Wisconsin Ethics Commission
101 E Wilson Street, St. Croix Room
Madison, Wisconsin
Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
Open Session Agenda*
A. Call to Order
B. Report of Appropriate Meeting Notice – Administrator
C. Approval of Minutes for Meeting on February 25, 2025
D. Budget Request for 2025-27 Biennium
E. Personal Appearances
F. Staff Report
G. Closed Session
1. Request for Advice
2. Complaints and Investigations
3. Litigation/Potential Litigation
4. Audit Matters
5. Personnel Matters
H. 2025-ETH 01 – Use of Campaign Funds for Mileage Reimbursement
I. Consideration for Future Agenda Items
J. Adjourn
* Agenda Revised 05/09/2025 to add Agenda Item D.
Future Ethics Commission Meetings Scheduled:
• Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 9:00 AM
• Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 9:00AM
• Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 9:00 AM
The Ethics Commission will convene in open session but may move to closed session under WIS. STAT. § 19.85(1)(g), (h), or WIS. STAT. § 19.851. This notice is to inform the public that the Commission intends to convene in open session but may move to closed session. The Commission plans to return to open session following that closed session, as outlined in the above agenda. WIS. STAT. § 19.85(2).
WIS. STAT. § 19.46(2)(c)1. 1. Any individual may request in writing, electronically, or by telephone a formal advisory opinion from the commission or the review or modification of a formal advisory opinion issued by the commission under this paragraph. The individual making the request shall include all pertinent facts relevant to the matter. The commission shall review a request for a formal advisory opinion and may issue a formal advisory opinion to the individual making the request. Except as authorized or required for opinions specified in s. 19.55 (4) (b), the commission’s deliberations and actions upon such requests shall be in meetings not open to the public.
WIS. STAT. §§ 19.50 & 19.55(3) No employee of the Commission may disclose information related to an investigation or prosecution under ch. 11, subchapter III of ch. 13, or ch. 19.
WIS. STAT. § 19.85(1) Any meeting of a governmental body, upon motion duly made and carried, may be convened in closed session under one or more of the exemptions provided in this section. The motion shall be carried by a majority vote in such manner that the vote of each member is ascertained and recorded in the minutes. No motion to convene in closed session may be adopted unless the chief presiding officer announces to those present at the meeting at which such motion is made, the nature of the business to be considered at such closed session, and the specific exemption or exemptions under this subsection by which such closed session is claimed to be authorized. Such an announcement shall become part of the record of the meeting. No business may be taken up at any closed session except that which relates to matters contained in the chief presiding officer’s announcement of the closed session. A closed session may be held for any of the following purposes:
(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.
(g) Conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved.
(h) Consideration of requests for confidential written advice from the elections commission under s. 5.05 (6a) or the ethics commission under s. 19.46 (2), or from any county or municipal ethics board under s. 19.59 (5).
WIS. STAT. § 19.851(2) The commission shall hold each meeting of the commission for the purpose of deliberating concerning an investigation of any violation of the law under the jurisdiction of the commission in closed session under this section.
WIS. STAT. § 19.851(3) The commission shall convene in closed session for any of the following purposes:
(a) To consider whether there is a reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe that a violation of the law occurred or is occurring based on a complaint and, if received, a response to that complaint.
(b) To receive reports concerning audit findings and consider whether there is a reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe that a violation of the law occurred or is occurring.