Chapter 11

11.1111(1)(a)1. 1. The period beginning on December 1 and ending on the date of the spring election.

11.1111(1)(a)2. 2. The period beginning on May 1 and ending on the date of the general election.

11.1111(1)(a)3. 3. The period beginning on the first day for circulating nomination papers and ending on the date of a special election.

11.1111(1)(b) (b) “Initial recipient” means the individual who or committee which commissions a public opinion poll or voter survey.

11.1111(1)(c) (c) “Results” means computer output or a written or verbal analysis.

11.1111(1)(d) (d) “Voter survey” includes acquiring information that identifies voter attitudes concerning candidates or issues.

11.1111(2) (2) If a committee receives opinion poll or voter survey results during the first 15 days after the initial recipient receives the results, and the committee received the results during an election period, the committee shall report the results as a contribution. The committee shall report the contribution’s value as 100 percent of the cost incurred by the initial recipient to commission the poll or survey, except that if more than one committee receives the results, the committees shall report the contribution’s value as 100 percent of the amount allocated to the committee under sub. (5).

11.1111(3) (3) If the committee receives the opinion poll or voter survey results 16 to 60 days following the day on which the initial recipient received the results, and the committee received the results during an election period, the committee shall report the results as a contribution valued at 50 percent of the cost incurred by the initial recipient to commission the poll or survey, except that if more than one committee receives the results, the committees shall report the contribution’s value as 50 percent of the amount allocated to the committee under sub. (5).

11.1111(4) (4) If the committee receives the opinion poll or voter survey results more than 60 days after the initial recipient received the results, the committee is not required to report the results as a contribution.

11.1111(5) (5) If a person contributes opinion poll or voter survey results to more than one committee, the person shall apportion the value of the poll or survey to each committee receiving the results by one of the following methods and shall provide the apportioned values to the committees:

11.1111(5)(a) (a) Determine the share of the cost of the opinion poll or voter survey that is allocable to each recipient based on the allocation formula used by the person that conducted the poll or survey.

11.1111(5)(b) (b) Determine the share of the cost of the opinion poll or voter survey that is allocable to each recipient by dividing the cost of the poll or survey equally among all the committees receiving the results.

11.1111(5)(c) (c) Determine the share of the cost of the opinion poll or voter survey that is allocable to each recipient as follows:

11.1111(5)(c)1. 1. Divide the number of question results received by each recipient by the total number of question results received by all recipients.

11.1111(5)(c)2. 2. Multiple the total cost of the poll or survey by the number determined under subd. 1.

11.1111(6) (6) If a person makes a contribution of opinion poll or voter survey results to a committee after the person has apportioned the value of the results to previous recipients under sub. (5), the person shall make a good faith effort to apportion the value to the committee, considering the value apportioned to other recipients under sub. (5), and shall report that value to the committee. For purposes of this subsection, the total value of the contributor’s aggregate contributions may exceed the original cost of the poll or survey.

11.1111(7) (7) A person who contributes opinion poll or voter survey results shall maintain records sufficient to support the contribution’s value and shall provide the contribution’s value to the recipient.

11.1111 History History: 2015 a. 117.

11.1112 11.1112 Corporations, cooperatives, and tribes. No foreign or domestic corporation, no association organized under ch. 185 or 193, no labor organization, and no federally recognized American Indian Tribe may make a contribution to a committee, other than an independent expenditure committee or referendum committee, but may make a contribution to a segregated fund as provided under s. 11.1104 (6) in amounts not to exceed $12,000 in the aggregate in a calendar year.

11.1112 History History: 2015 a. 117.

11.1112 Annotation The government may regulate corporate political speech through disclaimer and disclosure requirements, but it may not suppress that speech altogether. Federal law prohibiting corporations and unions from using their general treasury funds to make independent expenditures for speech defined as an “electioneering communication” or for speech expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate is unconstitutional. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310, 130 S. Ct. 876, 175 L. Ed. 2d 753 (2010).

