Chapter 11

11.0904(1) (1) Contributions and disbursements.

11.0904(1)(a) (a) Each recall committee shall make full reports, upon a form prescribed by the commission and certified as required under s. 11.0103 (3) (c), of all contributions received, disbursements made, and obligations incurred by the committee. The recall committee shall include in each report the following information, covering the period since the last date covered on the previous report:

11.0904(1)(a)1. 1. An itemized statement giving the date, full name, and street address of each person who has made a contribution to the recall committee, together with the amount of the contribution.

11.0904(1)(a)2. 2. An itemized statement giving the date, full name, and street address of each committee to which the recall committee has made a contribution, together with the amount of the contribution.

11.0904(1)(a)3. 3. The occupation, if any, of each individual contributor whose cumulative contributions to the recall committee for the calendar year are in excess of $200.

11.0904(1)(a)4. 4. An itemized statement of each contribution made anonymously to the recall committee. If the contribution exceeds $10, the recall committee shall specify whether the committee donated the contribution to the common school fund or to a charitable organization, and shall include the full name and mailing address of the donee.

11.0904(1)(a)5. 5. A statement of totals during the reporting period of contributions received and contributions donated as provided in subd. 4.

11.0904(1)(a)6. 6. A statement of the cash balance on hand at the beginning and end of the reporting period.

11.0904(1)(a)7. 7. An itemized statement of each loan of money made to the recall committee, together with all of the following:

11.0904(1)(a)7.a. a. The full name and mailing address of the lender.

11.0904(1)(a)7.b. b. A statement of whether the lender is a commercial lending institution.

11.0904(1)(a)7.c. c. The date and amount of the loan.

11.0904(1)(a)7.d. d. The full name and mailing address of each guarantor, if any.

11.0904(1)(a)7.e. e. The original amount guaranteed by each guarantor.

11.0904(1)(a)7.f. f. The balance of the amount guaranteed by each guarantor at the end of the reporting period.

11.0904(1)(a)8. 8. An itemized statement of every disbursement exceeding $20 in amount or value, together with the name and address of the person to whom the disbursement was made, and the date and specific purpose for which the disbursement was made.

11.0904(1)(a)9. 9. An itemized statement of every obligation exceeding $20 in amount or value, together with the name of the person or business with whom the obligation was incurred, and the date and the specific purpose for which each such obligation was incurred.

11.0904(1)(a)10. 10. A statement of totals during the reporting period of disbursements made, including transfers made to and received from other committees, other income, and loans.

11.0904(1)(a)11. 11. A statement of the balance of obligations incurred as of the end of the reporting period.

11.0904(1)(b) (b) The recall committee shall begin each report filed under this chapter with the first contribution received, disbursement made, or obligation incurred during the reporting period.

11.0904(2) (2) Reports to support or oppose the recall of nonpartisan state or local office holder elected at spring election; primary. A recall committee that makes or accepts contributions, makes disbursements, or incurs obligations to support or oppose the recall of a nonpartisan state or local office holder, or to support or oppose other committees engaging in such activities, shall do all the following:

11.0904(2)(a) (a) File a preprimary report no earlier than 14 days and no later than 8 days preceding the recall primary.

11.0904(2)(b) (b) File a preelection report no earlier than 14 days and no later than 8 days preceding the recall election.

11.0904(2)(c) (c) Annually in each year of an election cycle, file a report on January 15 and July 15.

11.0904(3) (3) Reports to support or oppose the recall of a nonpartisan state or local office holder elected at spring election; election. A recall committee that makes or accepts contributions, makes disbursements, or incurs obligations to support or oppose the recall of a nonpartisan state or local office holder, or to support or oppose other committees engaging in such activities, shall do all the following:

11.0904(3)(a) (a) File a preelection report no earlier than 14 days and no later than 8 days preceding the recall election.

11.0904(3)(b) (b) Annually in each year of an election cycle, file a report on January 15 and July 15.

