Chapter 19

19.55(1) (1) Except as provided in subs. (2) to (4) and s. 19.36 (15), all records under ch. 11, this subchapter, or subch. III of ch. 13 in the possession of the commission are open to public inspection at all reasonable times. The commission shall require an individual wishing to examine a statement of economic interests or the list of persons who inspect any statements which are in the commission’s possession to provide his or her full name and address, and if the individual is representing another person, the full name and address of the person which he or she represents. Such identification may be provided in writing or in person. The commission shall record and retain for at least 3 years information obtained by it pursuant to this subsection. No individual may use a fictitious name or address or fail to identify a principal in making any request for inspection.

Effective date note NOTE: Sub. (1) is shown as amended eff. 4-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 235. The cross-reference to s. 19.36 (15) was changed from s. 19.36 (14) by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2. to reflect the renumbering under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2. of s. 19.36 (14), as created by 2023 Wis. Act 235. Prior to 4-1-25 sub. (1) reads:

Effective date text (1) Except as provided in subs. (2) to (4), all records under ch. 11, this subchapter, or subch. III of ch. 13 in the possession of the commission are open to public inspection at all reasonable times. The commission shall require an individual wishing to examine a statement of economic interests or the list of persons who inspect any statements which are in the commission’s possession to provide his or her full name and address, and if the individual is representing another person, the full name and address of the person which he or she represents. Such identification may be provided in writing or in person. The commission shall record and retain for at least 3 years information obtained by it pursuant to this subsection. No individual may use a fictitious name or address or fail to identify a principal in making any request for inspection.

19.55(2) (2) The following records in the commission’s possession are not open for public inspection:

19.55(2)(c) (c) Statements of economic interests and reports of economic transactions which are filed with the commission by members or employees of the investment board, except that the commission shall refer statements and reports filed by such individuals to the legislative audit bureau for its review, and except that a statement of economic interests filed by a member or employee of the investment board who is also an official required to file shall be open to public inspection.

19.55(2)(cm) (cm) If a judicial officer, as defined in s. 757.07 (1) (e), submits a written request under s. 757.07 (4), the personal information, as defined in s. 757.07 (1) (g), of a judicial officer contained in statements of economic interests, reports of economic transactions, and campaign finance reports that are filed with the commission by judicial officers or the candidate committees of judicial officers. The commission shall quarterly review the electronic campaign finance information system for the personal information of judicial officers and remove such information from the system. In addition, before providing, upon a request, a statement of economic interests of a judicial officer, the commission shall remove the personal information of the judicial officer.

Effective date note NOTE: Par. (cm) is created eff. 4-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 235.

19.55(2)(d) (d) Records of the social security number of any individual who files an application for licensure as a lobbyist under s. 13.63 or who registers as a principal under s. 13.64, except to the department of children and families for purposes of administration of s. 49.22, to the department of revenue for purposes of administration of s. 73.0301, and to the department of workforce development for purposes of administration of s. 108.227.

19.55(2)(dm) (dm) Records of the address of the primary residence of any individual who files an application for licensure as a lobbyist under s. 13.63.

19.55(2)(e) (e) Except as authorized in sub. (5), records created in the course of conducting an audit to identify a potential violation of this subchapter, subch. III of ch. 13, or ch. 11.

19.55(3) (3) Records obtained or prepared by the commission in connection with an investigation, including the full text of any complaint received by the commission, are not subject to the right of inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1), except as follows:

19.55(3)(a) (a) The commission shall permit inspection of records that are distributed or discussed in the course of a meeting or hearing by the commission in open session.

19.55(3)(am) (am) The commission shall provide to the joint committee on finance records obtained or prepared by the commission in connection with an ongoing investigation when required under s. 19.49 (2q).

19.55(3)(b) (b) Investigatory records of the commission may be made public in the course of a prosecution initiated under ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, or this subchapter.

19.55(3)(bm) (bm) The commission shall provide investigatory records to the state auditor and the employees of the legislative audit bureau to the extent necessary for the bureau to carry out its duties under s. 13.94.

