Senate Bill 530 aims to repeal existing restrictions on advisory referenda for counties and municipalities in Wisconsin, as established by 2023 Wisconsin Act 12. Currently, counties are limited to conducting advisory referenda only on specific topics such as revenue sharing agreements and capital expenditures funded by property tax levies. Similarly, municipalities are restricted to referenda concerning tax incremental financing, telecommunications utilities, or capital expenditures. This bill seeks to remove these limitations, thereby allowing counties and municipalities to conduct advisory referenda for any purpose.

The bill specifically amends section 59.52 (25) of the statutes to permit countywide referenda for advisory purposes, while also repealing section 66.0144 entirely. The changes will restore the ability of local governments to engage their constituents through advisory referenda, enhancing public participation in local governance.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 59.52(25), 59.52, 66.0144