Jerry L. O\'Connor, Wisconsin State Representative for 60th District | www.facebook.com
Jerry L. O\'Connor, Wisconsin State Representative for 60th District | www.facebook.com
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "information provided to voters concerning proposed constitutional amendments and other statewide referenda. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill mandates the creation of a "complete state referendum disclosure notice" for proposed constitutional amendments and statewide referenda passed by the legislature, replacing the current requirement for the attorney general to prepare an explanatory statement. This notice must include the referendum date, the full text of the ballot question, a plain language summary of current law, and explanations of the implications of yes or no votes. These explanations cannot exceed one page and must be in at least 12-point font. The notice must be posted at polling sites on election day, published on the Elections Commission's voter website for at least 30 days prior to the referendum, displayed on county clerks' websites, and included with absentee ballots. This measure aims to provide voters with accessible, comprehensive information to facilitate informed voting decisions.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Cory Tomczyk (Republican-29th District), Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), and Senator Jesse L. James (Republican-23rd District), along 13 other co-sponsors.
Jerry L. O'Connor has co-authored or authored another 120 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
O'Conner graduated from Minnesota Bible College in 1973.
O'Conner, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 60th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Robert Brooks.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
---|---|---|
AB207 | 04/23/2025 | Information provided to voters concerning proposed constitutional amendments and other statewide referenda. (FE) |
AB203 | 04/23/2025 | Limiting liability relating to traffic control devices for manufacturers and others |
AB189 | 04/15/2025 | An optional final hearing by affidavit for the dissolution of a marriage |
AB174 | 04/14/2025 | Transmission facilities; installation of large wind energy, large solar energy, and battery energy storage systems; installation of light-mitigating technology systems; and prioritizing nuclear energy resources. (FE) |
AB171 | 04/09/2025 | Privacy protections for judicial officers |
AB170 | 04/09/2025 | Prohibiting the Department of Justice from using the legal services of nongovernmental employees. (FE) |
AB168 | 04/08/2025 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) |
AB162 | 04/08/2025 | Workforce metrics. (FE) |
AB152 | 04/02/2025 | Bid requirement for publication and printing of county board proceedings, notices, and advertisements in counties having a population of 250,000 or more and at least two English newspapers published daily |
AB90 | 02/28/2025 | Copies of and inspection or disclosure of information contained in certain vital records. (FE) |
AB58 | 02/24/2025 | Flags flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of state and local buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule |
AB21 | 02/06/2025 | Technical colleges’ lease of their facilities to others. (FE) |