Elijah Behnke, Wisconsin State Representative for 6th District | Official website
Elijah Behnke, Wisconsin State Representative for 6th District | Official website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "establishing English as the official state language, use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing English language interpreters, and use of English for governmental oral and written communication and for nongovernmental purposes. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes English as the official language of Wisconsin and allows state and local government entities to use artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools instead of appointing English language interpreters if required by law. The bill mandates that government communications be conducted in English unless another language is deemed appropriate for certain circumstances, such as individual cases or implementing specific programs. It outlines conditions when government officials may use languages other than English, including protecting citizen safety, teaching languages, protecting legal rights, promoting trade, or complying with federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Additionally, the bill prohibits governmental entities from restricting any person's proficiency or use of other languages for nongovernmental purposes. The legislation also amends existing statutes regarding the use of interpreters in courts and administrative proceedings.
The bill was co-authored by Sen. André Jacque (Republican-1st District), Rep. Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), Rep. Rick Gundrum (Republican-58th District), Rep. Rob Kreibich (Republican-28th District), and Rep. Dave Maxey (Republican-83rd District). It was co-sponsored by Sen. Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District).
Elijah R. Behnke has co-authored or authored another 171 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Behnke graduated from Toccoa Falls College in 2005 with an AA.
Behnke, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 6th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Peter Schmidt.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB377 | 07/17/2025 | Establishing English as the official state language, use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing English language interpreters, and use of English for governmental oral and written communication and for nongovernmental purposes. (FE) |
| AB366 | 07/17/2025 | Emotional support animals in housing; falsely claiming that an animal is a service animal; and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| AB363 | 07/17/2025 | Establishing a dairy cattle innovation program. (FE) |
| AB358 | 07/08/2025 | Requiring reports on disturbed burial sites. (FE) |
| AB346 | 07/08/2025 | Fleet registration of certain motor vehicles. (FE) |
| AB328 | 07/08/2025 | Providing permanency plan and comments to out-of-home care providers in advance of a permanency plan review or hearing. (FE) |
| AB318 | 07/08/2025 | A requirement for fair organizations that seek state aid |
| AB305 | 06/06/2025 | Designating the rusty patched bumble bee as the state native insect |
| AB301 | 06/06/2025 | Grants to mental health clubhouses and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB291 | 05/30/2025 | Native prairie and forage plants |
| AB290 | 05/30/2025 | Special registration plates to support protecting pollinators and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB289 | 05/30/2025 | Ban on the use of certain insecticides by the Department of Natural Resources |
| AB288 | 05/30/2025 | Labeling plants as beneficial to pollinators. (FE) |
| AB287 | 05/30/2025 | Local regulation of pesticides to protect pollinators |
| AB286 | 05/30/2025 | Interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE) |
| AB280 | 05/30/2025 | Workforce housing and childcare awards under the business development tax credit. (FE) |
| AB270 | 05/19/2025 | A school psychologist loan program. (FE) |
| AB267 | 05/19/2025 | Waiver of fees for admission to state parks on Earth Day. (FE) |
| AB259 | 05/19/2025 | Criminal trespass at a campground and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| AB247 | 05/08/2025 | Local building permit fees for certain improvements of residences of disabled veterans. (FE) |
| AB242 | 05/02/2025 | Tampering with telecommunication or electric wires and providing a penalty |
| AB236 | 05/02/2025 | The rights of sexual assault crime victims |
| AB187 | 04/15/2025 | Training completion awards for volunteer firefighters. (FE) |
| AB184 | 04/15/2025 | Coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions and benefit limits under health plans |
| AB179 | 04/15/2025 | Requirements for lighting on police vehicles |
| AB178 | 04/15/2025 | Expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE) |
| AB158 | 04/02/2025 | Changing the conditions of liability for worker’s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff. (FE) |
| AB149 | 03/17/2025 | The nomination of presidential electors |
| AB144 | 03/17/2025 | Eliminating a judgeship from district IV of the court of appeals and establishing an additional judgeship for district III of the court of appeals |
| AB136 | 03/13/2025 | Classification of the crime of impersonating law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and certain other emergency personnel and providing a penalty |
| AB135 | 03/13/2025 | The right to repair motor vehicles and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| AB133 | 03/13/2025 | Investment securities under the Uniform Commercial Code |
| AB128 | 03/11/2025 | Requiring first responders to be trained to administer epinephrine delivery systems. (FE) |
| AB103 | 03/04/2025 | School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns |
| AB93 | 02/28/2025 | The distribution and labeling of fertilizers and soil or plant additives produced from manure. (FE) |
| AB91 | 02/28/2025 | The requirement that first class cities and first class city school districts place school resource officers in schools. (FE) |
| AB88 | 02/28/2025 | Civil action for injury or damages resulting from riot or vandalism, participation in a riot, prohibiting certain limitations or restrictions on law enforcement responses to riot or vandalism activity, and providing a penalty |
| AB76 | 02/28/2025 | 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) |
| AB74 | 02/28/2025 | Parental notification of alleged sexual misconduct by a school staff member. (FE) |
| AB66 | 02/24/2025 | Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes |
| AB64 | 02/24/2025 | An income tax subtraction for certain expenses paid by a school teacher. (FE) |
| AB42 | 02/17/2025 | Local regulation of fowl |
| AB38 | 02/17/2025 | An income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. (FE) |
| AB36 | 02/17/2025 | Law enforcement and firefighter annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) |
| AB30 | 02/17/2025 | Prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state |
| AB26 | 02/17/2025 | Battery or threat to jurors and providing a penalty |
| AB18 | 02/06/2025 | Fee waivers for state park vehicle admission receipts to pupils with Every Kid Outdoors passes. (FE) |
| AB4 | 02/03/2025 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) |
| AB3 | 02/03/2025 | Incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades. (FE) |
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