11.0904(4) (4) Reports to support or oppose the recall of partisan state or local office holder; primary. A recall committee that makes or accepts contributions, makes disbursements, or incurs obligations to support or oppose the recall of a partisan state or local office holder, or to support or oppose other committees engaging in such activities, shall do all the following:

11.0904(4)(a) (a) File a preprimary report no earlier than 14 days and no later than 8 days preceding the recall primary.

11.0904(4)(b) (b) File a preelection report no earlier than 14 days and no later than 8 days preceding the recall election.

11.0904(4)(c) (c) In an odd-numbered year, file a report on January 15 and July 15.

11.0904(4)(d) (d) In an even-numbered year, file a report on January 15 and July 15.

11.0904(4)(e) (e) In an even-numbered year, file a report on September 30 indicating contributions, disbursements, and obligations received, made, or incurred after July 1 that are not included in the preprimary report.

11.0904(5) (5) Reports to support or oppose the recall of partisan state or local office holder; general election. A recall committee that makes or accepts contributions, makes disbursements, or incurs obligations to support or oppose the recall of a partisan state or local office holder, or to support or oppose other committees engaging in such activities, shall do all of the following:

11.0904(5)(a) (a) File a preelection report no earlier than 14 days and no later than 8 days preceding the recall election.

11.0904(5)(b) (b) In an odd-numbered year, file a report on January 15 and July 15.

11.0904(5)(c) (c) In an even-numbered year, file a report on January 15 and July 15.

11.0904(5)(d) (d) In an even-numbered year, file a report on September 30 indicating contributions, disbursements, and obligations received, made, or incurred after July 1 that are not included in the preprimary report.

11.0904 History History: 2015 a. 117 ss. 24, 74 (1m); 2021 a. 265.

subch. X of ch. 11 SUBCHAPTER X

OTHER PERSONS

11.1001 11.1001 Reporting; specific express advocacy.

11.1001(1) (1) Disbursements.

11.1001(1)(a) (a)

11.1001(1)(a)1. 1. For express advocacy that will occur during the period beginning 60 days prior to the spring primary and ending on the date of the spring election, any person, other than a committee, spending $2,500 or more in the aggregate on express advocacy for one or more candidates at the spring primary or spring election shall submit statements to the commission under par. (b) for express advocacy.

11.1001(1)(a)2. 2. For express advocacy that will occur during the period beginning 60 days prior to the partisan primary and ending on the date of the general election, any person, other than a committee, spending $2,500 or more in the aggregate on express advocacy for one or more candidates at the partisan primary or general election shall submit statements to the commission under par. (b) for express advocacy as follows:

11.1001(1)(a)2.a. a. During the period beginning 60 days prior to the partisan primary and ending on the date of the partisan primary.

11.1001(1)(a)2.b. b. During the period beginning 60 days prior to the general election and ending on the date of the general election.

11.1001(1)(a)3. 3. For express advocacy that will occur during the period beginning 60 days prior to a special primary and ending on the date of the special election, any person, other than a committee, spending $2,500 or more in the aggregate on express advocacy for one or more candidates at the special primary or special election shall submit statements to the commission under par. (b) for express advocacy.

11.1001(1)(b) (b) A person required to report under this section shall submit statements to the commission providing all of the following information:

11.1001(1)(b)1. 1. The dates on which the person incurred the obligations or made the disbursements.

11.1001(1)(b)2. 2. The name and address of the obligees or persons who received the disbursements.

11.1001(1)(b)3. 3. The purpose for making the disbursements or incurring the obligations.

11.1001(1)(b)4. 4. The amount spent or incurred for each act of express advocacy.

11.1001(1)(b)5. 5. The name of any candidate identified in the express advocacy, the office that the candidate seeks, and whether the express advocacy supports or opposes that candidate.

