Jesse L. James, Wisconsin State Senator for 23rd District | Official Facebook
Jesse L. James, Wisconsin State Senator for 23rd District | Official Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "a requirement for fair organizations that seek state aid".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends the statutes to remove the requirement for fair organizations seeking state aid to include a statement that gambling devices, the sale of intoxicating liquors, and exhibitions of immoral character were prohibited and excluded from the fairgrounds. Under current law, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection provides state aid up to $20,000 per fair to cover the cost of prizes paid out to exhibitors. The fair's governing body must file an itemized statement, verified under oath, showing the net premiums paid and adhere to uniform premium lists and guidelines. However, with the passage of this bill, including a statement about prohibitions on gambling and alcohol at the fair is no longer required. The other reporting requirements remain unchanged, and fair organizations must still submit financial and attendance reports to receive state aid.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Rob Kreibich (Republican-28th District), Senator Howard L. Marklein (Republican-17th District), Senator Brad Pfaff (Democrat-32nd District), Senator Romaine Robert Quinn (Republican-25th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), and Representative Cindi Duchow (Republican-97th District), along 11 other co-sponsors.
Jesse L. James has authored or co-authored another 106 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
James graduated from Chippewa Valley Technical College in 2001.
James, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2023 to represent the state's 23rd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Kathy Bernier.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB328 | 06/19/2025 | A requirement for fair organizations that seek state aid |
| SB318 | 06/11/2025 | Small law enforcement agency grant pilot program. (FE) |
| SB317 | 06/11/2025 | Requiring cardiac emergency response plans for cardiac emergencies that occur on school property or at school-sponsored athletic events. (FE) |
| SB309 | 06/04/2025 | Immunity for 911 call centers and dispatchers that transfer callers to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline |
| SB308 | 06/02/2025 | A grant to assist in the purchase and renovation of an existing facility in the city of Chippewa Falls to provide a 50-bed treatment center to men with substance use disorders. (FE) |
| SB307 | 06/02/2025 | 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline grants. (FE) |
| SB306 | 06/02/2025 | Provision of virtual mental health services for students at certain UW System institutions. (FE) |
| SB303 | 06/02/2025 | Grants for technical colleges to provide mapping data to law enforcement. (FE) |
| SB299 | 05/30/2025 | A grant program for the purchase of automated registration plate reader systems. (FE) |
| SB283 | 05/29/2025 | Public protective services hearing protection assistance. (FE) |
| SB274 | 05/21/2025 | The membership of the Controlled Substances Board |
| SB273 | 05/21/2025 | Camera monitor systems as an alternative to mirrors for commercial motor vehicles |
| SB264 | 05/20/2025 | Coverage of breast cancer screenings by the Medical Assistance program and health insurance policies and plans. (FE) |
| SB260 | 05/20/2025 | Certification of surgical technologists |
| SB255 | 05/09/2025 | Regulation of the Chippewa and Flambeau Improvement Company |
| SB245 | 05/09/2025 | A pilot school-centered mental health program. (FE) |
| SB239 | 05/09/2025 | Prohibiting hotels, inns, and motels from discriminating against dog handlers who are accompanied by search and rescue dogs |
| SB238 | 05/09/2025 | Harassment of search and rescue dogs and providing a penalty |
| SB237 | 05/09/2025 | A sales and use tax exemption for equipment associated with the use of a search and rescue dog. (FE) |
| SB236 | 05/09/2025 | Tampering with telecommunication or electric wires and providing a penalty |
| SB232 | 04/29/2025 | Grants to child advocacy centers. (FE) |
| SB227 | 04/29/2025 | The law enforcement officers’ bill of rights |
| SB222 | 04/25/2025 | Extortion, sexual extortion, and providing a penalty |
| SB210 | 04/16/2025 | Changes to amount of, and criteria for designating recipients of, academic excellence higher education scholarships. (FE) |
| SB192 | 04/14/2025 | Fatality review teams and granting rule-making authority. (FE) |
| SB191 | 04/14/2025 | Requiring a subpoena to a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer served in official capacity to be served at the officer’s work address |
| SB183 | 04/14/2025 | Reimbursement of emergency services under the Medical Assistance program when a patient is not transported, reporting on changes to the scope of practice of emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE) |
| SB182 | 04/14/2025 | Emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE) |
| SB181 | 04/14/2025 | A levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE) |
| SB179 | 04/03/2025 | Applying the motor vehicle fuel tax supplier’s administrative allowance to diesel fuel, a motor vehicle fuel tax refund for evaporation losses, and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB178 | 04/03/2025 | Changes to the low-income housing tax credit. (FE) |
| SB171 | 04/03/2025 | Requiring child sexual abuse prevention education. (FE) |
| SB163 | 03/27/2025 | Income change notifications for child support or maintenance orders |
| SB140 | 03/21/2025 | Provisional social worker certificates and licenses |
| SB132 | 03/14/2025 | Classification of the crime of impersonating law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and certain other emergency personnel and providing a penalty |
| SB119 | 03/07/2025 | Positions for the Office of School Safety. (FE) |
| SB113 | 03/07/2025 | A transition to grazing pilot program and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB83 | 02/26/2025 | Utilization management controls for antipsychotic prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program. (FE) |
| SB75 | 02/26/2025 | Venue for actions in which there is a governmental party |
| SB73 | 02/26/2025 | Prosecuting or adjudicating delinquent a person under the age of 18 for committing an act of prostitution |
| SB72 | 02/26/2025 | Creating an individual income tax deduction for certain income earned by an individual from the practice of psychiatry or from providing psychiatric or mental health services. (FE) |
| SB62 | 02/21/2025 | Financing the operating costs and certain out-of-state projects of nonprofit institutions and compensation of employees of the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority. (FE) |
| SB42 | 02/12/2025 | Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB41 | 02/12/2025 | School safety grants and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB39 | 02/12/2025 | Establishment of a Palliative Care Council. (FE) |
| SB23 | 02/05/2025 | Extension of eligibility under the Medical Assistance program for postpartum women. (FE) |
| SB21 | 02/05/2025 | Creating an employee ownership conversion costs tax credit, a deduction for capital gains from the transfer of a business to employee ownership, and an employee ownership education and outreach program. (FE) |
| SB17 | 02/05/2025 | Special circumstances battery to a community service officer and providing a penalty |
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