Senate Bill 159
The issuance of motor vehicle operator's licenses and identification cards by the Department of Transportation
Topics: Attorney General, Identification cards, Motor vehicle: Driver's license, Transportation, Department of: Vehicles
Stopped in committee
It had a but no committee vote, so it never came up for a vote. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Apr 8, 2009
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Committee, stopped here
Stopped here. It had a hearing but no committee vote.
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Senate vote, not reached
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 28, 2010: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It sat with the Senate Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources.
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Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
The federal REAL ID Act of 2005 (REAL ID Act) prohibits a federal agency from accepting, for any "official purpose," a motor vehicle operator's license or identification card issued by a state unless the state satisfies requirements contained in the REAL ID Act. An "official purpose" includes accessing federal facilities, boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, and any other purpose identified by the federal Department of Homeland Security (Homeland Security).
While the provisions of the REAL ID Act became effective on May 11, 2008, Homeland Security regulations promulgated under the REAL ID Act gave states additional time to implement the provisions of the REAL ID Act. The 2007 biennial budget bill, 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 (Act 20), contained provisions incorporating into state law requirements contained in the REAL ID Act. However, most of these provisions are subject to a contingent effective date; the provisions do not become effective until the date specified in a notice provided by the Department of Transportation (DOT) after DOT has determined that it is ready to fully implement the REAL ID Act. When these provisions become effective, they will require DOT to significantly modify its process for issuing operator's licenses and identification cards.
Read the full summary Show less
Under this bill, DOT may not adopt any procedure or requirement for the issuance of operator's licenses or identification cards necessary under the REAL ID Act for federal agencies to recognize for an "official purpose" operator's licenses and identification cards issued by this state unless all of the following apply:
1. DOT ensures that any database, record facility, or computer system associated with the procedure or requirement includes reasonable security measures and safeguards to protect the privacy of applicants, licensees, and cardholders and to protect against unauthorized disclosure of department data.
2. DOT ensures that any personnel involved with the procedure or requirement are adequately screened and trained to protect the privacy of applicants, licensees, and cardholders and to protect against unauthorized disclosure of DOT data.
3. The procedure or requirement does not place an unreasonable cost or record-keeping burden on operator's license or identification card applicants.
In addition, DOT may not encumber or expend any moneys from its state funds appropriation for driver licensing for the purpose of complying with provisions of the REAL ID Act. However, DOT may encumber and expend federal funds received by the state that are specifically allocated for the implementation of the REAL ID Act.
Under the bill, the attorney general may, upon request of DOT and approval of the governor, challenge the legality or constitutionality of the REAL ID Act.
Who's behind it
3 senators are its . 2 are Democrats and 1 is a Republican.
13 more lawmakers .
See all 16 names Hide the names
Authors (3)
- Fred A. Risser · Democrat, Senate
- Dale Schultz · Republican, Senate
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (13)
- Terese Berceau · Democrat, Assembly
- Spencer Black · Democrat, Assembly
- Pedro Colon · Democrat, Assembly
- Tamara Grigsby · Democrat, Assembly
- Steve Hilgenberg · Democrat, Assembly
- Nick Milroy · Democrat, Assembly
- Louis Molepske Jr. · Democrat, Assembly
- Mark Pocan · Democrat, Assembly
- Marlin Schneider · Democrat, Assembly
- James Soletski · Democrat, Assembly
- Amy Sue Vruwink · Democrat, Assembly
- Jeffrey Wood · Independent, Assembly
- Josh Zepnick · Democrat, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
What happened
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Apr 28, 2010
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Apr 30, 2009
The committee held a public hearing.
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Apr 28, 2009
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Apr 8, 2009
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources.
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Apr 8, 2009
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Apr 8, 2009 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Taylor, Schultz and Risser;Cosponsored by Representatives Molepske Jr., Soletski, Milroy, Wood, Schneider, Berceau, Hilgenberg, Colon, Black, Pocan, Vruwink, Grigsby and Zepnick
- Apr 8, 2009 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources
- Apr 28, 2009 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 30, 2009 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Apr 28, 2010 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate