Jodi Habush Sinykin, Wisconsin State Senator for 8th District | Facebook
Jodi Habush Sinykin, Wisconsin State Senator for 8th District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "the form of referendum questions".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates that all referendum questions presented to voters, including those regarding constitutional amendments, must be in plain language. It stipulates that questions should not compel a negative vote for approval or an affirmative vote for disapproval. For proposed constitutional amendments, the bill requires that the referendum question clearly state whether any portion of the amendment is already part of existing statutes as of the date when the joint resolution for the referendum was finalized. These changes ensure voters are better informed and can understand ballot questions more easily, promoting clarity and transparency in voting processes.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District), Senator Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Brienne Brown (Democrat-43rd District), Representative Ryan M. Clancy (Democrat-19th District), and Representative Ben DeSmidt (Democrat-65th District), along 22 other co-sponsors.
Jodi Habush Sinykin has co-authored or authored another 30 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Sinykin graduated from the University of Michigan in 1989 and again in 1992 from Harvard Law School with a JD.
Sinykin, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2025 to represent the state's 8th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Dan Knodl.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB212 | 04/16/2025 | The form of referendum questions |
| SB175 | 04/03/2025 | Local building permit fees for certain improvements of residences of disabled veterans. (FE) |
| SB150 | 03/21/2025 | Passing legislation to reduce carbon emissions |
| SB122 | 03/07/2025 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Port Washington. (FE) |
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