11.1001(1)(b)6. 6. An affirmation, made under oath, that the person will comply with the prohibition on coordination under s. 11.1203 with respect to any candidate or agent or candidate committee who is supported or opposed by the express advocacy.

11.1001(1)(b)7. 7. The name and mailing and street address of the person’s designated agent in this state.

11.1001(2) (2) Exception.

11.1001(2)(a) (a) A person who is required to report under this section is not required to submit the information described under sub. (1) (b) regarding disbursements made before reaching the $2,500 threshold under sub. (1) (a). For purposes of this section, a disbursement for express advocacy is the amount spent directly on developing, producing, and disseminating the express advocacy.

11.1001(2)(b) (b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

11.1001(2)(b)1. 1. A communication, other than an advertisement, appearing in a news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any news organization, unless the facilities are controlled by any committee or candidate.

11.1001(2)(b)2. 2. A communication made exclusively between an organization and its members. In this subdivision, a member of an organization means a shareholder, employee, or officer of the organization, or an individual who has affirmatively manifested an interest in joining, supporting, or aiding the organization.

11.1001(3) (3) Timing. A person who is required to report under this section shall submit the report to the commission no later than 72 hours after the earliest of the following:

11.1001(3)(a) (a) The date the obligation for express advocacy is incurred, if the person has the information required to be reported under sub. (1) (b).

11.1001(3)(b) (b) The date the express advocacy is aired, broadcast, printed, or otherwise disseminated to individuals other than any of the following:

11.1001(3)(b)1. 1. The person, if the person is an individual.

11.1001(3)(b)2. 2. The person’s officers, directors, partners, employees, or volunteers, if the person consists of 2 or more individuals.

11.1001(3)(b)3. 3. The person’s producer, consultant, media production partner, or focus group.

11.1001(3)(c) (c) The date of the disbursement.

11.1001 History History: 2015 a. 117 ss. 24, 74 (1m); 2021 a. 265; 2023 a. 120.

subch. XI of ch. 11 SUBCHAPTER XI

CONTRIBUTIONS

11.1101 11.1101 Contribution limits.

11.1101(1) (1) Individual limits. An individual may contribute to a candidate committee no more than the following amounts specified for the candidate whose nomination or election the individual supports [See Figure 11.1101 following]:

11.1101(1)(a) (a) Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, state superintendent, or justice, $20,000.

11.1101(1)(b) (b) Candidates for state senator, $2,000.

11.1101(1)(c) (c) Candidates for representative to the assembly, $1,000.

11.1101(1)(d) (d) Candidates for court of appeals judge in districts which contain a county having a population of more than 750,000, $6,000.

11.1101(1)(e) (e) Candidates for court of appeals judge in other districts, $5,000.

11.1101(1)(f) (f) Candidates for circuit judge in circuits having a population of more than 300,000, or candidates for district attorney in prosecutorial units having a population of more than 300,000, $6,000.

11.1101(1)(g) (g) Candidates for circuit judge in other circuits or candidates for district attorney in other prosecutorial units, $2,000.

11.1101(1)(h) (h) Candidates for local offices, an amount equal to the greater of the following:

11.1101(1)(h)1. 1. Five hundred dollars.

11.1101(1)(h)2. 2. Two cents times the number of inhabitants of the jurisdiction or district, according to the latest federal census or the census information on which the district is based, as certified by the appropriate filing officer, as defined under s. 5.02 (4v) (b) to (d), but not more than $6,000.

Effective date note NOTE: Subd. 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. Two cents times the number of inhabitants of the jurisdiction or district, according to the latest federal census or the census information on which the district is based, as certified by the appropriate filing officer, but not more than $6,000.

11.1101(2) (2) Candidate committees. A candidate committee may contribute to another candidate committee no more than the following amounts specified for the candidate whose nomination or election the committee supports [See Figure 11.1101 following]:

11.1101(2)(a) (a) Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, state superintendent, or justice, $20,000.

11.1101(2)(b) (b) Candidates for state senator, $2,000.