MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin State Assembly met on Thursday, February 12, to approve legislation that restores legislative oversight of Wisconsin’s rulemaking process.
“Last year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court essentially gutted the Legislature’s ability to review proposed agency regulations,” State Rep. Dave Armstrong (R-Rice Lake) explained. “The people’s elected representatives need to have a seat at the table and be able to stop unelected bureaucrats from exceeding their legal authority.”
Some of the commonsense reforms the Assembly passed include prohibiting an agency from making rules without explicit and specific statutory authority (Assembly Bill 955) and pushing back the effective date of permanent rules so that the Legislature has an opportunity to pursue other alternatives (Assembly Bill 995). Other proposals include a seven-year sunset for administrative rules (Senate Bill 277) and awarding attorney fees and litigation costs to individuals who successfully challenge invalid rules (Senate Bill 276).
Recognizing that Governor Evers is likely to veto these proposals even though they are good policy, regardless of which party is in power, the Assembly also approved a state constitutional amendment that would allow the Legislature to suspend an administrative rule. If the Senate concurs in the amendment this session and the 2027-2028 Legislature passes an identical proposal, the amendment will go to Wisconsin voters in a statewide referendum.
Besides rulemaking reforms, the Assembly also passed a higher education package, including protecting free speech on UW campuses (Senate Bill 498) and shifting the focus of various higher-education aid programs from race-based criteria to whether a student is disadvantaged (Senate Bill 652).
The Assembly will meet again on February 17, when Governor Evers will present his final State of the State Address to the Legislature.
Last Update: Feb 13, 2026 4:05 pm CST