19.55(3)(c) (c) The commission shall provide information from investigation and hearing records that pertains to the location of individuals and assets of individuals as requested under s. 49.22 (2m) by the department of children and families or by a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).

19.55(3)(d) (d) If the commission commences a civil prosecution of a person for an alleged violation of ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, or this subchapter as the result of an investigation, the person who is the subject of the investigation may authorize the commission to make available for inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1) records of the investigation pertaining to that person if the records are available by law to the subject person and the commission shall then make those records available.

19.55(3)(e) (e) The following records of the commission are open to public inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1):

19.55(3)(e)1. 1. Any record of the action of the commission authorizing the filing of a civil complaint under s. 19.49 (2) (b) 5.

19.55(3)(e)2. 2. Any record of the action of the commission referring a matter to a district attorney or other prosecutor for investigation or prosecution.

19.55(3)(e)3. 3. Any record containing a finding that a complaint does not raise a reasonable suspicion that a violation of the law has occurred.

19.55(3)(e)4. 4. Any record containing a finding, following an investigation, that no probable cause exists to believe that a violation of the law has occurred.

19.55(3)(e)5. 5. Any record of the action of the commission issuing a warning.

19.55(3)(e)6. 6. Any record of the action of the commission that indicates that, upon a finding of a reasonable suspicion of a violation or probable cause to believe that a violation has occurred or is occurring, the commission decided to take no further action.

19.55(4) (4) 

19.55(4)(a) (a) Except as authorized or required under par. (b), records obtained in connection with a request for an advisory opinion issued under s. 19.46 (2), other than summaries of advisory opinions that do not disclose the identity of individuals requesting such opinions or organizations on whose behalf they are requested, are not subject to the right of inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1). Except as authorized or required under par. (b), the commission shall make sufficient alterations in the summaries to prevent disclosing the identities of individuals or organizations involved in the opinions.

19.55(4)(b) (b) The commission may make records obtained in connection with an informal advisory opinion under par. (a) public with the consent of the individual requesting the informal advisory opinion or the organization or governmental body on whose behalf it is requested. A person who makes or purports to make public the substance of or any portion of an informal advisory opinion requested by or on behalf of the person is deemed to have waived the confidentiality of the request for an informal advisory opinion and of any records obtained or prepared by the commission in connection with the request for an informal advisory opinion.

19.55(4)(c) (c) Within 30 days after completing an investigation related to and the preparation of a formal advisory opinion on a matter under the jurisdiction of the commission, the commission shall make public the formal advisory opinion and records obtained in connection with the request for the formal advisory opinion, replacing the identity of any organization or governmental body on whose behalf the formal opinion is requested with generic, descriptive terms. The commission shall redact information related to the identity of any natural person making the request.

19.55(5) (5) The following audit records of the commission are open to public inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1):

19.55(5)(a) (a) Any record containing a finding that there is no reasonable suspicion that a violation of the law occurred.

19.55(5)(b) (b) Any record containing a finding that no probable cause exists to believe that a violation of the law occurred.

19.55(5)(c) (c) Any record of an action of the commission that indicates that, upon a finding of a reasonable suspicion of a violation or probable cause to believe that a violation has occurred or is occurring, the commission decided to take no further action.

19.55(5)(d) (d) Any record of an action of the commission issuing a warning.

19.55(5)(e) (e) Any record of an action of the commission authorizing the filing of a civil complaint.

19.55(5)(f) (f) Any record of an action of the commission referring a matter to a district attorney or other prosecutor for investigation or prosecution.

19.55 History History: 1977 c. 277; 1981 c. 335 s. 26; 1983 a. 166 ss. 15, 16; 1985 a. 164; 1989 a. 31, 338; 1997 a. 191, 237; 1999 a. 32; 2007 a. 1, 20; 2013 a. 36; 2015 a. 118 ss. 197 to 200, 266 (10); 2021 a. 266; 2023 a. 120, 235; s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.; s. 35.17 correction in (3) (e) 6., (5) (c).

