The bill increases the position authority for the Mississippi River Parkway
Commission by 1.0 FTE, funded from the same appropriation, for the purpose of
providing administrative support to the commission.
veterans
County veterans service officer grants
The bill increases the dollar amount of grants made to counties with a veterans
service officer. Under current law, DVA is required to annually award a grant to

counties that employ a county veterans service officer chosen from a list of candidates
who have completed a particular civil service examination or who were appointed
under a certain civil service competitive examination procedure. The grants are
awarded for the purpose of improving a county's services to veterans. The amount
of each grant is $9,350 for a county with a population of less than 20,000, $11,000 for
a county with a population of 20,000 to 45,499, $12,650 for a county with a population
of 45,500 to 74,999, and $14,300 for a county with a population of 75,000 or more.
Counties that employ a part-time county veterans service officer are eligible to
receive an annual grant not exceeding $550. DVA may also make annual grants not
to exceed $16,500 to the governing bodies of federally recognized American Indian
tribes and bands if the tribal governing body appoints a tribal veterans service officer
and enters into an agreement with DVA regarding the creation, goals, and objectives
of the tribal veterans service officer position.
The bill doubles the dollar amount of the grants annually awarded to counties
and tribal governing bodies and repeals the restriction that a county employing a
part-time county veterans services officer receive a grant not to exceed $550.
Assistance to Needy Veterans grants
The bill expands the Assistance to Needy Veterans grant program. Under
current law, DVA administers the Assistance to Needy Veterans grant program,
which provides subsistence aid and health care aid to veterans. Under the program,
DVA may provide up to $3,000 in subsistence aid per 12-month period to veterans
who have suffered a loss of income due to illness, injury, or natural disaster. Under
the program, DVA may also provide aid payments to a veteran to pay for dental care,
hearing care, and vision care. The total lifetime limit that a veteran may receive in
aid under the program is $7,500.
The bill expands the program by allowing DVA to provide subsistence aid
payments, in an amount of up to $5,000 per 12-month period, to a veteran who has
suffered a loss of income for any reason and also allows DVA to provide health care
aid payments to pay for any medical device prescribed by a licensed health care
provider. The bill also raises the lifetime limit on aid that a veteran may receive
under the program to $10,000.
Hmong and Laotian veterans
The bill expands the definition of “veteran” to include either 1) individuals who
were naturalized pursuant to the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000; or 2)
individuals who the secretary of veterans affairs has determined served honorably
with a special guerrilla unit or irregular forces operating from a base in Laos in
support of the armed forces of the United States at any time during the period from
February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975, and who are citizens of the United States or aliens
lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States who reside in
Wisconsin. The bill extends most veterans benefits to anyone who meets this newly
expanded definition of veteran, however, admission to a state veterans home and
burial in a veterans cemetery are not included benefits as they are subject to federal
regulation.

Wisconsin veterans cemetery eligibility requirements
The bill changes an eligibility requirement for an individual to be buried in one
of the state veterans cemeteries. Under current law, an individual who was
discharged under other than dishonorable conditions must have been a Wisconsin
resident in order to be eligible for burial in one of the state veterans cemeteries. In
select cases, children and spouses of eligible veterans must also be Wisconsin
residents in order to be buried in a state veterans cemetery. The bill removes the
Wisconsin residency eligibility requirements in determining whether an individual
or his or her spouse or children may be buried in a state veterans cemetery. The bill
also directs from which appropriation account some eligible individuals' burial
expenses may be paid.
Veterans homes and related programs
The bill requires DVA to contract with a vendor during the 2023-25 fiscal
biennium to study the campus of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King. The purpose
of the study is to provide a framework to guide decision making for future operations
and development on the campus of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King. The study
must be completed before June 1, 2025.
Transfer of funds for the operations of veterans homes
The bill transfers $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 from the general fund to
the DVA appropriation used for the institutional operations of veterans homes.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a
report.
Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be
referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed
as an appendix to the bill.
Because this bill may increase or decrease, directly or indirectly, the cost of the
development, construction, financing, purchasing, sale, ownership, or availability of
housing in this state, the Department of Administration, as required by law, will
prepare a report to be printed as an appendix to this bill.
This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and
financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB70,1 1Section 1. 5.02 (6m) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB70,179,72 5.02 (6m) (f) An unexpired identification card issued by a university or college
3in this state that is accredited, as defined in s. 39.30 (1) (d), or by a technical college

