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Bills from the 2009–10 session

Senate Bill 25

The use of race-based names, nicknames, logos, and mascots by school boards, requiring the exercise of rule-making authority, and providing a penalty

Topics: Discrimination in education, Forfeiture, Indians and tribal issues, Public Instruction, Department of, School: Board, School: Health program, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Became law

The governor signed it on May 6, 2010. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 3, 2009

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Apr 13, 2010

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 53 to 45

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2009 Wisconsin Act 250

Latest entry in the official record, May 10, 2010: “Published 5-19-2010”

Read the bill

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What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Current law prohibits discrimination against pupils on a number of grounds, including race and ancestry. This bill provides that a school district resident may object to a school board's use of a race-based name, nickname, logo, or mascot by filing a complaint with the state superintendent of public instruction. The state superintendent must schedule a hearing on the complaint, at which the school board has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the use of the race-based name, nickname, logo, or mascot does not promote discrimination, pupil harassment, or stereotyping. If the state superintendent finds in favor of the complainant, the state superintendent must order the school board to terminate its use of the race-based name, nickname, logo, or mascot within 12 months after issuance of the order. A school board is subject to a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for each day that it uses the race-based name, nickname, logo, or mascot in violation of the order. The decision of the state superintendent is subject to circuit court review.

Who's behind it

5 senators are its ⁠. All 5 are Democrats.

31 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 36 names

Authors (5)

Signed on in support (31)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

How lawmakers voted

There were 7 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Education vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 2 · Apr 7, 2010

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report introduction and adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 3 recommended by committee on Education, Ayes 5, Noes 2 by committee on Education”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 15 · Apr 13, 2010

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate amendment 1 to Senate substitute amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 17 to 16 · Apr 13, 2010

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate amendment 2 to Senate substitute amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 17, Noes 16”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 19 to 14 · Apr 13, 2010

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate amendment 3 to Senate substitute amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 15 · Apr 13, 2010

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate amendment 4 to Senate substitute amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 17 to 16 · Apr 13, 2010

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 17, Noes 16”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 53 to 45 · Apr 20, 2010

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 53, Noes 45”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. May 10, 2010

    The new law was published.

  2. May 6, 2010

    The governor signed it. It became 2009 Wisconsin Act 250.

  3. May 4, 2010

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Apr 20, 2010

    The Assembly passed it too, 53 to 45.

  5. Apr 14, 2010

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Apr 14, 2010

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Apr 13, 2010

    The Senate passed it, 17 to 16.

  8. Apr 13, 2010

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Apr 7, 2010

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 3.

  10. Jan 13, 2010

    The committee held a public hearing.

  11. Feb 16, 2009

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  12. Feb 3, 2009

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Education.

  13. Feb 3, 2009

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Feb 3, 2009 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Coggs, Hansen, Carpenter, Risser, Holperin and Taylor;Cosponsored by Representatives Soletski, Pope-Roberts, Mursau, Young, Benedict, Berceau, Black, Colon, Cullen, Fields, Grigsby, Hilgenberg, Kessler, Molepske Jr., Mason, Milroy, Nelson, Parisi, Pasch, Pocan, Radcliffe, Schneider, Sherman, Sheridan, Shilling, Sinicki, Smith, Steinbrink, Turner, Van Akkeren and A. Williams

  2. Feb 3, 2009 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Education

  3. Feb 16, 2009 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Jan 13, 2010 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  5. Jan 13, 2010 · Senate

    Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Coggs

  6. Jan 14, 2010 · Senate

    Senator Carpenter withdrawn as a coauthor

  7. Apr 6, 2010 · Senate

    Senate substitute amendment 2 offered by Senator Olsen

  8. Apr 7, 2010 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  9. Apr 7, 2010 · Senate

    Report introduction and adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 3 recommended by committee on Education, Ayes 5, Noes 2 by committee on Education

  10. Apr 7, 2010 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Education, Ayes 4, Noes 3

  11. Apr 7, 2010 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  12. Apr 8, 2010 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 4-13-2010 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  13. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Read a second time

  14. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 to Senate substitute amendment 3 offered by Senator Olsen

  15. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 to Senate substitute amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  16. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Senate amendment 2 to Senate substitute amendment 3 offered by Senator A. Lasee

  17. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Senate amendment 2 to Senate substitute amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 17, Noes 16

  18. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Senate amendment 3 to Senate substitute amendment 3 offered by Senator Grothman

  19. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Senate amendment 3 to Senate substitute amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 14

  20. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Senate amendment 4 to Senate substitute amendment 3 offered by Senator Grothman

  21. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Senate amendment 4 to Senate substitute amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  22. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Senate substitute amendment 3 adopted

  23. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  24. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  25. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 17, Noes 16

  26. Apr 13, 2010 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  27. Apr 14, 2010 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  28. Apr 14, 2010 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  29. Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 11:33 A.M. on 4-20-2010 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 23

  30. Apr 20, 2010 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  31. Apr 20, 2010 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  32. Apr 20, 2010 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  33. Apr 20, 2010 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 53, Noes 45

  34. Apr 20, 2010 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  35. Apr 21, 2010 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  36. May 3, 2010 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled on 5-3-2010

  37. May 4, 2010 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 5-4-2010

  38. May 6, 2010 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 5-5-2010. 2009 Wisconsin Act 250

  39. May 10, 2010 · Senate

    Published 5-19-2010

Terms on this page

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act. 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

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary

From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act

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

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote

More in the glossary