19.55 Annotation The extent of confidentiality of investment board nominees’ statements of economic interests rests in the sound discretion of the senate committee to which the nomination is referred. 68 Atty. Gen. 378.

19.552 19.552 Action to compel compliance. Whenever a violation of the laws regulating campaign financing occurs or is proposed to occur, the attorney general or the district attorney of the county where the violation occurs or is proposed to occur may sue for injunctive relief, a writ of mandamus or prohibition, or other such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to compel compliance with the law. No bond is required in such actions.

19.552 History History: 2015 a. 118.

19.554 19.554 Petition for enforcement. In addition to or in lieu of filing a complaint, any elector may file a verified petition alleging such facts as are within his or her knowledge to indicate that an election official has failed or is failing to comply with any law regulating campaign financing or proposes to act in a manner inconsistent with such a law, and requesting that an action be commenced for injunctive relief, a writ of mandamus or prohibition or other such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to compel compliance with the law. The petition shall be filed with the district attorney for the county having jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged failure to comply under s. 978.05 (1) and (2). The district attorney may then commence the action or dismiss the petition. If the district attorney declines to act upon the petition or if the district attorney fails to act upon the petition within 15 days of the date of filing, the petitioner may file the same petition with the attorney general, who may then commence the action.

19.554 History History: 2015 a. 118.

19.56 19.56 Honorariums, fees and expenses.

19.56(1) (1) Every state public official is encouraged to meet with clubs, conventions, special interest groups, political groups, school groups and other gatherings to discuss and to interpret legislative, administrative, executive or judicial processes and proposals and issues initiated by or affecting a department or the judicial branch.

19.56(2) (2) 

19.56(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), every official required to file who receives for a published work or for the presentation of a talk or participation in a meeting, any lodging, transportation, money or other thing with a combined pecuniary value exceeding $50 excluding the value of food or beverage offered coincidentally with a talk or meeting shall, on his or her statement of economic interests, report the identity of every person from whom the official receives such lodging, transportation, money or other thing during his or her preceding taxable year, the circumstances under which it was received and the approximate value thereof.

19.56(2)(b) (b) An official need not report on his or her statement of economic interests under par. (a) information pertaining to any lodging, transportation, money or other thing of pecuniary value which:

19.56(2)(b)1. 1. The official returns to the payor within 30 days of receipt;

19.56(2)(b)2. 2. Is paid to the official by a person identified on the official’s statement of economic interests under s. 19.44 (1) (e) or (f) as a source of income;

19.56(2)(b)3. 3. The official can show by clear and convincing evidence was unrelated to and did not arise from the recipient’s holding or having held a public office and was made for a purpose unrelated to the purposes specified in sub. (1);

19.56(2)(b)4. 4. The official has previously reported to the commission as a matter of public record;

19.56(2)(b)5. 5. Is paid by the department or municipality of which the official’s state public office is a part, or, in the case of a district attorney, is paid by that department or a county which the district attorney serves, or, in the case of a justice or judge of a court of record, is paid from the appropriations for operation of the state court system; or

19.56(2)(b)6. 6. Is made available to the official by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation or the department of tourism in accordance with sub. (3) (e), (em) or (f).

19.56(3) (3) Notwithstanding s. 19.45:

19.56(3)(a) (a) A state public official may receive and retain reimbursement or payment of actual and reasonable expenses and an elected official may retain reasonable compensation, for a published work or for the presentation of a talk or participation in a meeting related to a topic specified in sub. (1) if the payment or reimbursement is paid or arranged by the organizer of the event or the publisher of the work.

19.56(3)(b) (b) A state public official may receive and retain anything of value if the activity or occasion for which it is given is unrelated to the official’s use of the state’s time, facilities, services or supplies not generally available to all citizens of this state and the official can show by clear and convincing evidence that the payment or reimbursement was unrelated to and did not arise from the recipient’s holding or having held a public office and was paid for a purpose unrelated to the purposes specified in sub. (1).