1in this state that is a member of and governed by the technical college system under
2ch. 38, that contains the date of issuance and signature of the individual to whom it
3is issued and that contains an expiration date indicating that the card expires no
4later than 2 years after the date of issuance if the individual establishes, except that
5if the identification card is expired the individual shall establish
that he or she is
6enrolled as a student at the university or college on the date that the card is
7presented.
SB70,2 8Section 2 . 5.02 (20) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB70,179,139 5.02 (20) “Special primary" means the primary held 4 weeks before the special
10election, except as provided in s. 8.50 (4m) and except when the special election is
11held on the same day as the general election the special primary shall be held on the
12same day as the general primary or if the special election is held concurrently with
13the spring election, the primary shall be held concurrently with the spring primary.
SB70,3 14Section 3 . 5.02 (22) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB70,179,1815 5.02 (22) “Spring primary" means the nonpartisan primary held on the 3rd
16Tuesday in February to nominate nonpartisan candidates to be voted for at the
17spring election and partisan candidates to be voted for at a special election under s.
188.50 (4m)
.
SB70,4 19Section 4 . 5.05 (11m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB70,179,2420 5.05 (11m) Aids to counties and municipalities for certain special election
21costs.
(a) From the appropriation under s. 20.510 (1) (f), the commission shall
22reimburse counties and municipalities for costs incurred in the administration of
23special primaries for state or national office and special elections for state or national
24office.
SB70,180,2
1(b) A cost is eligible for reimbursement under par. (a) only if all of the following
2apply:
SB70,180,33 1. The commission determines that the cost is reasonable.
SB70,180,44 2. The cost is specified under par. (c).
SB70,180,75 3. If applicable, the commission determines that the rate paid by the county or
6municipality for the cost does not exceed the rate customarily paid for similar costs
7at a primary or election that is not a special primary or election.
SB70,180,118 4. If the special primary or election coincides with a primary or election that
9is not a special primary or election, the commission determines that the cost does not
10exceed the amount that would be incurred if the primaries or elections did not
11coincide.
SB70,180,1212 (c) Only the following costs are eligible for reimbursement under par. (a):
SB70,180,1313 1. Rental payments for polling places.
SB70,180,1514 2. Election day wages paid under s. 7.03 to election officials working at the
15polls.
SB70,180,1616 3. Costs for the publication of required election notices.
SB70,180,1717 4. Printing and postage costs for absentee ballots and envelopes.
SB70,180,1818 5. Costs for the design and printing of ballots and poll books.
SB70,180,2019 6. Purchase of ballot bags or containers, including ties or seals for chain of
20custody purposes.
SB70,180,2121 7. Costs to program electronic voting machines.
SB70,180,2222 8. Purchase of memory devices for electronic voting machines.
SB70,180,2323 9. Wages paid to conduct a county canvass.
SB70,180,2424 10. Data entry costs for the statewide voter registration system.
SB70,5 25Section 5 . 5.05 (11r) of the statutes is created to read:
SB70,181,4
15.05 (11r) Aids to counties and municipalities for the purchase of election
2supplies and equipment.
From the appropriation under s. 20.510 (1) (ff), the
3commission may award grants to counties and municipalities for the purchase of
4election supplies and equipment, including electronic poll books.
SB70,6 5Section 6. 5.053 of the statutes is created to read:
SB70,181,7 65.053 Office of election transparency and compliance. (1) Definition.
7In this section, “office” means the office of election transparency and compliance.
SB70,181,8 8(2) Duties. The office shall do all of the following:
SB70,181,119 (a) As directed by the commission by resolution, provide assistance and
10research to the commission concerning a sworn complaint filed under s. 5.05 (2m) or
115.06.
SB70,181,1312 (b) As directed by the administrator, provide assistance and research to the
13commission concerning the following:
SB70,181,1414 1. Procedures at polling places.
SB70,181,1515 2. Election processes.
SB70,181,1716 3. Audits of election systems and equipment, including with respect to
17accessibility requirements for individuals with disabilities.
SB70,181,1818 4. Responding to public records requests submitted under s. 19.35.
SB70,181,2019 5. Responding to inquiries and requests for assistance made by a member,
20committee, or house of the state legislature.
SB70,181,2121 6. Responding to inquiries from the public.
SB70,7 22Section 7 . 5.056 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB70,182,6 235.056 Matching program with secretary of transportation. The
24commission administrator shall enter into the agreement with the secretary of
25transportation specified under s. 85.61 (1) to match personally identifiable

