Wisconsin voters will decide in the 2026 midterm elections whether to prohibit government-ordered closures of places of worship during emergencies.

The proposed constitutional amendment, titled the “Prohibit Government Closure of Places of Worship During Emergencies Amendment (2026),” would revise Section 18 of Article I of the Wisconsin Constitution. It would apply to emergencies declared at the national, state or local level, including public-health emergencies.

Madison Diocese challenged restrictions

The measure follows a dispute during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Dane County limited attendance at Mass to 50 people, and the Diocese of Madison threatened to sue over the restriction.

Bishop Donald J. Hying, who leads the Diocese of Madison, addressed the issue in a Madison Catholic Herald column dated Oct. 15 and in a video message dated Oct. 2. In the video, Hying said, “The Mass for us is everything.”

David Earleywine, executive director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, described religious liberty as the right to practice one’s faith openly without fear or coercion. The conference, however, has not taken a position on the proposed amendment.

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee declined requests for an interview or comment.