Milwaukee City Wire

The new bill authored by State Sen. Julian Bradley in the Wisconsin Senate seeks to allow flashing purple lights on vehicles during funeral processions to improve visibility and distinction, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "authorized lights for funeral procession vehicles".

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 allow for the use of a flashing purple light on vehicles during a funeral procession. Previously, the law permitted the lead vehicle, or all vehicles if uniformly equipped, in a funeral procession to use a flashing amber light. With this amendment, vehicles in the procession can now optionally be equipped with a flashing purple light instead of amber, enhancing visibility and distinction from other vehicles on the road.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Dean Kaufert (Republican-53rd District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), Senator Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District), Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Calvin T. Callahan (Republican-35th District), Representative Ryan M. Clancy (Democrat-19th District), and Representative Ben DeSmidt (Democrat-65th District), along 14 other co-sponsors.

Julian Bradley has authored or co-authored another 43 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
SB288	05/30/2025	Authorized lights for funeral procession vehicles
SB280	05/23/2025	Interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE)
SB279	05/22/2025	Grants to law enforcement agencies for data-sharing platforms
SB277	05/21/2025	The expiration of administrative rules. (FE)
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)