Milwaukee City Wire

The new bill authored by State Sen. Julian Bradley seeks to amend statutes governing the adjudication of administrative rules, focusing on awarding attorney fees when rules are invalidated, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "challenges to the validity of administrative rules and making an appropriation. (FE)".

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

In essence, this bill proposes amendments to existing statutes regarding the adjudication of administrative rules in Wisconsin. It mandates that if a court declares an administrative rule or guidance document invalid due to constitutional violations, exceeding statutory authority, or non-compliance with rule-making processes, the court must award reasonable attorney fees and costs to the challenger. The financial responsibility for these costs falls under specified state fund allocations depending on the source of revenues. Additionally, the bill specifies that attorney fees and costs awarded should only pertain to issues related to the rule's validity. The act is applicable to actions for declaratory judgment initiated on or after the effective date of the bill.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Ron Tusler (Republican-3rd District), Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), Senator Rob Hutton (Republican-5th District), Senator Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), and Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), along 22 other co-sponsors.

Julian Bradley has authored or co-authored another 38 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Bradley graduated from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse in 2014 with a BS.

Bradley, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2021 to represent the state's 28th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Dave Craig.

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
SB276	05/21/2025	Challenges to the validity of administrative rules and making an appropriation. (FE)
SB275	05/21/2025	Statements of scope for administrative rules. (FE)
SB267	05/20/2025	The fee for filing limited liability company articles of organization with the Department of Financial Institutions. (FE)
SB256	05/15/2025	Delivery network couriers and transportation network drivers, Department of Financial Institutions’ approval to offer portable benefit accounts, providing for insurance coverage, modifying administrative rules related to accident and sickness insurance, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
SB254	05/09/2025	Funding for the War Memorial Center and making an appropriation. (FE)
SB249	05/09/2025	Vacancies in appointive state offices
SB244	05/09/2025	Modifying the sales and use tax exemption for qualified data centers. (FE)
SB240	05/09/2025	Workforce literacy grant program. (FE)
SB231	04/29/2025	Creating a tax credit for expenses related to film production services and for capital investments made by a film production company, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)
SB176	04/03/2025	An income and franchise tax exemption for broadband expansion grants and for federal high-cost program funding for broadband expansion. (FE)
SB141	03/21/2025	Allowing an unlicensed person to use a motor vehicle and providing a penalty
SB132	03/14/2025	Classification of the crime of impersonating law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and certain other emergency personnel and providing a penalty
SB125	03/14/2025	A nuclear power siting study and time limits for taking final action on certain certificate of public convenience and necessity applications. (FE)
SB124	03/14/2025	Creating a board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit. (FE)
SB115	03/07/2025	Department of Justice collection and reporting of certain criminal case data. (FE)
SB93	03/07/2025	Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE)
SB61	02/21/2025	Excluding expenditures funded by referenda from shared costs for the purpose of determining equalization aid for school districts. (FE)
SB57	02/21/2025	County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE)
SB36	02/12/2025	An income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. (FE)
SB35	02/12/2025	Law enforcement and firefighter annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE)