Wisconsin Assembly Bill AJR152

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/19/26
• Refer: 3/19/26
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

To amend section 2 of article I of the constitution; Relating to: slavery or involuntary servitude in punishment of a crime (first consideration).

Summary

AJR152 is a proposed Wisconsin constitutional amendment that would remove the current exception allowing slavery or involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime after a person has been duly convicted. Under the existing constitutional language, slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited except in that narrow criminal-penalty context. This resolution would strike that exception so that the prohibition would apply without exception. Because it is a constitutional amendment, the proposal would not change state law immediately. It would need to be approved by two successive legislatures and then ratified by Wisconsin voters before taking effect. The resolution also directs that, if adopted, it be referred to the next legislature and published for three months before the election at which that legislature is chosen.

Impact

If enacted through the constitutional amendment process, AJR152 would alter Article I, Section 2 of the Wisconsin Constitution by eliminating the clause permitting involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. That would remove the constitutional basis for any state practice or statute relying on the current punishment-for-crime exception, and it would strengthen the absolute prohibition on slavery and involuntary servitude in Wisconsin. As introduced, however, it has no immediate legal effect because it is only the first consideration of a proposed amendment.

Sentiment

The available record shows broad formal support in the sense that the resolution was introduced by a large bipartisan group of legislators, including many Assembly members and several senators. The bill text and context do not include committee testimony or recorded floor debate, so there is no detailed public discussion to gauge nuance in sentiment. Overall, the measure appears to reflect a generally favorable posture toward removing an outdated constitutional exception, but the final action indicates it did not advance to adoption.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the constitutional and policy significance of removing the exception for punishment of crime. Supporters would view the change as a categorical ban on slavery and involuntary servitude, while any opposition would center on the effect of eliminating language historically tied to prison labor and criminal punishment. No committee transcript or vote record is available here, so specific arguments by named legislators or stakeholder groups are not documented in the provided materials.