Jan 12, 2026 – As Wisconsin’s 2025-26 biennial legislative session winds to a close with its final spring floor period, legislative activity can become overwhelming. Lawmakers will attempt to finish as much business as possible before campaigning begins, and it can become difficult for those trying to keep up with state government hap​penings.

The Legislative Calendar

The session calendar is a good place to start when following legislative activity. Among the first items that legislators vote on is a joint legislative resolution that establishes the calendar of both the Senate and the Assembly for the two-year session. The calendar was established with the passage of 2025 Senate Joint Resolution 1, which outlines the 16-month general business legislative session. The calendar is seasonal and in four specific segments: spring session in odd year (January-May), budget passage (June/July), fall session in odd year (September-November) and spring session in even years (January-March).

The legislature’s website lists the calendar dates as approved by the joint resolution, as well as a visual calendar. It is important to note that the legislature will not meet on all the dates set aside for the year, but they cannot meet outside of those dates. Floor session periods that remain will be Jan 13 to 15, Jan 20 to 22, Feb 10 to 19, Mar 17 to 19, with a final limited-business period Apr 14 to 16.

Outside of the legislature’s floor sessions, public hearings and executive sessions can be scheduled at any time, typically with about one week’s notice, and most often occur midweek. This stage is the precursor to floor action and provides an opportunity for public participation in the legislative process. Notice of these hearings is posted on the legislature’s committee schedule site. It’s important to note that hearings can be announced with as little as 24 hours’ notice.

The public can follow along and watch the Legislature in action. State Bar members and citizens can access information in real time and track any legislative action. Below is a helpful guide with links on how members can research and follow state government.

WisEye Closure

One major change and challenge for Capitol watchers in the new year is the shuttering of WisconsinEye (WisEye) due to a lack of funding and donations. For over 20 years, the private, nonprofit, nonpartisan television and internet broadcasting service aired video from legislative floor sessions, committee public hearings and news interviews to the public free of charge. At this time, it is not known whether the closure will be temporary or permanent, or whether a new organization or government entity will provide a similar service for the remainder of the session. There are active discussions within the legislature, philanthropic and nonprofit communities on finding sources of revenue to allow WisEye to resume coverage, but as of publication, there is no TV or internet video airing of legislative activity.

Legislative and Lobbying Reporting and News

For Capitol watchers who want to learn more about lobbying and the lobbying efforts of interest groups, the Wisconsin Ethics Commission (WEC) has created the Wisconsin Eye on Lobbying website. Lobbying principals and registered lobbyists must report any lobbying activities that they have conducted on legislation, budget matters or administrative rule, which are then posted on the WEC’s lobbying website in real time. Lobbying principles and registered lobbyists also must submit reports every six months as to the time and cost of these efforts.

Two sites that are a daily visit for politicians and lobbyists are the subscription-based Wheeler Report and Wispolitics.com. Both focus on aggregating state political news and post news releases, events and daily Capitol schedules.

WEC’s Eye on Lobbying - https://lobbying.wi.gov/Home/Welcome

WisPolitics - http://wispolitics.com/

The Wheeler Report - http://thewheelerreport.com/

Wisconsin Legislative Homepage

The state Legislature’s Home Page contains a wealth of information on current and previous sessions’ legislative action. The site also allows citizens to search for any legislative proposal or topic introduced.

The Wisconsin Legislative Notification Service is also located on the home page. This service allows anyone the ability to track a specific bill, topic, administrative code, committee action or legislation introduced by an elected official. Users can request weekly or daily email notifications when any legislative action occurs.

Legislative Notification Service - https://notify.legis.wisconsin.gov/login

Legislature Home Page - http://legis.wisconsin.gov/

Find a Proposal (Legislative Document Search) - https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/search

Senate Session Calendar - https://insession.legis.wisconsin.gov/senate

Assembly Session Calendar - https://insession.legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly

State Bar Advocacy

The State Bar’s Advocacy and Access to Justice and Communications Departments will offer up-to-date information on legislative and court developments. Members, lawmakers, and the public can subscribe to Rotunda Report, an e-newsletter that focuses on the State Bar’s legislative issues. The State Bar’s InsideTrack newsletter also frequently features articles on legislative developments and in-depth articles from members on the impact of recent law changes.

SBW Government Relations Homepage - http://www.wisbar.org/aboutUs/GovernmentRelations

Rotunda Report - http://www.wisbar.org/newspublications/RotundaReport

Inside Track - http://www.wisbar.org/NewsPublications/InsideTrack

The Government Relations site also includes information on policy positions taken by the State Bar’s Board of Governors (BOG) (including printable factsheets) and the practice sections that have chosen to lobby.

State Bar BOG Priority Policy Positions -  https://www.wisbar.org/aboutus/governmentrelations/pages/policy-positions.aspx

Track State Bar BOG Legislation of Interest - https://www.wisbar.org/aboutUs/GovernmentRelations/Pages/government-relations.aspx#/bills

SBW Section Positions - https://www.wisbar.org/aboutus/governmentrelations/pages/section-policies.aspx

State Bar’s Grassroots Advocacy Network

Launched in 2019, the State Bar’s grassroots Advocacy Network continues to grow outreach efforts to members and encourage lawyer participation in the legislative process. The perspectives, experiences, concerns and expertise of attorneys have a significant impact on the legislative process, and coordinated and sustained engagement leads to better policy outcomes for the legal profession and for access to justice.​

You can learn more about top priorities, track bills, and take action by sending a message to your legislators at www.wisbar.org/GovRelations.

Advocacy Network Grassroots Toolkit

The Advocacy Network Grassroots Toolkit is an online and printable resource for members who’d like to learn to how become effective legislative advocates. Whether advocating for your clients, your profession, or for policies that improve access to justice for all, the Grassroots Toolkit is a great way to learn why and how to communicate with your elected officials. Combined with printable one-page factsheets of State Bar policy positions and personalized help from State Bar Grassroots coordinator Devin Martin, the prospective grassroot advocate has everything they need to drive forward positive legislative action. Those individuals, local bars, and law firms that are the most effective advocates have the opportunity to be recognized as “Advocacy Ambassadors” by simply documenting their efforts and submitting them as per the Toolkit guidelines.