The Eighty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and also convened in six special sessions.

This was the only legislative session under the legislative redistricting plan imposed by a panel of federal judges in 1982 in the case Wisconsin State AFL-CIO v. Elections Board. The district plan was intended to be punitive, scrambling the district numbers and putting incumbents in head-to-head contests. During this session, the legislature and governor agreed on a new redistricting plan to supersede the court plan, the only time this has been done in Wisconsin 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 2, 1982. 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 4, 1980.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Democrat Tony Earl, of Marathon County, serving the first two years of a four-year term, having won election in the 1982 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events January 3, 1983: Inauguration of Tony Earl as the 41st Governor of Wisconsin. April 5, 1983: Wisconsin state senator William A. Bablitch was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeed Bruce F. Beilfuss. April 18, 1983: A car bomb detonated in front of the U.S. embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people. August 1, 1983: Nathan Heffernan became the 23rd chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by rule of seniority, at the expiration of the term of chief justice Bruce F. Beilfuss. October 23, 1983: Simultaneous truck bombings in Beirut destroyed a United States Marine Corps barracks and a French Army barracks, killing 241 U.S. servicemen, 58 French paratroopers, and 6 Lebanese civilians. November 6, 1984: 1984 United States general election: Ronald Reagan (R) re-elected President of the United States

Major legislation July 19, 1983: An Act ... relating to redistricting the senate and assembly based on the 1980 federal census of population and making miscellaneous changes in the statutes pertaining to decennial legislative redistricting, 1983 Act 29. April 9, 1984: An Act ... relating to establishing a system of marital property shared by husband and wife and providing penalties, 1983 Act 186. Wisconsin's update to marital property laws to default to a shared property standard. Wisconsin was the first state to implement this change.

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 19 14 33 0 Start of Reg. SessionDemocrat James T. Flynn (8th District) and Republican Clifford Krueger (12th District) resigned before the start of the session. 17 14 32 1 From Apr. 13, 1983Democrat Joseph Czarnezki (8th District) and Lloyd H. Kincaid (12th District) were sworn in to replace James T. Flynn and Clifford Krueger, respectively. 19 33 0 From Jul. 31, 1983Democrat William A. Bablitch (24th District) resigned after his election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. 18 32 1 From Aug. 12, 1983Democrat David Helbach (24th District) was sworn in to replace William A. Bablitch. 19 33 0 From Jan. 3, 1984Democrat Paul Offner (32nd District) resigned. 18 32 1 From Apr. 3, 1984Democrat Jerry Kleczka (7th District) resigned after his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. 17 31 2 From Apr. 23, 1984Republican Brian Rude (32nd District) was sworn in to replace Paul Offner. 15 32 1 From Nov. 13, 1984Democrat John Plewa (7th District) was sworn in to replace Jerry Kleczka. 18 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 19 14 33 0

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 58 41 99 0 Start of Reg. Session 59 40 99 0 From Apr. 13, 1983Democrats Joseph Czarnezki (17th District) and Lloyd H. Kincaid (48th District) resigned after their election to the state senate. 57 97 2 From Jul. 12, 1983Democrats Peggy Krusick (17th District) and John Volk (48th District) were sworn in to replace Joseph Czarnezki and Lloyd H. Kincaid, respectively. 59 99 0 From Aug. 12, 1983Democrat David Helbach (58th District) resigned after his election to the state senate. 58 98 1 From Nov. 11, 1983Democrat William Horvath (58th District) was sworn in to replace David Helbach. 59 99 0 From Nov. 30, 1983Democrat Thomas W. Meaux (9th District) resigned after his election to the Milwaukee County board of supervisors. 58 98 1 From Apr. 5, 1984Democrat Thomas Barrett (9th District) was sworn in to replace Thomas W. Meaux. 59 99 0 From Apr. 23, 1984Republican Brian Rude (36th District) resigned after his election to the state senate. 39 98 1 From Nov. 12, 1984Democrat John Plewa (2nd District) resigned after his election to the state senate. 58 97 2 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 52 47 99 0

