Chapter 11

CONDUITS

11.0701   Registration; administrator and depositories.

11.0702   Registration; timing.

11.0703   Registration; required information.

11.0704   Reporting.

11.0705   Redirected contributions.

SUBCHAPTER VIII

REFERENDUM COMMITTEES

11.0801   Registration; treasurer and depositories.

11.0802   Registration; timing.

11.0803   Registration; required information.

11.0804   Reporting.

SUBCHAPTER IX

RECALL COMMITTEES

11.0901   Registration; treasurer and depositories.

11.0902   Registration; timing.

11.0903   Registration; required information.

11.0904   Reporting.

SUBCHAPTER X

OTHER PERSONS

11.1001   Reporting; specific express advocacy.

SUBCHAPTER XI

CONTRIBUTIONS

11.1101   Contribution limits.

11.1103   Applicable periods.

11.1104   Exceptions.

11.1105   Valuation.

11.1106   Conduit contributions.

11.1107   Limitation on cash contributions.

11.1108   Anonymous contributions.

11.1109   In-kind contributions.

11.1110   Return of contributions.

11.1111   Valuation of opinion poll results.

11.1112   Corporations, cooperatives, and tribes.

11.1113   Sole proprietors, partnerships, and limited liability companies.

11.1114   Two candidate committees.

SUBCHAPTER XII

PROHIBITED PRACTICES

11.1201   False reports and statements.

11.1202   Earmarking.

11.1203   Coordination.

11.1204   Unlawful political contributions.

11.1205   Use of government materials by candidates.

11.1206   Travel by public officers.

11.1207   Political solicitation involving public officials and employees restricted.

11.1208   Unlawful political disbursements and obligations.

SUBCHAPTER XIII

ADMINISTRATION

11.1301   Defense fund authorized.

11.1303   Attribution of political contributions, disbursements and communications; synthetic media.

11.1304   Duties of the ethics commission.

11.1305   Administrative termination and suspension.

SUBCHAPTER XIV

PENALTIES

11.1400   Civil penalties.

11.1401   Criminal penalties; prosecution.

Ch. 11 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See definitions in s. 5.02.

subch. I of ch. 11 SUBCHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

11.0100 11.0100 Construction. This chapter shall be construed to impose the least possible restraint on persons whose activities do not directly affect the elective process, consistent with the right of the public to have a full, complete, and readily understandable accounting of those activities expressly advocating for or against candidates for office or for or against referendums. Nothing in this chapter may be construed to regulate issue discussion, debate, or advocacy; grassroots outreach or lobbying; nonpartisan voter registration or turnout efforts; or the rights of the media.

11.0100 History History: 2015 a. 117.

11.0100 Annotation Campaign Finance in Wisconsin After Buckley. Anderson. 1976 WLR 816.

11.0101 11.0101 Definitions. In this chapter:

11.0101(1) (1) “Candidate” means an individual about whom any of the following applies:

11.0101(1)(a) (a) The individual takes any of the following affirmative actions to seek nomination or election to a state or local office:

11.0101(1)(a)1. 1. Files nomination papers with the appropriate filing officer, as determined under s. 5.02 (4v).

Effective date note NOTE: Subd. 1. is shown as amended eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 126. Prior to 7-1-25 it reads:

Effective date text 1. Files nomination papers with the appropriate filing officer.

11.0101(1)(a)2. 2. Is nominated as a candidate for state or local office by a caucus under s. 8.05 (1) or by a political party and the nomination is certified to the appropriate filing officer, as determined under s. 5.02 (4v).

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. Is nominated as a candidate for state or local office by a caucus under s. 8.05 (1) or by a political party and the nomination is certified to the appropriate filing officer.

11.0101(1)(a)3. 3. Receives a contribution, makes a disbursement, or gives consent for another person to receive a contribution or make a disbursement in order to bring about the individual’s nomination or election to a state or local office.

11.0101(1)(b) (b) The individual holds a state or local office and is the subject of a recall petition.

11.0101(1)(c) (c) The individual holds a state or local office.

11.0101(2) (2) “Candidate committee” means a committee authorized by a candidate or a candidate’s agent to make or accept contributions or make disbursements in support of a candidate’s campaign.

11.0101(3) (3) “Candidate’s agent” means an individual who has control over the day-to-day operation of the candidate committee, but does not include an employee of a political party or a legislative campaign committee that is not also an employee of the candidate.

11.0101(4) (4) “Charitable organization” means any organization described in section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

11.0101(5) (5) “Clearly identified” means any of the following with regard to a communication supporting or opposing a candidate:

11.0101(5)(a) (a) The candidate’s name appears or is stated.

11.0101(5)(b) (b) A photograph or drawing of the candidate appears.

11.0101(5)(c) (c) The candidate’s identity is apparent by unambiguous reference.

11.0101(5m) (5m) “Commission” means the ethics commission.

11.0101(6) (6) “Committee” means a candidate committee, legislative campaign committee, political action committee, independent expenditure committee, political party, recall committee, and referendum committee.

11.0101(7) (7) “Conduit” means a person other than an individual that receives a contribution of money from an individual, deposits the contribution in an account held by the person, and releases the contribution to a committee at the direction of the contributor.

11.0101(7m) (7m) “Continuing report” means the reports due on January 15 and July 15.

11.0101(8) (8) 

11.0101(8)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), “contribution” means any of the following:

11.0101(8)(a)1. 1. A gift, subscription, loan, advance, or transfer of money to a committee.