11.1113 11.1113 Sole proprietors, partnerships, and limited liability companies.

11.1113(1) (1) Sole proprietorships. A contribution made to a committee by a sole proprietorship is considered a contribution made by the individual who is the sole proprietor and subject to the limits under this subchapter.

11.1113(2) (2) Partnerships. A contribution made to a committee by a partnership is considered a contribution made by each of the contributing partners and subject to the limits under this subchapter. A partnership that makes a contribution to a committee shall provide to the committee the names of the contributing partners and the amount of the individual contribution made by each partner. For purposes of determining the individual contribution amounts made by each partner, the partnership shall attribute the individual contributions according to each partner’s share of the partnership’s profits, unless the partners agree to apportion the contribution in a different manner.

11.1113(3) (3) Limited liability companies.

11.1113(3)(a) (a) A contribution made to a committee by a limited liability company treated as a partnership by the federal internal revenue service pursuant to 26 CFR 301.7701-3 is considered a contribution made by each of the contributing members and subject to the limits under this subchapter. A limited liability company that makes a contribution under this paragraph shall affirm to the committee that it is treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes and eligible to make the contribution. The company shall provide to the committee the names of the contributing members and the amount of the individual contribution made by each member. For purposes of determining the individual contribution amounts made by each member, the company shall attribute the individual contributions according to each member’s share of the company’s profits, unless the members agree to apportion the contribution in a different manner.

11.1113(3)(b) (b) A contribution made to a committee by a single-member limited liability company in which the sole member is an individual is considered a contribution made by that individual and subject to the individual limits under s. 11.1101 (1). A limited liability company that makes a contribution under this paragraph shall affirm to the committee that it is a single-member limited liability company in which the sole member is an individual and eligible to make the contribution.

11.1113 History History: 2015 a. 117; 2017 a. 366; 2021 a. 265.

11.1114 11.1114 Two candidate committees.

11.1114(1) (1) 

11.1114(1)(a) (a) A candidate who has established 2 candidate committees pursuant to s. 11.0202 (2) may transfer funds between the 2 committees as provided in this subsection.

11.1114(1)(b) (b) The first candidate committee may transfer funds to the 2nd candidate committee, subject to all of the following:

11.1114(1)(b)1. 1. Any money contributed to the first candidate committee in a prior contribution limit period is the property of the first committee. If the first candidate committee makes a contribution to the 2nd candidate committee from funds received by the first candidate committee during a prior contribution limit period, that contribution is considered a contribution from the first candidate committee, subject to the contribution limits under s. 11.1101 (2) applicable to the 2nd candidate committee.

11.1114(1)(b)2. 2. The first candidate committee may transfer a contribution, or any portion of a contribution, received by the first candidate committee during the current contribution limit period to the 2nd candidate committee. Such a transfer is considered a contribution from the original contributor to the first candidate committee and does not violate s. 11.1202 or 11.1204. The transfer is subject to the contribution limits under s. 11.1101 applicable to the 2nd candidate committee. A contribution or portion of a contribution that is transferred may not be included when determining whether the contributor has reached or exceeded the applicable contribution limits for the first candidate committee for the current contribution period. The 2nd candidate committee shall count all contributions directly received from the contributor and all contributions from the contributor that are transferred from the first candidate committee to determine whether a contributor has reached or exceeded the applicable contribution limits for the current contribution limit period.

11.1114(1)(c) (c) The 2nd candidate committee may only transfer funds to the first candidate committee when the 2nd candidate committee is terminating pursuant to s. 11.0105. Such a transfer is considered a contribution from the original contributor to the 2nd candidate committee and is subject to the contribution limits under s. 11.1101 that apply to contributions from the original contributor for contributions made to the first candidate committee.

