AB 955 Wisconsin Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: the rule-making authority of agencies. (FE)

AB 955 limits state agencies' ability to interpret laws by requiring explicit statutory permission before creating rules that interpret statutes they enforce. It adds a new section (227.11(1m)) stating agencies cannot interpret laws without specific legislative authorization. The bill also repeals existing language that allowed broader agency interpretation authority and reorganizes related sections. This directly affects all state agencies that develop rules for enforcing or administering laws, ensuring they cannot interpret statutes without clear prior legislative permission. The change focuses on clarifying rule-making boundaries, not altering policy outcomes.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Assembly Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Vetoed

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 29, 2026 Vetoed Apr 8, 2026

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What changed between versions

Bill Text → Text as Enrolled · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly restricts state agencies' ability to create new rules by removing their general authority to interpret statutes. It now requires explicit, specific statutory authorization for any rule-making, preventing agencies from using vague legal provisions or settlement agreements as a basis for new regulations. The change also introduces a new review process where proposed rules must be vetted by the Governor and relevant policy-making bodies before being submitted for public comment.

Scope change

The bill narrows the scope of rule-making authority from a broad, general power to interpret laws to a strict requirement of explicit legislative authorization.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the general authority for agencies to promulgate rules interpreting statutes they enforce, unless explicitly authorized by specific legislation.

Added a requirement that agencies must obtain explicit and specific statutory authority before creating any rule that interprets a statute.

Added a new process requiring agencies to submit a 'statement of scope' for proposed rules to the Governor and policy-making bodies for approval before public comment can occur.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the ability for agencies to use federal compliance plans, settlement agreements, or court orders as authority to promulgate rules.

DEFINITION

Clarified that statutory provisions describing general powers or duties do not automatically grant rule-making authority.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 8, 2026

Vetoed

Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-8-2026

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read a third time and concurred in

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read a third time and passed

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Placed on calendar 2-12-2026 by Committee on Rules

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to committee on Rules

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency, Ayes 6, Noes 3

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency, Ayes 6, Noes 3

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Introduced

Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Knodl

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Introduced

Introduced by Representatives B. Jacobson, Gustafson, Hurd, Tucker, Tusler, Sortwell, Allen, Behnke, Callahan, Dittrich, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, Kaufert, Knodl, Kreibich, Maxey, Moses, Murphy, Neylon, O'Connor, Penterman, Petersen, Piwowarczyk, Rodriguez, VanderMeer, Wichgers, Wittke, Melotik and Spiros; cosponsored by Senators Jacque, Hutton, Quinn, Kapenga, Bradley, Nass and Cabral-Guevara

lower

30 primary · 0 co-sponsors