1information on the official registration list maintained by the commission under s.
26.36 (1) and the information specified in s. ss. 6.256 (2) and 6.34 (2m) with personally
3identifiable information maintained by the department of transportation. Subject
4to s. 343.14 (2p) (b), the agreement shall provide for the electronic transfer of
5information under s. 6.256 (2) to the commission on a continuous basis, no less often
6than weekly.
SB70,8 7Section 8 . 5.35 (6) (a) 4c. of the statutes is created to read:
SB70,182,88 5.35 (6) (a) 4c. A voter bill of rights in substantially the following form:
SB70,182,9 9Voter Bill of Rights
SB70,182,10 10You have the following rights:
SB70,182,16 11 The right to vote if you are registered and eligible to vote. You are
12eligible to vote if you (1) are a U.S. citizen, (2) are at least 18 years old, (3) are
13registered where you currently live, (4) are not currently serving any portion of a
14felony sentence, including probation or supervision, (5) are not currently found
15mentally incompetent to vote by a court, and (6) have not placed a bet or a wager on
16the outcome of the election.
SB70,182,17 17 The right to inspect a sample ballot before voting.
SB70,182,20 18 The right to cast a ballot if you are in line when your polling place
19closes
or when your municipal clerk's office closes if you are voting by in-person
20absentee ballot on the last day for which such voting is allowed.
SB70,182,22 21 The right to cast a secret ballot, without anyone bothering you or telling
22you how to vote.
SB70,182,24 23 If you have a disability, the right to get help casting your ballot from
24anyone you choose, except from your employer or union representative.
SB70,183,2
1 The right to get help voting in a language other than English if enough
2voters where you live speak your language.
SB70,183,4 3 The right to get a new ballot if you made a mistake. You can get up to
43 ballots in all if you make a mistake and have not already cast your ballot.
SB70,183,10 5 The right to cast a provisional ballot. You can cast a provisional ballot
6if you are unable or unwilling to provide required proof of identification for voting or
7a valid driver license or identification card number for registering to vote on election
8day. Your provisional ballot will not be counted unless you provide the required
9information to the poll workers by 8:00 p.m. on election day or to the municipal clerk
10by 4:00 p.m. of the Friday following the election.
SB70,183,11 11 The right to have your ballot counted accurately.
SB70,183,13 12 The right to vote free from coercion or intimidation by any election
13official or other person.
SB70,183,15 14 The right to report any illegal or fraudulent election activity to an
15elections official or the State of Wisconsin Elections Commission.
SB70,9 16Section 9 . 5.84 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB70,184,1017 5.84 (1) Where any municipality employs an electronic voting system which
18utilizes automatic tabulating equipment, either at the polling place or at a central
19counting location,
the municipal clerk shall, on any day not more than 10 days prior
20to the election day on which the equipment is to be utilized in an election, have the
21equipment tested to ascertain that it will correctly count the votes cast for all offices
22and on all measures. Public notice of the time and place of the test shall be given by
23the clerk at least 48 hours prior to the test by publication of a class 1 notice under
24ch. 985 in one or more newspapers published within the municipality if a newspaper
25is published therein, otherwise in a newspaper of general circulation therein. The

1test shall be open to the public. The test shall be conducted by processing a
2preaudited group of ballots so marked as to record a predetermined number of valid
3votes for each candidate and on each referendum. The test shall include for each
4office one or more ballots which have votes in excess of the number allowed by law
5and, for a partisan primary election, one or more ballots which have votes cast for
6candidates of more than one recognized political party, in order to test the ability of
7the automatic tabulating equipment to reject such votes. If any error is detected, the
8municipal clerk shall ascertain the cause and correct the error. The clerk shall make
9an errorless count before the automatic tabulating equipment is approved by the
10clerk for use in the election.
SB70,10 11Section 10 . 5.86 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB70,185,212 5.86 (1) All proceedings at each central counting location shall be under the
13direction of the municipal clerk or an election official designated by the clerk unless
14the central counting location is at the county seat and the municipal clerk delegates
15the responsibility to supervise the location to the county clerk
, in which case the
16proceedings shall be under the direction of the county clerk or an election official
17designated by the county clerk. If for any municipality the central counting location
18is at the county seat and the municipal clerk authorizes the early canvassing of
19absentee ballots under s. 7.525, the county clerk or the county clerk's designee shall
20begin the proceedings for that municipality on the day before the election consistent
21with that section.
Unless election officials are selected under s. 7.30 (4) (c) without
22regard to party affiliation, the employees at each central counting location, other
23than any specially trained technicians who are required for the operation of the
24automatic tabulating equipment, shall be equally divided between members of the
252 major political parties under s. 7.30 (2) (a) and all duties performed by the

1employees shall be by teams consisting of an equal number of members of each
2political party whenever sufficient persons from each party are available.
SB70,11 3Section 11. 6.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB70,185,64 6.02 (1) Every U.S. citizen age 18 or older who has resided in an election district
5or ward for 28 10 consecutive days before any election where the citizen offers to vote
6is an eligible elector.
SB70,12 7Section 12. 6.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB70,185,128 6.02 (2) Any U.S. citizen age 18 or older who moves within this state later than
928 10 days before an election shall vote at his or her previous ward or election district
10if the person is otherwise qualified. If the elector can comply with the 28-day 10-day
11residence requirement at the new address and is otherwise qualified, he or she may
12vote in the new ward or election district.
SB70,13 13Section 13. 6.10 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB70,185,2114 6.10 (3) When an elector moves his or her residence from one ward or
15municipality to another ward or municipality within the state at least 28 10 days
16before the election, the elector may vote in and be considered a resident of the new
17ward or municipality where residing upon registering at the proper polling place or
18other registration location in the new ward or municipality under s. 6.55 (2) or 6.86
19(3) (a) 2. If the elector moves his or her residence later than 28 10 days before an
20election, the elector shall vote in the elector's former ward or municipality if
21otherwise qualified to vote there.
SB70,14 22Section 14. 6.10 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
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