Wisconsin legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Wisconsin AB1141: An Act to amend 11.1108 and 11.1400 (5); to create 8.35 (4) (b), subchapter XV of chapter 11 [precedes 11.1500], 20.521 (1) (r), 20.585 (1) (q), 20.585 (1) (r), 20.855 (4) (ba), 20.855 (4) (bb), 25.17 (1) (cm), 25.421 and 71.10 (3) of the statutes; Relating to: public financing of campaigns for the offices of justice of the supreme court, court of appeals judge, and circuit court judge, and making an appropriation. (FE)
Status: Failed, May 1, 2026
What the bill says
To amend 11.1108 and 11.1400 (5); to create 8.35 (4) (b), subchapter 2XV of chapter 11 [precedes 11.1500], 20.521 (1) (r), 20.585 (1) (q), 20.585 (1) (r), 320.855 (4) (ba), 20.855 (4) (bb), 25.17 (1) (cm), 25.421 and 71.10 (3) of the 4statutes; relating to: public financing of campaigns for the offices of justice of 5the supreme court, court of appeals judge, and circuit court judge, and making 6an appropriation…
From the introduced text, March 13, 2026:
to amend 11.1108 and 11.1400 (5); to create 8.35 (4) (b), subchapter 2XV of chapter 11 [precedes 11.1500], 20.521 (1) (r), 20.585 (1) (q), 20.585 (1) (r), 320.855 (4) (ba), 20.855 (4) (bb), 25.17 (1) (cm), 25.421 and 71.10 (3) of the 4statutes; relating to: public financing of campaigns for the offices of justice of 5the supreme court, court of appeals judge, and circuit court judge, and making 6an appropriation. Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill creates a democracy trust fund under which eligible candidates for the offices of justice of the supreme court, court of appeals judge, and circuit court judge may receive public grants derived from general purpose revenues to finance their campaigns. The bill provides that a candidate for the office of justice of the supreme court, court of appeals judge, or circuit court judge may qualify for public financing from the democracy trust fund to finance a campaign in a primary or election by receiving qualifying contributions from at least 1,000 separate contributors who are electors of this state in amounts of not less than $5 nor more than $100 in an aggregate amount of at least $5,000 but not more than $50,000. A candidate who accepts public financing may also accept "seed money" contributions from electors of this state in amounts of $100 …