11.1114(2) (2) 

11.1114(2)(a) (a) For a contribution under sub. (1) (b) 1., the first candidate committee shall report the contribution to the 2nd candidate committee as a disbursement to the 2nd candidate committee and the 2nd candidate committee shall report receiving the contribution from the first candidate committee.

11.1114(2)(b) (b) The candidate committees shall report a transfer under sub. (1) (b) 2. as follows:

11.1114(2)(b)1. 1. The first candidate committee shall report receiving the contribution from the original contributor.

11.1114(2)(b)2. 2. The first candidate committee shall report transferring the contribution as a disbursement to the 2nd candidate committee.

11.1114(2)(b)3. 3. The 2nd candidate committee shall report receiving the contribution as if it came from the original contributor.

11.1114(2)(c) (c) With regard to a transfer under sub. (1) (c), the 2nd candidate committee shall report receiving the contribution from the original contributor and report transferring the funds to the first candidate committee as a disbursement. The first candidate committee shall report receiving the contribution as if it came from the original contributor.

11.1114(2)(d) (d) A candidate committee making a transfer as provided under this section may report the transfer as one lump sum contribution if the candidate committee provides the receiving committee a list of the contributors, all required information about those contributors, and the amount attributable to each contributor that is being transferred to the receiving committee. The transferring candidate committee shall attach the documentation described in this paragraph to its next campaign finance report.

11.1114 History History: 2015 a. 117; 2023 a. 120.

subch. XII of ch. 11 SUBCHAPTER XII

PROHIBITED PRACTICES

11.1201 11.1201 False reports and statements. No person may prepare or submit a false report or statement to the commission under this chapter.

Effective date note NOTE: This section is shown as amended eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 126. Prior to 7-1-25 it reads:

11.1201 Note 11.1201 False reports and statements. No person may prepare or submit a false report or statement to a filing officer under this chapter.

11.1201 History History: 2015 a. 117; 2023 a. 126.

11.1202 11.1202 Earmarking.

11.1202(1) (1) The treasurer of a candidate committee may agree with a prospective contributor that a contribution is received to be used for a specific purpose not prohibited by law. That purpose may not include a disbursement to a committee to support or oppose another candidate.

11.1202(2) (2) When a contribution is made to a committee other than a candidate committee, the contributor may not direct the committee to make a disbursement to a committee to support or oppose another candidate.

11.1202(3) (3) Except for transfers of membership-related moneys between committees of the same political party, no committee may transfer to another committee the earmarked contributions of others. Transfers of membership-related moneys between political parties shall be treated in the same manner as other transfers.

11.1202 History History: 2015 a. 117.

11.1203 11.1203 Coordination.

11.1203(1) (1) No political action committee, independent expenditure committee, other person required to report under s. 11.1001, or individual may make an expenditure for express advocacy for the benefit of a candidate that is coordinated with that candidate, candidate’s committee, or candidate’s agent, nor with any legislative campaign committee of the candidate’s political party, or a political party, in violation of the contribution limits under s. 11.1101 or the source restrictions under s. 11.1112.

11.1203(2) (2) 

11.1203(2)(a) (a) For purposes of this section, an expenditure for express advocacy is coordinated if any of the following applies:

11.1203(2)(a)1. 1. The candidate, candidate’s agent, legislative campaign committee of the candidate’s political party, or the candidate’s political party communicates directly with the political action committee, independent expenditure committee, other person, or individual making the expenditure to specifically request that the political action committee, independent expenditure committee, other person, or individual make the expenditure that benefits the candidate and the political action committee, independent expenditure committee, other person, or individual explicitly assents to the request before making the expenditure.

11.1203(2)(a)2. 2. The candidate, candidate’s agent, legislative campaign committee of the candidate’s political party, or the candidate’s political party exercises control over the expenditure or the content, timing, location, form, intended audience, number, or frequency of the communication.

11.1203(2)(b) (b) If an expenditure for express advocacy is coordinated, but not in violation of the coordination prohibitions under sub. (1), all of the following apply:

11.1203(2)(b)1. 1. The political action committee or independent expenditure committee making the expenditure shall report the expenditure as required under this chapter.