19.56(3)(bm) (bm) A state public official may attend a meeting with clubs, conventions, special interest groups, political groups, school groups, and other gatherings, without paying admission costs, to discuss and to interpret legislative, administrative, executive, or judicial processes and proposals and issues initiated by or affecting the state legislature, state government, a department, or the judicial branch. A state public official may not receive food, beverages, or other items included in the cost of admission unless the official pays the event organizer, including a principal or lobbyist, for the actual cost of the food, beverages, or items.

19.56(3)(c) (c) A state public official may receive and retain from the state or on behalf of the state transportation, lodging, meals, food or beverage, or reimbursement therefor or payment or reimbursement of actual and reasonable costs that the official can show by clear and convincing evidence were incurred or received on behalf of the state of Wisconsin and primarily for the benefit of the state and not primarily for the private benefit of the official or any other person.

19.56(3)(d) (d) A state public official may receive and retain from a political committee under ch. 11 transportation, lodging, meals, food or beverage, or reimbursement therefor or payment or reimbursement of costs permitted and reported in accordance with ch. 11.

19.56(3)(e) (e) A state public official who is an officer or employee of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may solicit, receive and retain on behalf of the state anything of value for the purpose of any of the following:

19.56(3)(e)1. 1. The sponsorship by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation of a trip to a foreign country primarily to promote trade between that country and this state that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation can demonstrate through clear and convincing evidence is primarily for the benefit of this state.

19.56(3)(e)2. 2. Hosting individuals in order to promote business, economic development, tourism or conferences sponsored by multistate, national or international associations of governments or governmental officials.

19.56(3)(em) (em) A state public official who is an officer or employee of the department of tourism may solicit, receive and retain on behalf of the state anything of value for the purpose of hosting individuals in order to promote tourism.

19.56(3)(f) (f) A state public official or a local public official may receive and retain from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation anything of value which the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is authorized to provide under par. (e) and may receive and retain from the department of tourism anything of value which the department of tourism is authorized to provide under par. (em).

19.56(3)(g) (g) A state public official who is a member of the Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission may solicit, receive, and retain on behalf of the state anything of value for the purposes specified under s. 45.13.

19.56(4) (4) If a state public official receives a payment not authorized by this subchapter, in cash or otherwise, for a published work or a talk or meeting, the official may not retain it. If practicable, the official shall deposit it with the department or municipality with which he or she is associated or, in the case of a justice or judge of a court of record, with the director of state courts. If that is not practicable, the official shall return it or its equivalent to the payor or convey it to the state or to a charitable organization other than one with which he or she is associated.

19.56 History History: 1977 c. 277; 1983 a. 61, 538; 1985 a. 203; 1989 a. 31, 338; 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 27 ss. 455 to 457, 9116 (5); 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 118 s. 266 (10); 2017 a. 112; 2021 a. 95, 266.

19.56 Annotation Discussing the interaction of this section with the prohibition against furnishing anything of pecuniary value to state officials under s. 13.625. 80 Atty. Gen. 205.

19.57 19.57 Conferences, visits and economic development activities. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation shall file a report with the commission no later than April 30 annually, specifying the source and amount of anything of value received by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation during the preceding calendar year for a purpose specified in s. 19.56 (3) (e), and the program or activity in connection with which the thing is received, together with the location and date of that program or activity.

19.57 History History: 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 27 s. 9116 (5); 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 118 s. 266 (10).

19.575 19.575 Tourism activities. The department of tourism shall file a report with the commission no later than April 30 annually, specifying the source and amount of anything of value received by the department of tourism during the preceding calendar year for a purpose specified in s. 19.56 (3) (em) and the program or activity in connection with which the thing is received, together with the location and date of that program or activity.

19.575 History History: 1995 a. 27; 2015 a. 118 s. 266 (10).

19.579 19.579 Civil penalties.