Sessions Regular session: January 3, 1983January 7, 1985 January 1983 special session: January 4, 1983January 6, 1983 April 1983 special session: April 12, 1983April 14, 1983 July 1983 special session: July 11, 1983July 14, 1983 October 1983 special session: October 18, 1983October 28, 1983 February 1984 special session: February 2, 1984February 4, 1984 May 1984 special session: May 22, 1984May 24, 1984

Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Fred Risser (D–Madison) President pro tempore: William A. Bablitch (D–Stevens Point)

Senate majority leadership Majority Leader: Timothy Cullen (D–Janesville) Assistant Majority Leader: Paul Offner (D–La Crosse) John Norquist (D–Milwaukee)

Senate minority leadership Minority Leader: James Harsdorf (R–River Falls) Assistant Minority Leader: Susan Engeleiter (R–Menomonee Falls)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Thomas A. Loftus (D–Sun Prairie) Speaker pro tempore: David Clarenbach (D–Madison)

Assembly majority leadership Majority Leader: Gary K. Johnson (D–Beloit) Assistant Majority Leader: Richard Shoemaker (D–Menomonie)

Assembly minority leadership Minority Leader: Tommy Thompson (R–Elroy) Assistant Minority Leader: Robert S. Travis Jr. (R–Platteville)

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

Dist. Senator Party Age(1983) Home Firstelected 01 Rep. De Pere, Brown County 1977 02 Rep. De Pere, Brown County 1979 03 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1982 04 Rep. Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee County 1979 05 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1982 06 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1980 07 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1984 08 --Vacant until Apr. 13, 1983-- Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1983 09 Dem. Sheboygan, Sheboygan County 1982 10 Rep. River Falls, Pierce County 1980 11 Rep. Waukesha, Waukesha County 1976 12 --Vacant until Apr. 13, 1983-- Dem. Crandon, Forest County 1983 13 Rep. Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County 1980 14 Rep. Bear Creek, Outagamie County 1954 15 Dem. Janesville, Rock County 1974 16 Dem. Stoughton, Dane County 1959 17 Rep. Fennimore, Grant County 1978 18 Rep. , Fond du Lac County 1976 19 Rep. Neenah, Winnebago County 1982 20 Rep. Port Washington, Ozaukee County 1979 21 Dem. Racine, Racine County 1978 22 Dem. Kenosha, Kenosha County 1975 23 Dem. Lafayette, Chippewa County 1978 24 Dem. Stevens Point, Portage County 1972 Dem. Stevens Point, Portage County 1983 25 Rep. Ashland, Ashland County 1972 26 Dem. Madison, Dane County 1962 27 Dem. Middleton, Dane County 1982 28 Dem. New Berlin, Waukesha County 1976 29 Rep. Wausau, Marathon County 1966 30 Dem. Green Bay, Brown County 1976 31 Dem. Whitehall, Trempealeau County 1982 32 Dem. La Crosse, La Crosse County 1968 Rep. Coon Valley, Vernon County 1984 33 Rep. Menomonee Falls, Waukesha County 1980