11.1203(2)(b)2. 2. The candidate committee shall report the expenditure as a contribution.

11.1203(3) (3) None of the following are considered coordinated communications prohibited under this section:

11.1203(3)(a) (a) Candidates endorsing and soliciting contributions for other candidates.

11.1203(3)(b) (b) Candidates, candidate committees, legislative campaign committees, and political parties responding to inquiries about a candidate’s or political party’s position on legislative or policy issues.

11.1203(3)(c) (c) Using publicly available information to create, produce, or distribute a communication if sub. (2) does not apply to such use.

11.1203 History History: 2015 a. 117.

11.1204 11.1204 Unlawful political contributions.

11.1204(1) (1) Subject to sub. (2), no person may, directly or indirectly, make any contribution other than from funds or property belonging to the person. No person may, directly or indirectly, give funds or property to another person for the purpose of making a contribution in other than the first person’s name.

11.1204(2) (2) A conduit releasing a contribution of money in the manner prescribed in s. 11.0704 does not violate sub. (1).

11.1204(3) (3) No person may intentionally receive or accept any contribution made in violation of this chapter.

11.1204 History History: 2015 a. 117.

11.1204 Annotation The unit of prosecution under former s. 11.24 (1), 1977 stats., is every transfer of funds to another person accompanied by the false listing of any single contributor. An individual illegally furnishing funds from a corporate account may be convicted under former s. 11.24 (1), 1977 stats. State v. Dreske, 88 Wis. 2d 60, 276 N.W.2d 324 (Ct. App. 1979).

11.1205 11.1205 Use of government materials by candidates.

11.1205(1) (1) 

11.1205(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in pars. (am) and (ar) and sub. (2), no person elected to state or local office who becomes a candidate for national, state, or local office may use public funds for the cost of materials or distribution for 50 or more pieces of substantially identical material distributed after:

11.1205(1)(a)1. 1. In the case of a candidate who is nominated by nomination papers, the first day authorized by law for circulation of nomination papers as a candidate.

11.1205(1)(a)2. 2. In the case of a candidate who is nominated at a primary election by write-in votes, the day the board of canvassers issues its determination that the person is nominated.

11.1205(1)(a)3. 3. In the case of a candidate who is nominated at a caucus, the date of the caucus.

11.1205(1)(a)4. 4. In the case of any other candidate who is nominated solely by filing a declaration of candidacy, the first day of the month preceding the month which includes the last day for filing the declaration.

11.1205(1)(am) (am)

11.1205(1)(am)1. 1. The 50-piece limitation under par. (a) applies to a representative to the assembly who becomes a candidate at an election for partisan office only after the last day authorized by law for filing nomination papers for that election.

11.1205(1)(am)2. 2. With respect to any election for partisan office, a state senator who becomes a candidate at that election may not use public funds for the cost of materials or distribution for 150 or more pieces of substantially identical material distributed after the last day authorized by law for filing nomination papers for that election.

11.1205(1)(ar) (ar) This subsection does not apply during a state of emergency declared by the federal government, by the governor under s. 323.10, or by a local government under s. 323.11 with respect to any elective office representing any part of the territory that is subject to the emergency declaration if the materials distributed are substantially related to the emergency or a government order issued in connection with the emergency.

11.1205(1)(b) (b) This subsection applies until after the date of the election or after the date of the primary election if the person appears as a candidate on a primary election ballot and is not nominated at the primary election.

11.1205(1)(c) (c) No legislative rule may impose limits on the use of public funds by members of the legislature for the cost of materials or distribution of pieces of substantially identical material that are more restrictive than the limits imposed under pars. (a) and (am).

11.1205(1)(d) (d) Notwithstanding ss. 11.1400 (1) and 11.1401 (1) (c) 1., violations of this section shall be punished as follows: