The Center ranked each state based on the existence of financial-disclosure filings, access to these public records, basic disclosure requirements, and penalties on the books for late or inaccurate reports. Wisconsin, along with Texas, received 88 out of a possible 100 points.

The Center examined what it termed "basic," or minimal, disclosure requirements - legislators' employment relationships, officer/director positions, investments, real-property holdings, client and family name information - and found that

Wisconsin's "Statement of Economic Interests" requires all of the above except family name information.

Wisconsin is one of 22 states that require lawmakers to disclose employment income and investments for all members of their households.

Wisconsin is one of 37 states that do not allow citizens to differentiate between minor and major sources of lawmakers' economic interests, because these states do not require lawmakers to report the value or value range of their employment income. However, Wisconsin is one of 13 states that require lawmakers to report the value range of their investments.

Wisconsin is one of 20 states that require lawmakers to disclose some information about business clients.
 

WISCONSIN RANKINGS WORKSHEET

Availability (Weight Of 1): 3 Points
Has Financial-Disclosure Forms: 1
Requires Complete Financial Disclosure (No Updates): 1
Requires Financial Disclosure Annually: 1

Access (Weight Of 1): 4 Points
Financial-Disclosure Forms In Centralized Office: 1
Lawmakers Are Not Forwarded Reviewer Information: 0
Doesn't Require In-Person Appearance To Obtain Forms: 1
Conflict Information In Journal Is Close To Roll Call/Easily Accessible: 1
Copy Fee Less Than 50 Cents Per Page: 1

Disclosure Requirements

Employment Information (Weight Of 5): 25 Points
Employment Information Required: 1
Not Narrowly Defined: 1
Employer/Business Names Required: 1
Value Range Required: 0
Spouse's Information Required: 1
Dependents' Information Required: 1

Officer/Director Information (Weight Of 4): 20 Points
Officer/Information Required: 1
Not Narrowly Defined: 1
Entity Names Required: 1
Spouse's Information Required: 1
Dependents' Information Required: 1

Investment Information (Weight Of 3): 18 Points
Investment Information Required: 1
Not Narrowly Defined: 1
Names Of Investment Entities Required: 1
Value Range Required: 1
Spouse's Information Required: 1
Dependents' Information Required: 1

Client Information (Weight Of 2): 8 Points
Client Information Required: 1
Client Names Required: 1
Value Range Required: 0
Spouse's Information Required: 1
Dependents' Information Required: 1

Real-Property Information (Weight Of 2): 8 Points
Real-Property Information Required: 1
Not Narrowly Defined: 1
Value Range Required: 0
Spouse's Information Required: 1
Dependents' Information Required: 1

Family Information (Weight Of 1): 0 Points
Spouse Name Required: 0
Dependent Name(S) Required: 0

Penalties (Weight Of 1): 2 Points
Late-Filing Penalties On The Books: 1
Misfiling Penalties On The Books: 1

Total: 88 Points