A new bill authored by State Rep. David Murphy in the Wisconsin Assembly seeks to regulate how local governing bodies reconsider previously rejected ordinances or resolutions, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “local government rules of proceedings and consideration of ordinances or resolutions for which enactment or adoption previously failed. (FE)”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates that the governing bodies of political subdivisions, such as county boards, town boards, village boards, and city common councils, cannot prohibit reconsideration of ordinances or resolutions that are substantially the same as previous versions that were voted on but not passed. Such reconsideration can only occur if at least two years have passed since the initial proposal. This stipulation applies to boards and councils, including those in first-class cities, except where specific exceptions are outlined, ensuring local government flexibility in revisiting legislative initiatives over time.
The bill was co-authored by Senator André Jacque (Republican-1st District).
David Murphy has co-authored or authored another 122 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Murphy graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley in 1974.
Murphy, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2013 to represent the state’s 56th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Michelle Litjens.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| AB282 | 05/30/2025 | Local government rules of proceedings and consideration of ordinances or resolutions for which enactment or adoption previously failed. (FE) |
| AB236 | 05/02/2025 | The rights of sexual assault crime victims |
| AB127 | 03/11/2025 | The duty of a pharmacist to dispense lawfully prescribed drugs and devices. (FE) |
| AB69 | 02/24/2025 | The sales and use tax exemption for electricity and natural gas sold for residential use. (FE) |
| AB58 | 02/24/2025 | Flags flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of state and local buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule |
| AB55 | 02/24/2025 | Possession of a firearm on school grounds by school employees and fees for licenses to carry a concealed weapon. (FE) |
| AB47 | 02/17/2025 | Tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college. (FE) |
| AB27 | 02/17/2025 | Expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War |
