Assembly Bill 67 proposes changes to the venue assignment process in legal actions involving governmental parties in Wisconsin. Specifically, the bill allows any party in a case filed in a county with a first or second class city, where a governmental party is involved, to request a random venue assignment. This request must be made within five days of filing the summons and complaint or after being served with them. The bill defines a governmental party to include various state officials and bodies, such as the legislature, the elections commission, and the governor, among others. Upon receiving a request for random venue assignment, the clerk of the circuit court must select a different circuit at random to serve as the new venue.

Additionally, the bill amends existing statutes to clarify that once a case has been assigned a venue under this new provision, that assignment is conclusive and cannot be changed by any party or the court. The bill also includes amendments to existing legal language, specifically deleting references to changing venue under certain conditions and adding provisions for random venue assignment. A new fee structure is introduced for parties opting for random venue assignment, ensuring that the process is clearly defined and regulated.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 801.50(6), 801.50, 814.61(2)(title), 814.61