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Bill

AJR 148

Relating to: reserving to the people the power of referendum to reject acts of the legislature and the power of initiative to propose and approve at an election laws and constitutional amendments (first consideration).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Margaret Arney and 7 co-sponsors

Wisconsin constitutional amendment proposal establishing citizen powers to directly reject laws via referendum and propose laws/amendments via initiative ballot measures.

Failed to adopt pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
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Bill Summary · AJR 148

Legislative bill overview

AJR 148 is a constitutional amendment proposal that would establish direct democracy mechanisms in Wisconsin by creating citizen powers of referendum (to reject laws) and initiative (to propose and pass laws/constitutional amendments via ballot). The amendment would reserve these powers to the people, allowing them to bypass the legislature on specific policy matters through voter approval.

Why is this important

Wisconsin currently lacks statewide referendum and initiative powers that exist in 24 other U.S. states, meaning citizens cannot directly repeal laws or propose ballot measures independently. Adoption would fundamentally shift power from the legislature to voters on select issues and represent a significant structural change to Wisconsin's governance system. The failed 2026 vote suggests substantial legislative opposition to diluting representative democracy with direct democracy mechanisms.

Potential points of contention

  • Representative vs. direct democracy trade-off: Critics argue that bypassing elected representatives undermines deliberative lawmaking and legislative accountability, while proponents contend legislators don't always reflect constituent preferences
  • Vulnerability to well-funded campaigns: Ballot initiatives can be heavily influenced by special interests and wealthy donors who fund signature-gathering and advertising, potentially distorting outcomes
  • Implementation complexity: Questions remain about signature thresholds, timeline procedures, subject matter restrictions, and how initiatives interact with existing laws and constitutional provisions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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