AB 1 · WI SENATE
Relating to: changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report.
Motion: CONCURRENCE
Photo: docs.legis.wisconsin.govWI · Officeholder
Chris Kapenga
RState Senator · District 33
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Wisconsin Senate District 33
Biography
Chris Kapenga is a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Senate who has represented District 33 since 2015 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2] He served as Senate President from 2021 to 2024 and is a certified public accountant.[1]
Chris Kapenga earned a B.S. in accountancy from Calvin College in 1994 and is a CPA.[1] Before assuming office, he was the owner and president of Integrated Time Systems.[1]
Kapenga served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing District 99, from 2011 until August 6, 2015.[1] He was first elected to the Senate in a special election on July 21, 2015, and was sworn in on August 6, 2015.[1] In the 2023-2024 session he was vice chairman of the Senate Organization Committee and co-chair of the Joint Legislative Council, Employment Relations and Legislative Organization committees; in 2025-2026 Ballotpedia lists him on the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.[1]
- 1.Chris Kapenga · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Wisconsin Senate District 33
Chris Kapenga is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Wisconsin Senate District 33 as R. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
Other candidates for this seat
Votes by issue
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned
Jobs & cost of living30 with · 23 against54 votes
Most contested
- Yes
Relating to: requiring state employees to perform their work at the offices of their employer.
Requires state agencies to have employees work in person at agency offices for at least 80 percent of scheduled hours each month, exempting duties performed off site before March 2020 and the State of Wisconsin Investment Board.
Oct 14, 2025 · Passed 17–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Allows apprenticeship programs in construction trades to require up to two apprentices per journeyworker, up from one; the ratio for other trades stays at one, and the existing exception for collective bargaining agreements remains.
Mar 17, 2026 · Passed 18–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Relating to: the employment eligibility verification program and granting rule-making authority.
Feb 18, 2026 · Passed 18–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Rights & public safety38 with · 0 against38 votes
Most contested
- Yes
VOTER IDENTIFICATION (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Approves, on second consideration, a constitutional amendment requiring voters to present specified photo ID (state, federal, tribal or college), with provisional ballots for those without it, for the April 2025 ballot.
Jan 8, 2025 · Passed 17–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Relating to: vacancies in appointive state offices.
Makes the expiration of a fixed term for an appointive state office create a vacancy, first applying to state officers appointed on January 1, 2027.
Mar 17, 2026 · Passed 17–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
On the version voted Feb 12, 2026: Sets free speech standards at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, banning free speech zones and most permit requirements, allows civil suits for violations, and sets due process standards in student discipline.
Nov 18, 2025 · Passed 17–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Education & families24 with · 3 against27 votes
Most contested
- Yes
On the version voted Feb 12, 2026: Sets free speech standards at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, banning free speech zones and most permit requirements, allows civil suits for violations, and sets due process standards in student discipline.
Nov 18, 2025 · Passed 17–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Relating to: school board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns.
Requires school boards to adopt policies to change a pupil's name or pronouns in school records only on a parent's or adult pupil's notarized request, and bar staff from using a minor's name or pronouns not matching biological sex without a parent's notarized authorization.
Feb 11, 2026 · Passed 18–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
As amended, requires University of Wisconsin and technical college athletic teams to be designated male, female or coed by biological sex (sex at birth per original birth certificate), bars male-sex students from female teams, and requires one-sex locker rooms, with exceptions and accommodations.
Feb 11, 2026 · Passed 18–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Health & care19 with · 5 against24 votes
Most contested
- Yes
Requires health care providers to give a child born alive after an abortion or attempt the same care as any child of that age and have it taken to a hospital, with felony penalties, and makes intentionally killing such a child a life-sentence felony.
Feb 11, 2026 · Passed 17–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Relating to: parental access to health records of minors.
As amended by the Assembly, changes parents' access to minors' health records, removing the age-14 objection exception for developmentally disabled minors, allowing access to HIV test records, and requiring online access; also requires unanimous Milwaukee council votes to modify police and fire policies.
Feb 18, 2026 · Passed 18–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Relating to: recognizing October as Vaccine Injury Awareness Month in Wisconsin.
Feb 11, 2026 · Passed 18–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Climate & energy12 with · 1 against13 votes
Most contested
- Yes
Relating to: the use of federal capitalization grant funds for lead service line replacement.
