The most useful and up-to-date guide available. Written by a veteran LRB research analyst.

A concise explanation of the process on page 248-252. The "Legislative Branch" section contains a listing of officers, committees, and legislative service agencies. Published biennially in odd numbered years.

Identifies four general categories of legislative intent assignments and then proceeds into a detailed, step-by-step example. The author served as a research analyst for the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.

Reviews the Wisconsin Supreme Court's acceptance of (or refusal to accept) various publications, statements, and administrative policy actions as evidence in statutory construction. Updates the "Comment" in 1940 Wisconsin Law Review 453, infra.

An earlier examination of the Wisconsin Supreme Court's use of extrinsic aids that should be read along with the 1966 Wisconsin Law Review 600, supra.

Describes research services and sources available at the LRB, sets forth the bill drafting services available to legislators, provides insights into the drafting process. (For more detail, see Wisconsin Bill Drafting Manual, infra.).

"...Contains an index to, and actual text of, every provision of the U.S. Constitution, the Wisconsin Constitution, and the 1977 Wisconsin Statutes, which addresses itself to the authority and functions of the Wisconsin Legislature." --From the Foreward. Somewhat outdated but a still valuable compilation.

Essays derived from the James Carpenter Lectures delivered at Columbia University Law School. Professor Hurst taught a popular legislation course at the University of Wisconsin Law School for many years. In Chapter, 2, "The Interpretation of Statutes," Professor Hurst discusses the willingness of courts to look outside statute books for evidence of legislative intent and the weight given to various kinds of materials and actions.

Explains the steps involved in passing a law using the student I.D. privacy bill, A.B. 227 (1997-98) as an example.

Gives examples of material inside and outside the LRB drafting file that have been referenced in Wisconsin appellate court decisions. Concludes with a “case history” of a law with documentary exhibits. See p 543-560.

An outline of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Crooks's presentation at a State Bar program. Part IV, pages 486-488) covers statutory interpretation, including citations to relevant case law. See p 481-488.

How to find special, private, and local laws not printed in the statutes. Includes a discussion of how bill drafters decide to include a law in the statutes or only publish it as a session law.

Chapter 4, "Legislative History," p 61-71.

After an in-depth examination of Wisconsin Court of Appeals and Supreme Court opinons, mostly from the last decade, the author concludes: “While the use of legislative history is still commonly accepted in Wisconsin, state judges are increasingly resisting the temptation to make long and winding ventures into legislative history, or they are at least more wary of the pitfalls of such ventures.” (p 218).

May be used in conjunction with the Bill Drafting Manual (infra.) for details about the bill drafting process and the preparation of fiscal estimates, which must accompany bills that affect the finances of Wisconsin state or local government.

Examines the partial veto in terms of its legislative development, its use by Wisconsin governors, and subsequent judicial interpretation.

Discusses and provides citations to Wisconsin appellate decisions in which the courts, as an aid in statutory interpretation, used material produced or utilized in bill drafting by the LRB.

Explains the services of the Legislative Council Staff to the Wisconsin Joint Legislative Council and other legislative committees and the variety of documentation produced thereby.

Provides an overview of the rules pertaining to special and extraordinary sessions of the Wisconsin Legislature and documents those types of sessions since statehood.

This guide from the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau is helpful for understanding the complex budget process with its omnibus bill approach that makes legislative history research even more complicated than usual.
1979- Biennial.

This opinion, especially Chief Justice Abrahamson's concurrence, addresses the uses of extrinsic sources, including legislative history, in statutory interpretation of Wisconsin law.

“This memorandum sets forth the reasons why drafters do not, as a general rule, draft statements of intent, purpose or findings, the exceptional circumstances in which such statements may be appropriate and the precepts that drafters should bear in mind when drafting statements in those circumstances.” p. 2.

The former Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court outlines his take on the subject in a presentation at a State Bar program. Most useful is the reprinting of “Materials bearing on legislative intent” page from Wisconsin Appellate Practice Procedure, which he co-authored along with Goerge R. Currie (p 535-541).

Gives an overview of the organization and procedures currently used in special sessions of the Wisconsin Legislature.

A detailed description reprinted from the 1993-1994 Wisconsin Blue Book. Highly recommended.

Provides detailed, illustrated instructions. Although intended for the use of the Legislative Reference Bureau's staff, this manual may aid the legislative history researcher in understanding bill drafting standards, procedures, and records.

This memorandum analyzes all of the constitutional amendments submitted to the electorate since the constitution was ratified in 1848 and highlights those that may not comply with the separate amendment rule, based on a literal reading of Section 1.

Contains sections on “Legislative Documents and Procedure” and the “State Budget Process.”

Contains a brief description of the state legislative process, a history of usage of state legislative histories, and a description of primary sources with notes on availability.