for the exemption, the commission shall accept the registration but notify the committee within 10 business days that it is not eligible for the exemption for that calendar year. The notice shall also indicate that the committee is required to file campaign finance reports. Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (d) is shown as amended eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 126. Prior to 7-1-25 it reads: Effective date text(d) If a filing officer receives a registration statement or amended registration statement seeking to claim the exemption under par. (a) and the filing officer knows that the candidate committee is not eligible for the exemption, the filing officer shall accept the registration but notify the committee within 10 business days that it is not eligible for the exemption for that calendar year. The notice shall also indicate that the committee is required to file campaign finance reports.
11.0104(1)(e)(e) A candidate whose candidate committee files a registration statement or amended registration statement incorrectly claiming the exemption may not be denied placement on the ballot if the registration statement or amended registration statement otherwise complies with the requirements of this chapter. 11.0104(2)(2) Upon receipt of a properly executed registration statement or amended registration statement by a committee or conduit, the commission shall suspend the requirement imposed upon that committee or conduit by this chapter to file campaign finance reports. An exemption under this section is effective as provided under sub. (1) (bm) unless the committee or conduit alters its status by filing an amended registration statement before the end of such year or by filing a termination report under s. 11.0105. Effective date noteNOTE: Sub. (2) is shown as amended eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 126. Prior to 7-1-25 it reads: Effective date text(2) Upon receipt of a properly executed registration statement or amended registration statement by a committee or conduit, the appropriate filing officer shall suspend the requirement imposed upon that committee or conduit by this chapter to file campaign finance reports. An exemption under this section is effective as provided under sub. (1) (bm) unless the committee or conduit alters its status by filing an amended registration statement before the end of such year or by filing a termination report under s. 11.0105.
11.0104(3)(3) An exemption made under this section may be revoked. If revoked, the committee or conduit shall comply with the reporting requirements applicable to the committee or conduit under this chapter as of the date of revocation, or the date that aggregate contributions, disbursements, or obligations for the calendar year exceed $2,500. If the revocation is not timely, the committee or conduit violates s. 11.1201. 11.0104(5)(5) If a committee or conduit files an amended registration statement under sub. (1) and thereafter receives and accepts an unanticipated contribution that results in the committee or conduit exceeding the threshold established under sub. (1) (a), the committee or conduit shall do one of the following after receipt of the unanticipated contribution: 11.0104(5)(a)(a) Immediately file an amended registration statement revoking the exemption. An amended registration statement supersedes the previous registration statement. The individual who certifies to the accuracy of the registration statement shall also certify that the amended registration statement is filed on account of the receipt of unanticipated contributions and the failure to file a correct registration statement was not intentional. Thereafter, the committee or conduit shall file all required campaign finance reports for the remainder of the calendar year. Except as provided in sub. (1) (bm) 1., the committee or conduit may again claim the exemption for the next calendar year. 11.0104(5)(b)(b) Return the contribution to the contributor or donate the contribution to the common school fund or to a charitable organization no later than 15 days from the date on which the contribution is received. 11.010511.0105 Reporting exemptions: dissolution of committee or conduit and termination reports. 11.0105(1)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), whenever any committee or conduit dissolves or determines that obligations will no longer be incurred, contributions will no longer be received or, in the case of a conduit, accepted and released, and disbursements will no longer be made during a calendar year, and the committee has no outstanding incurred obligations, the committee or conduit shall file with the commission a termination report that indicates a cash balance of zero at the end of the reporting period. The committee or conduit shall certify the termination report in the manner required under s. 11.0103 (3) (c) and the committee shall include the information required to be reported by that committee on its continuing reports. Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (a) is shown as amended eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 126. Prior to 7-1-25 it reads: Effective date text(a) Except as provided in par. (b), whenever any committee or conduit dissolves or determines that obligations will no longer be incurred, contributions will no longer be received or, in the case of a conduit, accepted and released, and disbursements will no longer be made during a calendar year, and the committee has no outstanding incurred obligations, the committee or conduit shall file with the appropriate filing officer a termination report that indicates a cash balance of zero at the end of the reporting period. The committee or conduit shall certify the termination report in the manner required under s. 11.0103 (3) (c) and the committee shall include the information required to be reported by that committee on its continuing reports.
11.0105(1)(b)(b) In no case may a candidate committee file a termination report covering any period ending sooner than the date of the election in which the candidate committee is participating. 11.0105(2)(2) A committee to which s. 11.0102 (2) applies shall pay the fee imposed under that subsection with a termination report filed under this section. 11.0105(3)(3) The committee shall include in the termination report filed under this section the manner in which residual funds were disposed. Residual funds may be used for any purpose not prohibited by law, returned to the donors in an amount not exceeding the original contribution, or donated to a charitable organization or the common school fund. 11.0105(4)(4) If a committee files a termination report under sub. (1) and within 60 days thereafter receives and accepts an unanticipated contribution, the committee shall do one of the following within 60 days after receipt of the unanticipated contribution: 11.0105(4)(a)(a) File an amended termination report. An amended report supersedes the previous report. The individual who certifies to the accuracy of the report shall also certify to a statement that the amended report is filed on account of the receipt of unanticipated contributions and the failure to file a correct termination report was not intentional.