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

SenateDist.Dist.RepresentativePartyAge(1983)HomeFirstElected 01 73 Dem. Luxemburg 1970 74 Dem. Whitelaw 1982 75 Rep. Green Bay 1982 02 54 Rep. Shawano 1982 82 Dem. Chilton 1966 83 Dem. Kaukauna 1962 03 13 Dem. Milwaukee 1977 14 Dem. Milwaukee 1980 15 Dem. Milwaukee 1980 04 04 Dem. Milwaukee 1978 05 Rep. Shorewood 1979 06 Dem. Milwaukee 1971 05 07 Dem. Milwaukee 1982 08 Dem. Milwaukee 1980 09 Dem. Milwaukee 1982 Dem. Milwaukee 1984 06 10 Dem. Milwaukee 1982 11 Dem. Milwaukee 1980 12 Dem. Milwaukee 1976 07 01 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 02 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 03 Dem. South Milwaukee 1974 08 16 Dem. West Allis 1982 17 Dem. Milwaukee 1980 Dem. Milwaukee 1983 18 Dem. West Allis 1972 09 76 Dem. Manitowoc 1980 77 Dem. Kohler 1974 78 Rep. Elkhart Lake 1982 10 40 Dem. River Falls 1982 41 Dem. Menomonie 1978 42 Dem. Amery 1982 11 64 Rep. Waukesha 1982 65 Rep. Waukesha 1982 66 Rep. Oconomowoc 1982 12 46 Dem. Eagle River 1982 48 Dem. Crandon 1972 Dem. Freedom 1983 61 Rep. Merrill 1972 13 31 Rep. Lake Mills 1978 32 Rep. Whitewater 1982 33 Rep. Oak Grove 1982 14 85 Rep. Marion 1968 86 Rep. Berlin 1974 87 Rep. Elroy 1966 15 25 Dem. Beloit 1970 26 Dem. Janesville 1976 27 Rep. Richmond 1982 16 97 Dem. Verona 1982 98 Dem. Madison 1982 99 Dem. Sun Prairie 1976 17 37 Rep. Milton 1981 38 Rep. Shullsburg 1967 39 Rep. Platteville 1976 18 88 Rep. Horicon 1962 89 Rep. 1956 90 Rep. Oshkosh 1968 19 79 Rep. Appleton 1978 80 Rep. Menasha 1982 81 Rep. Oshkosh 1982 20 70 Rep. Mequon 1976 71 Rep. Port Washington 1979 72 Rep. West Bend 1980 21 19 Dem. Racine 1980 20 Dem. Racine 1972 21 Dem. Caledonia 1982 22 22 Rep. Burlington 1972 23 Dem. Kenosha 1982 24 Dem. Kenosha 1976 23 55 Dem. Chippewa Falls 1976 56 Dem. Eau Claire 1968 57 Rep. Neillsville 1982 24 58 Dem. Stevens Point 1978 Dem. Stevens Point 1983 59 Dem. Wisconsin Rapids 1970 60 Dem. Pittsville 1974 25 49 Dem. Poplar 1982 50 Rep. Tripp 1980 51 Dem. Rice Lake 1978 26 94 Dem. Madison 1972 95 Dem. Madison 1970 96 Dem. Madison 1974 27 91 Rep. Washington 1982 92 Dem. Poynette 1970 93 Dem. Madison 1978 28 28 Dem. Hales Corners 1970 29 Dem. Rochester 1982 30 Rep. New Berlin 1982 29 47 Rep. Medford 1978 62 Rep. Mosinee 1982 63 Dem. Wausau 1980 30 52 Rep. Stephenson 1972 53 Dem. Pittsfield 1958 84 Dem. Green Bay 1974 31 43 Dem. Whitehall 1982 44 Dem. Eau Claire 1982 45 Rep. Sparta 1970 32 34 Dem. La Crosse 1976 35 Dem. Holmen 1970 36 Rep. Coon Valley 1982 --Vacant from Apr. 23, 1984-- 33 67 Rep. Wauwatosa 1982 68 Rep. Brookfield 1978 69 Rep. Menomonee Falls 1980

Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider Sergeant-at-Arms: Daniel B. Fields

Assembly employees Chief Clerk: Joanne M. Duren Sergeant-at-Arms: Lewis T. Mittness

Changes from the 85th Legislature New districts for the 86th Legislature were defined in the case of Wisconsin State AFL-CIO v. Elections Board, decided by a three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. This was the first time redistricting in Wisconsin was performed by a federal court.

Senate redistricting Summary of Senate changes No districts were left unchanged Milwaukee County went from having 7 whole districts and part of two additional districts down to 6 whole districts (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) and part of two additional districts (28, 33).

Senate districts