56th Wisconsin Legislature

The Fifty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session.
This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to an act of the previous session. This was the first session in Wisconsin history in which the Democratic Party held no seats in the State Senate, and with only one seat in the Assembly, this session represents the smallest legislative delegation for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in its history.
Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were elected to a two-year term. Assembly members and odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 7, 1922. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 3, 1920.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican John J. Blaine, of Grant County, serving his second two-year term, having won re-election in the 1922 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events

August 2, 1923: U.S. President Warren G. Harding died in office. He was immediately succeeded by Vice President Calvin Coolidge.
April 1, 1924: Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution which would have raised legislator salary to $750 per year.
May 24, 1924: U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signs the Immigration Act of 1924 into law. The law prohibited immigration from Asia and set limits on immigration from eastern and southern Europe, it also established visa requirements for travel to the United States.
July 5, 1924: Wisconsin U.S. senator Robert M. La Follette accepted the nomination of the Progressive Party as their candidate for President of the United States.
November 4, 1924: 1924 United States general election:
* Calvin Coolidge elected to a full term as President of the United States. Wisconsin's electoral votes went to the Progressive nominee, home-state senator Robert M. La Follette.
* John J. Blaine re-elected to a third term as Governor of Wisconsin.
* Three women were elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, the first in state history.
* Wisconsin voters ratified three amendments to the state constitution:
** to enable the Legislature to add judges to existing high-population circuits in the Wisconsin circuit courts system
** to enable the Legislature to make appropriations for forestry improvements
** to grant home rule to cities and villages

Major legislation

1923 Joint Resolution 18. Second legislative passage of the proposed amendment to the state constitution to increase legislator pay to $750 per year. This was a second attempt to update legislator pay after Wisconsin voters rejected a different proposed amendment to allow legislators to set their own pay in 1920. This new amendment was also defeated by voters at the April 1924 election.
1923 Joint Resolution 34. Second legislative passage of the proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the state to appropriate funds for forestry improvements. This amendment was ratified by voters at the November 1924 election.
1923 Joint Resolution 57. Second legislative passage of the proposed amendment to the state constitution to grant home rule to all cities and villages in the state. This amendment was ratified by voters at the November 1924 election.
1923 Joint Resolution 64. Second legislative passage of the proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the legislature to add new Wisconsin ciruict court judges to high population circuits. This amendment was ratified by voters at the November 1924 election.

Sessions

Regular session: January 10, 1923July 14, 1923

Leaders

Senate leadership

President of the Senate: George Comings
President pro tempore: Henry Huber

Assembly leadership

Speaker of the Assembly: John L. Dahl

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Fifty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Fifty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:

Committees

Senate committees

Senate Standing Committee on CommitteesH. J. Severson, chair
Senate Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresH. E. Roethe, chair
Senate Standing Committee on CorporationsH. J. Severson, chair
Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public WelfareE. T. Ridgway, chair
Senate Standing Committee on HighwaysJ. E. Cashman, chair
Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryH. Teasdale, chair
Senate Standing Committee on State AffairsW. A. Titus, chair

Assembly committees

Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureJ. C. Hanson, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesF. J. Petersen, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresF. E. Moul, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on EducationJ. D. Millar, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsW. F. Miller, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsW. F. Dettinger, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsP. Ankerson, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesJ. Peltier, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on Fish and GameN. Spoor, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on HighwaysG. A. Nelson, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingA. C. Johnson, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryH. W. Sachtjen, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on LaborE. H. Killian, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesE. B. Minier, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on PrintingA. Holly, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on Public WelfareC. M. Grimstad, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on RevisionG. H. Jones, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on RulesH. W. Sachtjen, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on State AffairsJ. Goodman, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on TaxationC. E. Hanson, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on Third ReadingA. G. Becker, chair
Assembly Standing Committee on TransportationH. Ott, chair

Joint committees

Joint Standing Committee on FinanceH. Huber & C. E. Tuffley, co-chairs

Employees

Senate employees

Chief Clerk: F. W. Schoenfeld
* Assistant Chief Clerk: Charles E. Mullen
Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles A. Leicht
* Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: John J. Knudsen
Postmaster: Joseph V. Janda

Assembly employees

Chief Clerk: C. E. Shaffer
* Journal Clerk: W. A. Lawton
Sergeant-at-Arms: Thomas W. Bartingale
* Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Olaf Goldstrand
Postmaster: Frank C. Densmore

Changes from the 55th Legislature

New districts for the 56th Legislature were defined in 1921 Wisconsin Act 470, passed into law in the 55th Wisconsin Legislature.

Senate redistricting

Summary of Senate changes

12 districts were left unchanged
Milwaukee County went from having 6 districts to 7.
Racine County became a single district again after previously having been in a shared district with Kenosha.
Rock County became a single district again after previously having been in a shared district with Walworth.

Assembly redistricting

Summary of Assembly changes

At least 56 districts were left unchanged.
Green Lake and Waushara became a shared district after previously having been separate districts.
Jefferson County went from having 2 districts to 1.
Kenosha County went from having 1 district to 2.
Milwaukee County went from having 19 districts to 20.
Racine County went from having 2 districts to 3.
Winnebago County went from having 3 districts to 2.