Wisconsin state Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls) speaks at a press conference about at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis. on Jan. 20, 2026 (Photo via WI Rep Shannon Zimmerman on Facebook)

A report from the progressive think tank A Better Wisconsin Together revealed that Wisconsin state Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls) missed 225 votes during the 2025-26 legislative session.

The report cites videos of sessions recorded by WisconsinEye, the state’s public affairs network, which show that Zimmerman requested a leave of absence and did not show up to sessions on six different occasions.

Below are some of the bills Zimmerman missed votes on:

  • Assembly Bill 24: Compelling local sheriffs to comply with federal immigration operations
  • Assembly Bill 94: Updated contract for state workers, including increase in wage
  • Assembly Bill 104: Prohibiting gender transition for individuals under 18
  • Assembly Bill 257: Overhaul of license and practice requirements for registered nurses
  • Assembly Bill 974: Grant to help fund WisconsinEye
  • Senate Bill 68: Extending the sunset for Electronic Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
  • Senate Bill 498: Financially penalizing Wisconsin Universities for free speech violations

Zimmerman also missed three sessions of the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) on June 17, 2025, Aug. 21, 2025 and Feb. 3, 2026, which is his only committee assignment. The JFC only has 16 members and approves matters pertaining to the state budget.

During the most recent JFC meeting on Feb. 3, Zimmerman missed a vote on a $10 million grant to increase funding for mental health services in the western part of the Chippewa Valley region of the state.

“The nearly sixty-thousand people of the 30th District Rep. Zimmerman is paid to represent deserve to know why they were left without a voice on hundreds of important votes over this session,” said Lucy Ripp, communications director at A Better Wisconsin Together. 

Zimmerman’s office did not respond to a Heartland Signal media request to clarify why he missed so many votes.

Zimmerman has served in the Wisconsin Assembly since 2017. Shortly after joining the state Assembly, Zimmerman claimed to have voted in favor of Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) biennial budget bill, but he missed the vote because he was on a business trip in Amsterdam. 

After Wisconsin adopted new legislative maps in 2024, Zimmerman faced a much tougher reelection campaign in the newly drawn 30th District. Although the race was rated “Lean Republican” by Civic Media, Zimmerman held off his Democratic challenger Alison Page with 54.2% of the vote, winning by just 3,192 votes.