The Seventy-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and reconvened in a special session in June 1958.
Senators representing even-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 even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 6, 1956. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 2, 1954.
Major events
January 7, 1957: Inauguration of Vernon W. Thomson as the 34th Governor of Wisconsin. John E. Martin became chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by seniority rule at the expiration of Edward T. Fairchild's term. January 20, 1957: Second inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower as President of the United States. May 2, 1957: Wisconsin's senior United States senator, Joseph McCarthy, died in office. August 28, 1957: William Proxmire (D) elected United States senator from Wisconsin. September 9, 1957: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 into law. October 4, 1957: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. October 10, 1957: The Milwaukee Braves won the 1957 World Series. November 3, 1957: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, carrying the first animal to orbit the Earth. January 22, 1958: Wisconsin U.S. representative Lawrence H. Smith (WI-01) died in office. January 31, 1958: The United States launched Explorer 1, its first successful satellite. March 8, 1958: The USS Wisconsin (BB-64) was decommissioned, leaving the U.S. Navy without an active battleship for the first time since 1896. July 29, 1958: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, establishing NASA. October 9, 1958: Pope Pius XII died. October 28, 1958: The 1958 papal conclave elected Cardinal Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli as the next pope, he then took the papal name John XXIII. November 4, 1958: 1958 United States general election: Gaylord Nelson (D) elected Governor of Wisconsin. William Proxmire (D) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
Major legislation
1957 Joint Resolution 32: First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to set a county and municipal debt limit of five percent of taxable property. This amendment was eventually ratified at the November 1960 election. 1957 Joint Resolution 58: First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the state to take on debt to pay for port improvements. This amendment was eventually ratified at the April 1960 election.
Party summary
Senate summary
Assembly summary
Sessions
Regular session: January 9, 1957September 27, 1957
June 1958 special session: June 11, 1958June 13, 1958
Leaders
Senate leadership
President of the Senate: Warren P. Knowles (R) President pro tempore: Frank E. Panzer (R–Oakfield) Majority leader: Robert S. Travis (R–Platteville) Minority leader: Henry Maier (D–Milwaukee)
Assembly leadership
Speaker of the Assembly: Robert G. Marotz (R–Shawano) Majority leader: Warren A. Grady (R–Port Washington) Minority leader: Robert T. Huber (D–West Allis)
Members
Members of the Senate
Members of the Senate for the Seventy-Third Wisconsin Legislature:
Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-Third Wisconsin Legislature:
Committees
Senate committees
Senate Standing Committee on AgricultureH. M. Jones, chair
Senate Standing Committee on ConservationC. Krueger, chair
Senate Standing Committee on EducationW. W. Clark, chair
Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans Affairs, chair
Senate Standing Committee on HighwaysJ. Miller, chair
Senate Standing Committee on Interstate CooperationF. E. Panzer, chair
Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryW. L. Merten, chair
Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Taxation, Insurance, and BankingW. Trinke, chair Senate Standing Committee on Public WelfareP. P. Carr, chair Senate Special Committee on CommitteesJ. Miller, chair Senate Special Committee on Contingent ExpendituresL. H. Prange, chair Senate Special Committee on Legislative ProcedureF. E. Panzer, chair