Senate Bill 75 introduces provisions regarding the assignment of venue in legal actions involving governmental parties in Wisconsin. Specifically, when a case is filed in a county with a first or second class city and includes a governmental party, any party involved in the action can request a random venue assignment. The bill defines a governmental party to include members of the legislature, the elections and ethics commissions, and various state officials, as well as federal representatives. To exercise this option, parties must file a notice within five days of the relevant legal filings or actions, and the clerk of the circuit court will then assign a different circuit as the venue.

Additionally, the bill amends existing statutes to clarify that once a random venue assignment is made, it is conclusive and cannot be changed by any party or the court. The amendments also include a new fee structure for parties opting for random venue assignment. The changes aim to streamline the process of venue assignment in cases involving governmental entities, ensuring fairness and reducing potential biases associated with venue selection.

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