The Seventy-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session.

This session saw the culmination of Governor Warren P. Knowles state government reorganization and modernization plan, including the passage of the signature government reorganization law, which consolidated 85 executive branch agencies into 32 executive departments, and the passage of twelve amendments to the state constitution (the most in any single legislative session).

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 8, 1966. 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 3, 1964.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Warren P. Knowles, of St. Croix County, serving his second two-year term, having won re-election in the 1966 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events January 2, 1967: Second inauguration of Warren P. Knowles as Governor of Wisconsin. January 15, 1967: The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl I. January 27, 1967: An accidental fire destroyed Apollo 1 during a launch rehearsal at Cape Canaveral, killing all three astronauts assigned to the mission. February 10, 1967: The Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution came into force when a sufficient number of states ratified. March 4, 1967: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Myron L. Gordon resigned after he was confirmed as a United States district judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. March 13, 1967: Wisconsin governor Warren P. Knowles appointed county judge Connor Hansen to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed Myron L. Gordon. April 4, 1967: 1967 Wisconsin Spring election: Robert W. Hansen was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, defeating incumbent chief justice George R. Currie. He was the only Wisconsin chief justice ever defeated seeking re-election. Wisconsin voters ratified eight amendments to the state constitution: Combining the election of governor and lieutenant governor into a single ticket election rather than two separate elections. Doubling the term of the governor and lieutenant governor to four years from two. Doubling the term of the secretary of state to four years from two. Doubling the term of the attorney general to four years from two. Doubling the term of the state treasurer to four years from two. Abolishing term limits for sheriffs. Adding section 23 to Article I of the constitution, establishing that the prohibition on sectarian instruction in public education should not prevent state entities from paying for transportation for children to attend private schools. Allowing for judicial salary increases to take effect during the immediate term, rather than waiting until after the next election. July 30, 1967: A fight between teenagers in Milwaukee escalated into the 1967 Milwaukee riot—one of 159 race riots which swept the country in the long, hot summer of 1967. August 30, 1967: The United States Senate confirmed Thurgood Marshall as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, making him the first African American to serve on the court. October 18, 1967: A student anti-war protest on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison devolved into a riot, injuring 76 people. December 31, 1967: The Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the 1967 NFL Championship Game. The game was referred to as "the Ice Bowl" due to the game-time temperature of January 1, 1968: E. Harold Hallows became the 20th chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by rule of seniority, at the expiration of the term of chief justice George R. Currie. January 14, 1968: The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl II. March 31, 1968: U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson announced, during a speech about the status of the Vietnam War, that he would not run for another term as president. April 2, 1968: 1968 Wisconsin Spring election: Wisconsin voters ratified four amendments to the state constitution: Allowing the legislature to hold more than one session per biennium. Allowing the legislature to set a uniform retirement age for state judges. Clarifying that a judge may serve in a temporary role by appointment beyond the retirement age. Allowing for appropriations for forestry improvements from funding sources other than a property tax. April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. June 6, 1968: Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles, California. November 5, 1968: 1968 United States general election: Richard Nixon (R) elected President of the United States. Warren P. Knowles (R) re-elected to a third term as Governor of Wisconsin. Gaylord Nelson (D) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.

Major legislation July 19, 1967: An Act to provide for the functional reorganization of the executive branch of Wisconsin state government by the orderly transfer of all functions now assigned by law to the 91 separate departments of the executive branch into a streamlined new structure of constitutional offices, operating departments, and independent institutions and agencies, and to make appropriations, 1967 Act 75. This was the signature legislative package of the major executive branch reorganization, championed by governor Warren P. Knowles. It reorganized the state executive branch into 32 executive agencies, down from 85 (or 91 by some measures).

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 13 20 33 0 Start of Reg. Session 12 21 33 0 From Aug. 9, 1967Republican George M. Borg (15th District) resigned. 20 32 1 From Oct. 17, 1967Republican James D. Swan (15th District) was sworn in to replace George M. Borg. 21 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 10 23 33 0

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 53 47 100 0 Start of Reg. Session 48 52 100 0 From Jan. 10, 1967Republican G. Fred Galli (Green & Lafayette counties) died. 51 99 1 From Apr. 10, 1967Republican Joseph E. Tregoning (Green & Lafayette counties) was sworn in to replace G. Fred Galli. 52 100 0 From Jun. 22, 1967Democrat Adrian Manders (Milwaukee County) died. 47 99 1 From Aug. 11, 1967Democrat Kenneth Kunde (Sheboygan County) resigned. 46 98 2 From Oct. 15, 1967Republican James E. Held (Milwaukee County) died. 51 97 3 From Oct. 16, 1967Democrats Carl Otte (Sheboygan County) and Verna Manders (Milwaukee County) were sworn in to replace Kenneth Kunde and Adrian Manders. 48 99 1 From Oct. 27, 1967Democrat Milton McDougal (Langlade & Oconto counties) switched his part affiliation to Republican. 47 52 From Nov. 27, 1967Democrat Ben A. Riehle (Marathon County) died. 46 98 2 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 48 52 100 0

Sessions Regular session: January 11, 1967January 6, 1969

Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Jack B. Olson (R) President pro tempore: Robert P. Knowles (R–New Richmond) Majority leader: Jerris Leonard (R–Milwaukee) Minority leader: Fred Risser (D–Madison)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Harold V. Froehlich (R–Appleton) Speaker pro tempore: Elmer C. Nitschke (R–Beaver Dam) Majority leader: J. Curtis McKay (R–Thiensville) Minority leader: Robert T. Huber (D–West Allis)

Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Seventy-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Sturgeon Bay Rep. 02 Southern Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Milwaukee (Southwest City) Milwaukee Dem. 04 Milwaukee (North County) Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 07 Milwaukee (Southeast County Cudahy Dem. 08 Milwaukee West MilwaukeeRep. 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 10 Buffalo, Burnett, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, New RichmondRep. 11 Milwaukee (Western City) MilwaukeeDem. 12 Clark, Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, MerrillRep. 13 Eastern Dodge, Jefferson, OakfieldRep. 14 Outagamie Bear CreekRep. 15 Eastern Rock DelavanRep. ElkhornRep. 16 Most of Dane StoughtonDem. 17 Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, DarlingtonRep. 18 RosendaleRep. 19 Winnebago NeenahRep. 20 Ozaukee SheboyganRep. 21 Racine RacineDem. 22 Kenosha KenoshaDem. 23 Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Spooner Rep. 24 Green Lake, Portage, Waushara, Stevens PointDem. 25 Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Superior Rep. 26 Dane (Madison) Madison Dem. 27 Adams, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette, Baraboo Rep. 28 Southwest Milwaukee, Raymond Dem. 29 Marathon, Menominee, Wausau Rep. 30 Northern Brown, Florence, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto Rep. 31 Eau Claire, Jackson, Monroe, Eau Claire Rep. 32 Crawford, La Crosse, La Crosse Rep. 33 Waukesha Hartland Rep.

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 27 Adams, Juneau, Rep. Elroy 25 Ashland, Bayfield, Rep. Ashland 23 Barron Rep. Chetek 02 Brown 1 Rep. Green Bay 2 Rep. New Denmark 3 Dem. Green Bay 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Rep. River Falls Burnett Dem. Luck 02 Calumet Dem. Chilton 23 Chippewa Dem. Chippewa Falls 12 Clark Rep. Greenwood 27 Columbia Rep. Lodi 32 Crawford Rep. Viroqua 26 Dane 1 Dem. Madison 2 Dem. Madison 3 Rep. Madison 16 4 Rep. Sun Prairie 5 Dem. Waunakee 13 Dodge 1 Rep. Horicon 18 2 Rep. Beaver Dam 01 Door Rep. Algoma 25 Douglas Dem. Superior 23 Dunn Dem. Menomonie 31 Eau Claire 1 Rep. Eau Claire 2 Dem. Fairchild 30 Florence Dem. Marinette 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Fond du Lac 2 Rep. Oakfield 12 Forest, Oneida, Rep. Minocqua 17 Grant Rep. Muscoda Green Rep. Monroe Rep. Shullsburg 24 Green Lake Rep. Markesan 17 Iowa Rep. Highland 31 Jackson Dem. Strum 13 Jefferson Rep. Watertown 22 Kenosha 1 Dem. Kenosha 2 Rep. Randall 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. West Salem 30 Langlade Dem. Oconto FallsRep. 12 Lincoln Dem. Lublin 01 Manitowoc 1 Dem. Manitowoc 2 Dem. Two Rivers 29 Marathon 1 Dem. Athens --Vacant from Nov. 27, 1967-- 2 Dem. Wausau Menominee Dem. Shawano 06 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 05 2 Dem. Milwaukee 04 3 Rep. Milwaukee 09 4 Dem. Milwaukee 06 5 Dem. Milwaukee 09 6 Dem. Milwaukee 06 7 Dem. Milwaukee 11 8 Dem. Milwaukee Dem. Milwaukee 05 9 Dem. Milwaukee 11 10 Dem. Milwaukee 03 11 Dem. Milwaukee 12 Dem. Milwaukee 09 13 Dem. Milwaukee 03 14 Dem. Milwaukee 05 15 Dem. Milwaukee 11 16 Dem. Milwaukee 07 17 Dem. Milwaukee 04 18 Rep. Milwaukee --Vacant from Oct. 15, 1967-- 07 19 Dem. Milwaukee 08 20 Rep. Wauwatosa 21 Dem. West Allis 22 Dem. West Allis 28 23 Dem. Greendale 07 24 Dem. South Milwaukee 04 25 Rep. Whitefish Bay 31 Monroe Rep. Tomah 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Appleton 2 Dem. Kaukauna 3 Rep. Shiocton 20 Ozaukee Rep. Thiensville 24 Portage Dem. Stevens Point 25 Price, Rusk Rep. Ladysmith 21 Racine 1 Dem. Racine 2 Dem. Racine 28 3 Rep. Waterford 15 Rock 1 Dem. Janesville 16 2 Rep. Edgerton 15 3 Rep. Beloit 27 Sauk Rep. Rock Springs 20 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Sheboygan Dem. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Elkhart Lake 10 St. Croix Rep. Star Prairie 22 Walworth Rep. Elkhorn 13 Washington Rep. West Bend 33 Waukesha 1 Rep. Brookfield 2 Rep. Oconomowoc 3 Dem. Waukesha 28 4 Rep. New Berlin 14 Waupaca Rep. Waupaca 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Oshkosh 3 Rep. Menasha 24 Wood 1 Rep. Marshfield 2 Rep. Wisconsin Rapids

Committees Senate committees Senate Standing Committee on AgricultureF. E. Panzer, chair Senate Standing Committee on ConservationC. Krueger, chair Senate Standing Committee on EducationH. Rasmusen, chair Senate Standing Committee on Governmental and Veterans AffairsW. Draheim, chair Senate Standing Committee on HighwaysR. La Fave, chair