The Thirty-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 14, 1880, to March 17, 1880, in regular session.
Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Assembly members were elected to a one-year term. Assembly members and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 4, 1879. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 5, 1878.[1]
November 11, 1880: Governor William E. Smith appointed justice Orsamus Cole as the 6th chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. On the same day, Smith appointed John B. Cassoday as associate justice.
Major legislation
March 5, 1880: An Act to allow general accident insurance companies to do business in this state, 1880 Act 105.
March 11, 1880: An Act to preserve and promote the public health in the city of Milwaukee, 1880 Act 206. Criminalized the act of dumping waste or wastewater into any river or stream in Milwaukee.
March 15, 1880: An Act to promote good order and repress crime, 1880 Act 238. Created sentence-reduction incentives for good behavior by state prisoners.
March 15, 1880: An Act for the prevention of cruelty to minors, 1880 Act 239.
March 15, 1880: An Act to prevent the adulteration of food and medicine and provide for analyzing the same, 1880 Act 252.
March 16, 1880: An Act relating to non-registered voters and amendatory of section twenty-four of the revised statutes of 1878, 1880 Act 315. Enabled unregistered voters to be eligible to vote with the assistance of a registered voter acting as witness for their eligibility.
Joint Resolution amending sections numbers 4, 5, 11, and 21, article 4 of the constitution of the State of Wisconsin, 1880 Joint Resolution 9. Proposed changing the terms for members of the Assembly from 1 year to 2 years, and for senators from 2 years to 4 years, and proposed that the legislature should be convened biennially, rather than annually.
Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to section 1 of article 3 of the constitution of Wisconsin relating to suffrage, 1880 Joint Resolution 12. Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to allow universal suffrage in Wisconsin for all people over age 21 who were citizens or recent immigrants intent on becoming citizens.
