WisconsinBroadband fund recipients could claim a proposed state tax credit
If it had become law, the proposal would have let people and businesses receiving qualifying broadband funding claim a state tax credit for tax years beginning in 2026 through 2030.
What it does
Under the failed proposal, people and businesses receiving qualifying broadband funding in Wisconsin could claim a state tax credit worth 6.32 percent of that funding. The credit could not exceed the tax they owed.
Argument forRecipients could keep more of their eligible broadband funding after taxes, which may help pay for broadband expansion in Wisconsin.
Argument againstThe proposed credits could reduce state tax collections because recipients could use part of their broadband funding to lower taxes they owe.
More detail
Under the proposal, a taxpayer could claim a state tax credit worth 6.32 percent of qualifying broadband funding received that year. The funding would have to support broadband expansion in Wisconsin. It includes grants from state or local government, a Wisconsin tribal government, or the federal government, including their authorized representatives, and funding from a federal high-cost communications program. The credit could not exceed the claimant’s tax owed. A claimant could not claim a credit for an amount claimed under a specified tax exemption. Partnerships, tax-option corporations, and limited liability companies could not claim the credit themselves. They would calculate each partner’s, shareholder’s, or member’s share and provide that information; those owners could claim their shares in proportion to their ownership interests. The proposed credit would apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, and before January 1, 2031.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- 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)
- Apr 6Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-3-2026Major
- Apr 2Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026To Governor
- Mar 18Report correctly enrolledMinor
- Mar 17Action ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 20, Noes 13. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 17Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 20, Noes 13
- Mar 16Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 23Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Feb 19Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded CONCURRENCE AS AMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 60, Noes 34Passed House
- Feb 19Rules suspended
- Feb 19Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 19Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Feb 19Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative SummerfieldMinor
- Feb 19Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 18Made a special order of business at 11:10 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14
- Feb 18Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Feb 12Received from SenateMinor
- Feb 11Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Read a third time and passed, Ayes 20, Noes 13Passed Senate
- Feb 11Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 11Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 11Senate Amendment 1 rejectedMinor
- Feb 11Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 11Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Hesselbein, Smith, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Habush Sinykin, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Roys, Spreitzer, Wall and WirchMinor
- Feb 9Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 3Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 11, Noes 4. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 3Report passage recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 11, Noes 4Minor
- Feb 3Executive action taken
- Jan 29Withdrawn from committee on Senate Organization and rereferred to joint committee on Finance pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)Minor
- 2025
- Nov 12Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions received, Ayes 6, Noes 3Minor
- Vote recorded Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions received, Ayes 6, Noes 3. Result: pass.Upper
- Oct 23Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions requested
- Sep 19Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 7, Noes 1. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 19Report passage recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 7, Noes 1Minor
- Sep 18Executive action taken
- Jun 10Representative Bare added as a cosponsor
- May 21Public hearing held
- May 13Representative McCarville added as a cosponsor
- Apr 22Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Apr 14Representative Joers added as a cosponsor
- Apr 3Read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture and RevenueMinor
- Apr 3Introduced by Senators Quinn, Bradley, Feyen, James, Keyeski, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Stafsholt, Testin, Tomczyk and Wimberger; cosponsored by Representatives Summerfield, Steffen, Gustafson, Armstrong, Callahan, Dittrich, Green, B. Jacobson, J. Jacobson, Johnson, Kaufert, Kitchens, Kreibich, Moses, Mursau, Novak, O'Connor, Subeck, Swearingen, Tucker, Udell, VanderMeer and WittkeIntroduced
- Nov 12Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions received, Ayes 6, Noes 3Minor
Taxes & BudgetTechnology