19.579(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), any person who violates this subchapter may be required to forfeit not more than $500 for each violation of s. 19.43, 19.44, or 19.56 (2) or not more than $5,000 for each violation of any other provision of this subchapter. If the court determines that the accused has realized economic gain as a result of the violation, the court may, in addition, order the accused to forfeit the amount gained as a result of the violation. In addition, if the court determines that a state public official has violated s. 19.45 (13), the court may order the official to forfeit an amount equal to the amount or value of any political contribution, service, or other thing of value that was wrongfully obtained. If the court determines that a state public official has violated s. 19.45 (13) and no political contribution, service, or other thing of value was obtained, the court may order the official to forfeit an amount equal to the maximum contribution authorized under s. 11.1101 (1) for the office held or sought by the official, whichever amount is greater. The attorney general, when so requested by the commission, shall institute proceedings to recover any forfeiture incurred under this section which is not paid by the person against whom it is assessed.

19.579(2) (2) Any person who violates s. 19.45 (13) may be required to forfeit not more than $5,000.

19.579 History History: 2003 a. 39; 2007 a. 1 ss. 121, 130, 131; 2015 a. 117; 2015 a. 118 s. 266 (10).

19.58 19.58 Criminal penalties.

19.58(1) (1) 

19.58(1)(a) (a) Any person who intentionally violates any provision of this subchapter except s. 19.45 (13) or 19.59 (1) (br), or a code of ethics adopted or established under s. 19.45 (11) (a) or (b), shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one year in the county jail or both.

19.58(1)(b) (b) Any person who intentionally violates s. 19.45 (13) or 19.59 (1) (br) is guilty of a Class I felony.

19.58(2) (2) The penalties under sub. (1) do not limit the power of either house of the legislature to discipline its own members or to impeach a public official, or limit the power of a department to discipline its state public officials or employees.

19.58(3) (3) In this section “intentionally” has the meaning given under s. 939.23.

19.58(4) (4) A person who violates s. 19.50 may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.

19.58 History History: 1973 c. 90; Stats. 1973 s. 11.10; 1973 c. 334 ss. 33, 57, 58; Stats. 1973 s. 19.50; 1975 c. 200; 1977 c. 277 ss. 34, 37; Stats. 1977 s. 19.58; 2003 a. 39; 2015 a. 118.

19.59 19.59 Codes of ethics for local government officials, employees and candidates.

19.59(1) (1) 

19.59(1)(a) (a) No local public official may use his or her public position or office to obtain financial gain or anything of substantial value for the private benefit of himself or herself or his or her immediate family, or for an organization with which he or she is associated. A violation of this paragraph includes the acceptance of free or discounted admissions to a professional baseball or football game by a member of the district board of a local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229 or a local professional football stadium district created under subch. IV of ch. 229. This paragraph does not prohibit a local public official from using the title or prestige of his or her office to obtain campaign contributions that are permitted and reported as required by ch. 11. This paragraph does not prohibit a local public official from obtaining anything of value from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation or the department of tourism, as provided under s. 19.56 (3) (f).

19.59(1)(b) (b) No person may offer or give to a local public official, directly or indirectly, and no local public official may solicit or accept from any person, directly or indirectly, anything of value if it could reasonably be expected to influence the local public official’s vote, official actions or judgment, or could reasonably be considered as a reward for any official action or inaction on the part of the local public official. This paragraph does not prohibit a local public official from engaging in outside employment.

19.59(1)(br) (br) No local public official or candidate for local public office may, directly or by means of an agent, give, or offer or promise to give, or withhold, or offer or promise to withhold, his or her vote or influence, or promise to take or refrain from taking official action with respect to any proposed or pending matter in consideration of, or upon condition that, any other person make or refrain from making a political contribution, or provide or refrain from providing any service or other thing of value, to or for the benefit of a candidate, a political party, any committee registered under ch. 11, or any person making a communication that contains a reference to a clearly identified local public official holding an elective office or to a candidate for local public office.

19.59(1)(c) (c) Except as otherwise provided in par. (d), no local public official may: