WisconsinBill would tie school membership in sports groups to public rules
The failed measure would have barred districts from joining high school sports associations unless those groups agreed to follow state public records and open meetings rules.
What it does
A school district could belong to a high school sports association only if the association elects to follow state public records and open meetings rules.
Associations that elect to follow public records rules may withhold records about individual referees. Their records about individual students are not open for inspection or copying.
Argument forDistricts could join only associations that follow public records and open meetings rules, which may give the public more access to their work.
Argument againstPeople seeking referee or student records could get less information because associations may withhold referee records and student records are excluded from public access.
More detail
A school district could belong to a high school sports association only if the association elects to follow state public records and open meetings rules. This applies to nonprofit associations that coordinate athletic events or contests for students in grades 9 to 12 in public schools. The association must elect to be governed by both the public records and open meetings subchapters.
An association that elects to follow public records rules may withhold records about individual referees, and its records about individual students are not open for inspection or copying. The exceptions cover records about individual referees and individual students kept by the association. The exceptions apply to associations that elect to be governed by the public records subchapter.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
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)
- Mar 27Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 3-27-2026Major
- Mar 26Presented to the Governor on 3-26-2026To Governor
- Feb 24Report correctly enrolledMinor
- Feb 23Received from Assembly concurred inMinor
- Feb 19Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 19Read a third time and concurred inPassed House
- Feb 19Rules suspended
- Feb 19Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 19Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 18Made a special order of business at 11:02 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14
- Jan 16Read first time and referred to committee on RulesMinor
- 2025
- Nov 19Received from SenateMinor
- Nov 18Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Upper
- Nov 18Read a third time and passed, Ayes 22, Noes 11Passed Senate
- Nov 18Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Nov 18Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Nov 18Read a second timeMinor
- Nov 14Placed on calendar 11-18-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Nov 13Senator Stafsholt added as a coauthor
- Nov 10Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 4, Noes 1. Result: pass.Upper
- Nov 10Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 4, Noes 1Minor
- Nov 10Executive action taken
- Nov 4Public hearing held
- Feb 19Representative Tusler added as a cosponsor
- Feb 5Read first time and referred to Committee on EducationMinor
- Feb 5Introduced by Senators Tomczyk and Nass; cosponsored by Representatives Duchow, Brooks, Callahan, Dittrich, Knodl, Kreibich, Melotik, Nedweski, O'Connor, Pronschinske and WichgersIntroduced
Government & EthicsEducation