Green Bay Reporter

A bill authored by State Rep. David Steffen in the Wisconsin Assembly aims to restrict flag displays on government properties to specific official flags and remove gubernatorial exceptions, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "flags flown at state and local government buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill establishes that only the U.S. flag, state flag, official POW/MIA flag recognized by Congress, and official flags of each branch of the U.S. armed forces are permitted to be flown, hung, or displayed from flagpoles or buildings owned or fully occupied by state agencies or political subdivisions, such as cities, villages, towns, or counties. Exceptions can be made by a three-fourths majority vote of the legislature or the governing body of the political subdivision. Additionally, it repeals an existing administrative rule that allowed the governor to make exceptions. The bill’s requirements applicable to state facilities and changes to the administrative rules are delayed until Jan. 1, 2027, although the bill takes effect the day after its publication.

The bill was co-authored by Senator Eric Wimberger (Republican-2nd District), Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), Representative Calvin T. Callahan (Republican-35th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), and Representative Rick Gundrum (Republican-58th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District), and Senator Van H. Wanggaard (Republican-21st District), along with eight other co-sponsors.

David Steffen has co-authored or authored another 10 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Steffen graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1995 with a BA.

Steffen, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2015 to represent the state's 4th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Chad Weininger.

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
AB46	02/17/2025	Flags flown at state and local government buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule
AB35	02/17/2025	Withdrawal of candidacy for certain offices filled at the general election and providing a penalty. (FE)