May 15, 2025 · Passed 17–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Bars foreign-adversary governments and officials, citizens of foreign adversaries lacking U.S. permanent residency or a valid visa, and entities they own or control from acquiring Wisconsin real property after the effective date; interests held in violation are forfeited to the state.
Jan 21, 2026 · Passed 18–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Bars state agencies and local governments from restricting the use or sale of a motor vehicle or other device based on the energy source that powers it.
Jun 18, 2025 · Passed 18–14 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Foreign affairs & defense7 with · 0 against7 votes
Most contested
- Yes
Relating to: use restrictions on state and local government electronic devices.
Bars state agencies from using devices to access social media, software or generative AI controlled by foreign adversaries such as China and Russia, and requires state, legislative and court technology policies on such products, effective January 31, 2027.
Feb 18, 2026 · Passed 18–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Bars foreign-adversary governments and officials, citizens of foreign adversaries lacking U.S. permanent residency or a valid visa, and entities they own or control from acquiring Wisconsin real property after the effective date; interests held in violation are forfeited to the state.
Jan 21, 2026 · Passed 18–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Relating to: access to public high schools for military recruiters.
Requires school boards and charter school governing boards to give military recruiters access to common areas of high schools, during the school day and at school-sanctioned events, though not to classrooms during instruction.
Jun 18, 2025 · Passed 18–14 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Housing & rent4 with · 3 against7 votes
Most contested
- Yes
On the version voted Feb 12, 2026: Adds homeless shelter premises and the area within 1,000 feet of them to the places where the maximum prison term for delivering or possessing with intent to deliver certain controlled substances increases by five years.
Jan 21, 2026 · Passed 18–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
On the version voted Oct 7, 2025: Requires cities and villages to grant rezoning for residential development that meets plan, density and nearby-development conditions unless denial is needed to avoid overburdened public facilities or safety threats; also allows longer tax incremental district extensions for housing.
Feb 18, 2026 · Passed 28–5 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
Relating to: changes to the low-income housing tax credit.
Mar 17, 2026 · Passed 30–3 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Transportation5 with · 1 against6 votes
Most contested
- Yes
Relating to: local wheel tax referenda.
Requires approval by a majority of voters in a referendum at a regularly scheduled election for any municipal or county vehicle registration fee, including existing fees, which would need approval within 18 months.
Jan 21, 2026 · Passed 18–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Bars state agencies and local governments from restricting the use or sale of a motor vehicle or other device based on the energy source that powers it.
Jun 18, 2025 · Passed 18–14 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Lets motor fuel suppliers keep the 1.35 percent administrative allowance on diesel fuel tax, as for gasoline, lets retailers claim a refund of 0.5 percent of fuel tax paid for evaporation and shrinkage, and credits wholesaler distributors for the resulting tax reduction.
Jun 18, 2025 · Passed 19–13 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Technology & privacy2 with · 2 against4 votes
Most contested
- Yes
Relating to: use restrictions on state and local government electronic devices.
Bars state agencies from using devices to access social media, software or generative AI controlled by foreign adversaries such as China and Russia, and requires state, legislative and court technology policies on such products, effective January 31, 2027.
Feb 18, 2026 · Passed 18–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
On the version voted Jan 22, 2026: Bans medical and research facilities receiving state money from using genetic sequencers or analysis software made in China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia or Maduro-era Venezuela, and bars storing Wisconsin residents' genome data in those countries.
Feb 18, 2026 · Passed 20–13 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- No
Mar 17, 2026 · Passed 20–13 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
- Yes
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 8 of 183 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (5), Education & families (2), Technology & privacy (2)
Relating to: changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report.
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–15, Republicans 15–3
May 13, 2026Official record ↗
Relating to: name, image, and likeness rights for University of Wisconsin System student athletes; maintenance costs for University of Wisconsin–Madison intercollegiate athletic facilities; and making an appropriation.
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 6–9, Republicans 11–7
Mar 17, 2026Official record ↗
Relating to: an income and franchise tax exemption for broadband expansion grants and for federal high-cost program funding for broadband expansion.
