Ayes: 3 - Senators LeMahieu, Kapenga and Feyen.

Noes: 2 - Agard and Smith.

DEVIN LEMAHIEU

Chairperson

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Petitions and Communications

State of Wisconsin

Office of the Governor

January 13, 2023

The Honorable, the Senate:

This letter is to remove the following appointment from consideration for confirmation by the Wisconsin Senate:

hist161276 BLYTHE, CHRISTOPHER of Madison, as Chair of the Parole Commission, to serve for the term ending March 1, 2023.

Respectfully Submitted,

TONY EVERS

Governor

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Petitions and Communications

State of Wisconsin

Wisconsin Elections Commission

Dear Chief Clerks Blazel and Queensland,

As the chief clerks for the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate, you have requested that the Wisconsin Elections Commission provide the statutory deadline on which the legislature may act to ensure that any proposed constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot for the April 4, 2023, Spring Election. The legislature must complete action on any proposed constitutional amendments no later than Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

By statute “all proposed constitutional amendments . . . shall be filed with the official or agency responsible for preparing the ballots for the election no later than 70 days prior to the election at which the amendment . . . will appear on the ballot.” Wis. Stat. § 8.37. Tuesday, January 24, 2023, is 70 days before the April 4, 2023, Spring Election.

In order for a legislative action on a proposed constitutional amendment to be filed in our office, it is sufficient for the chief clerks to notify our office by e-mail that the legislature passed the resolution no later than Tuesday, January 24, 2023. It is not necessary that we receive the signed resolution by the close of business on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. Please submit, either by mail or in person, a hard copy of the texts of any proposed constitutional amendments to the Wisconsin Elections Commission so that we have them on file when a notice of a legislative action arrives.

To facilitate preparation for the April 4, 2023, Spring Election, I suggest that the sponsoring legislators contact the office of the Attorney General to arrange for the preparation of the explanatory statement required by Wis. Stat. § 10.01(2)(c). Wisconsin’s county clerks must publish any explanatory statements in a qualified newspaper immediately before the election, and the statements will also be posted at polling places on Election Day.

Please make the appropriate arrangements to ensure that this information is communicated to the members of the legislature. If you or any member of the legislature has a question, please contact me at 608-267-0714 or ask to speak to an Elections Specialist.

Sincerely,

BRANDON HUNZICKER

Staff Attorney

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