A bill circulating in the Wisconsin State Legislature would subject the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and organizations like it to state public records and open meetings laws, according to a Jan. 26, 2025 item in the Appleton Post-Crescent.
According to a co-sponsorship memorandum shared with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Assembly Rep. Cindi Duchow (R-Town of Delafield) and 29th District State Sen. Cory Tomczyk (R-Mosinee) are seeking co-sponsors during the next week for a bill that would apply state open meeting and public records laws to interscholastic athletic associations like the WIAA.
Previously the legislation was introduced and passed the Assembly in 2015. The bill prevents a school district from being a member of an interscholastic athletic association unless the association elects to be governed by the state’s public records and open meeting laws. The bill provides exemptions for the personal details of individual referees and pupils. In 2015, Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) was lead sponsor of AB 873, which would have applied state public records and open meetings laws to the WIAA. The bill died in a Senate committee after not being put to a Senate vote.
A nonprofit association consisting of more than 500 public and private school districts, the WIAA does not receive direct government subsidies but does accept corporate sponsorships while conducting itself as a private organization.
