Constitutional Amendment Regarding Governor's Veto Power Going to the Ballot

Monday, February 23rd, 2026 -- 10:01 AM

(Rich Kremer and Anya Van Wagtendonk, Wisconsin Public Radio) Wisconsin voters will be asked whether the state’s constitution should be amended to prevent the governor’s powerful partial veto from increasing taxes or fees under a measure that cleared the state Assembly Thursday.

According to Rich Kremer and Anya Van Wagtendonk with Wisconsin Public Radio, it’s a direct response to a partial veto from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ in 2023 authorizing school districts to raise property taxes to bolster their budgets through the year 2425.

Republicans have continually blamed Evers’ “400-year veto” for causing property tax bills in Wisconsin to hit their highest point since 2018. With a party-line vote on the Assembly floor Thursday night, they responded by passing a joint resolution that will place a consequential question on voters’ November ballot.

Voters will be asked whether the Wisconsin Constitution should be amended “to prohibit the governor, in exercising his or her partial veto authority, from creating or increasing or authorizing the creation or increase of any tax or fee.”

The partial veto power used by Wisconsin governors since 1930 is a standout compared to other states. Since then, it’s only been tempered nine times through similar constitutional amendments.

During debate on the Assembly floor Thursday, state Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, claimed Evers’ 2023 veto “will tax seniors out of their homes and push the dream of home ownership further out of reach for young families.”

“And I look forward to the voters approving this constitutional amendment in November,” said Nedweski. Democrats in the Legislature have stood by Evers’ veto that authorized schools to raise more money through local property taxes, claiming he had no other choice because Republicans haven’t been willing to adequate fund public education.

In addition to the amendment question, Republicans in the Assembly also passed a bill that would eliminate the annual school funding increases created by Evers’ veto for the 2027-28 school year and beyond.

Unlike the proposed amendment, Evers would have the power to veto that plan.

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