WisconsinSchool boards would need state certification before borrowing or seeking higher revenue
If it took effect, the measure would require state certification of a school board's financial filings before the board or voters could approve certain borrowing or higher school revenue.
What it does
A school board or district voters could not adopt an initial bond resolution unless the state education department certifies the board has filed required financial information.
A school board could not adopt a resolution to ask voters to approve revenue above its district's limit unless the state education department certifies the board has filed required financial information.
Argument forVoters may have more current financial information when deciding whether to approve school borrowing or allow a district to exceed its revenue limit.
Argument againstA district that misses a required financial filing could lose the chance to seek voter approval for borrowing or higher school revenue.
More detail
A school board or district voters could not adopt an initial bond resolution unless the state education department certifies the board has filed required financial information. This applies to school boards and district voters adopting an initial resolution to borrow through a bond issue. The department's certification must reflect the board's compliance as of a date no earlier than 14 days before the resolution vote. A resolution adopted without the required certification, and any referendum on it, would be void. The requirement would start on this provision's effective date, which the text leaves blank.
A school board could not adopt a resolution to exceed its district's revenue limit unless the state education department certifies the board has filed required financial information. This applies when a school board seeks voter approval to raise revenue above the limit that otherwise applies to its district. The department's certification must reflect the board's compliance as of a date no earlier than 14 days before the board votes on the resolution. A resolution adopted without the required certification, and any referendum on it, would be void. The requirement would start on this provision's effective date, which the text leaves blank.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- Mar 27Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 3-27-2026Major
- Mar 26Presented to the Governor on 3-26-2026To Governor
- Jan 23Report correctly enrolled on 1-22-2026Minor
- Jan 22Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Jan 21Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded CONCURRENCE. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded SHALL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 21Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15Passed Senate
- Jan 21Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Jan 21Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Jan 21Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate, Ayes 18, Noes 15
- Jan 21Point of order that Senate Substitute Amendment 1 was not germane well taken
- Jan 21Read a second timeMinor
- Jan 21Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senators Hesselbein, Smith, Spreitzer, Drake, Habush Sinykin, Dassler-Alfheim, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Roys, Wall, Wirch and CarpenterMinor
- Jan 16Placed on calendar 1-21-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Vote recorded Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 16Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Jan 16Available for scheduling
- Jan 16Read first time and referred to committee on Senate OrganizationMinor
- Jan 16Received from AssemblyMinor
- Jan 15Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded SHALL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded SHALL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 15Read a third time and passed, Ayes 52, Noes 44, Paired 2Passed Assembly
- Jan 15Rules suspended
- Jan 15Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Jan 15Decision of the Chair upheld, Ayes 52, Noes 44
- Jan 15Decision of the Chair appealed
- Jan 15Point of order that Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 not germane under Assembly Rule 54 (3)(f) well taken
- Jan 15Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative FitzgeraldMinor
- Jan 15Decision of the Chair upheld, Ayes 52, Noes 44
- Jan 15Decision of the Chair appealed
- Jan 15Point of order that Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 not germane under Assembly Rule 54 (3)(f) well taken
- Jan 15Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative SheehanMinor
- Jan 15Read a second timeMinor
- Jan 13Placed on calendar 1-15-2026 by Committee on Rules
- 2025
- Nov 7Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 8, Noes 3. Result: pass.Lower
- Nov 7Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 8, Noes 3Minor
- Oct 29Executive action taken
- Oct 17Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Oct 2Public hearing held
- Oct 1LRB correction
- Sep 26Read first time and referred to Committee on EducationMinor
- Sep 26Introduced by Representatives Nedweski, Donovan, Allen, Behnke, Dittrich, Duchow, B. Jacobson, Maxey, Melotik, Moses, Murphy, O'Connor, Penterman, Steffen and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Hutton, Nass and TomczykIntroduced
- Nov 7Referred to committee on RulesMinor
Education