Amends the bill to replace the income and franchise tax exemption for broadband expansion grants with a nonrefundable credit equal to 6.32 percent of qualified broadband expansion funding received, for tax years 2026 through 2030. (AI-written)
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 3–12, Republicans 17–1
Mar 17, 2026Official record ↗
Relating to: an income and franchise tax exemption for broadband expansion grants and for federal high-cost program funding for broadband expansion.
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 3–12, Republicans 17–1
Feb 11, 2026Official record ↗
Relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature.
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 5–10, Republicans 14–4
Jul 2, 2025Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- Yes
VOTER IDENTIFICATION (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
With most of their party · Passed 17–15 · Yes 17–No 15 · Democrats 0–15, Republicans 17–0
Jan 8, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
Relating to: vacancies in appointive state offices.
With most of their party · Passed 17–16 · Yes 17–No 16 · Democrats 0–15, Republicans 17–1
Mar 17, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 17–16 · Yes 17–No 16 · Democrats 0–15, Republicans 17–1
Feb 11, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 17–16 · Yes 17–No 16 · Democrats 0–15, Republicans 17–1
Nov 18, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
Relating to: requiring state employees to perform their work at the offices of their employer.
With most of their party · Passed 17–16 · Yes 17–No 16 · Democrats 0–15, Republicans 17–1
Oct 14, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
Relating to: the use of federal capitalization grant funds for lead service line replacement.
With most of their party · Passed 17–16 · Yes 17–No 16 · Democrats 0–15, Republicans 17–1
May 15, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 18–15 · Yes 18–No 15 · Democrats 0–15, Republicans 18–0
Mar 17, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 18–15 · Yes 18–No 15 · Democrats 0–15, Republicans 18–0
Mar 17, 2026Official record ↗
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
NoVOTED
AB 387 · WI SENATE
Relating to: correction bill for 2025 Wisconsin Act 15 and making an appropriation.
Motion: CONCURRENCE
AB 1034 · WI SENATE
Relating to: name, image, and likeness rights for University of Wisconsin System student athletes; maintenance costs for University of Wisconsin–Madison intercollegiate athletic facilities; and making an appropriation.
Motion: CONCURRENCE
AB 1032 · WI SENATE
Relating to: the sale of property under Department of Natural Resources jurisdiction to prevent the spread of avian flu.
Motion: SHALL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND — SSA1 OFFERED BY HABUSH SINYKIN
Allows the Natural Resources Board to sell state-owned land under Department of Natural Resources control that is adjacent to or within one mile of a commercial egg farm to prevent the spread of avian flu, waiving the usual conservation-need requirement.
AI summary — read the bill text ↗
AB 1027 · WI SENATE
Relating to: requiring information relating to the food stamp program to be compiled and provided to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Motion: SHALL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND — SSA1 OFFERED BY ROYS
On the version voted Feb 20, 2026: Changes FoodShare rules to match 2025 federal law, raising the work-requirement age cutoff from 50 to 65, narrowing the child exemption to under 14, limiting eligibility to qualified immigrants, and requiring DHS to share recipient data with USDA.
AI summary — read the bill text ↗
AB 757 · WI SENATE
Relating to: the appointment of certain employees of the University of Wisconsin System and faculty governance.
Motion: REJECT AMENDMENT — SSA1 OFFERED BY LARSON
On the version voted Feb 12, 2026: Bars the UW Board of Regents from delegating limited appointments such as chancellors, requires it to approve and annually report their titles, salaries and descriptions, redefines faculty for shared governance, and bars faculty from limiting committee or program leadership by rank, tenure or degree.
AI summary — read the bill text ↗
AB 700 · WI SENATE
Relating to: an appropriation for refundable long-term care insurance assessment credits and making an appropriation.
Motion: CONCURRENCE
AB 676 · WI SENATE
Relating to: creating a tax credit for insurers for certain investments in community development entities.
Motion: CONCURRENCE
AB 670 · WI SENATE
Relating to: exempting persons engaged in certain contract research services from the sales and use tax.
Motion: CONCURRENCE
AB 659 · WI SENATE
Relating to: tuition and fee remission or grants for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college, or a private nonprofit institution of higher education; and the University of Wisconsin System nonresident tuition exemption for certain veterans.
Motion: REJECT AMENDMENT — SA1 OFFERED BY DASSLER-ALFHEIM
Showing 10 of 232 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.