Mary Felzkowski was elected president of the Wisconsin State Senate as the chamber organized for the 107th regular session in a ceremonial meeting in Madison that included the swearing-in of incoming senators and two privileged resolutions to set leadership and the session calendar.

The organization vote and the adoption of a joint resolution establishing the 2025–26 session schedule were the meeting’s principal formal actions. The clerk read an official certification of election from the Wisconsin Elections Commission before Judge Maria S. Lazar administered the oath of office to each senator.

Senator Mary Felzkowski, elected senate president by the membership, addressed the chamber after receiving the gavel and said, “The gravity of this role does not escape me,” and pledged to protect the rights of the minority to be heard while allowing the majority to carry out its business. Senator Devin LeMahieu, the majority leader, framed the majority’s priorities as returning surplus funds to taxpayers and passing a “responsible, balanced budget,” saying, “Our top priority is returning the surplus to the taxpayers, strengthening our economy, and passing a responsible, balanced budget.” Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein urged bipartisan cooperation, saying she believed “at the end of the day, more unites us than divides us.”

The clerk presented and the senate adopted Senate Resolution 1, which notifies the Assembly and the governor that the Senate is organized and lists the chamber’s officers. A roll-call vote recorded 21 ayes and 12 no votes; the clerk declared the resolution adopted and announced Mary Felzkowski as senate president. The body also adopted Senate Joint Resolution 1 establishing the session schedule by roll call; the clerk reported 19 ayes and 14 no votes and declared that joint resolution adopted.

The meeting began with an invocation by Pastor Emily Lueder and brief ceremonial music. The clerk read the Wisconsin Elections Commission certification of the Nov. 5, 2024 general election returns that the commission submitted; the certification, signed by Commission Chair Anne Jacobs, was entered into the record before the oath of office. The oath was administered by the Hon. Maria S. Lazar of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District II.

The clerk reported 33 members present for the roll call and declared a quorum. The newly organized senate immediately transmitted action to the Assembly and the governor, as the majority leader requested without objection; the chamber then adjourned and set its next meeting date by unanimous consent to Wednesday, Jan. 8 (as announced on the floor).

Votes at a glance: Senate Resolution 1 (organization) — adopted, roll-call tally reported as 21 ayes, 12 no votes. Senate Joint Resolution 1 (session schedule) — adopted, roll-call tally reported as 19 ayes, 14 no votes.

Less-critical details: the proceedings recognized a number of returning senators not up for re-election and noted staff and guests in the gallery. The chief clerk and sergeant-at-arms were named in the adopted organizational resolution for transmission to other branches as required by the Wisconsin Constitution.

Looking ahead, the senate president and majority leader signaled priorities for the coming session in their remarks; formal policy proposals and committee actions were not considered during the ceremonial organization meeting.