Senate Bill 598
The procedure for school district consolidations
Became law
The governor signed it on May 12, 2010. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Mar 8, 2010
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Apr 13, 2010
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Apr 15, 2010
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2009 Wisconsin Act 307
Latest entry in the official record, May 13, 2010: “Published 5-26-2010”
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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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Currently, the procedure for the consolidation of two or more school districts is the following:
1. The school boards adopt resolutions stating that they will consider consolidating their school districts.
Read the full summary Show less
2. In the first July following the adoption of resolutions, the school boards may order the school districts consolidated.
3. A referendum is held on the consolidation if the school board of any of the affected school districts directs that one be held, or if a petition signed by a sufficient number of electors is filed before the second Tuesday of September. The referendum, if necessary, is held in November.
4. The consolidation takes effect on the following July 1.
This bill provides two alternative timelines for school district consolidations if the school boards considering consolidation specify in their initial resolutions which alternative timeline applies. The timeline for the first alternative is the following:
1. The school boards may order the school districts consolidated in the first December following the adoption of their initial resolutions.
2. A referendum is held on the consolidation if the school board of any of the affected school districts directs that one be held, or if a petition signed by a sufficient number of electors is filed before the second Tuesday of February. The referendum, if necessary, is held in April.
3. The consolidation takes effect on the second following July 1.
The timeline for the second alternative is as follows:
1. The school boards may order the school districts consolidated in the first May following the adoption of their initial resolutions.
2. A referendum is held on the consolidation if the school board of any of the affected school districts directs that one be held, or if a petition signed by a sufficient number of electors is filed before the second Tuesday of July. The referendum, if necessary, is held in September.
3. The consolidation takes effect on the following July 1.
Who's behind it
4 senators are its . 3 are Democrats and 1 is a Republican.
12 more lawmakers .
See all 16 names Hide the names
Authors (4)
- Jim Holperin · Democrat, Senate
- Pat Kreitlow · Democrat, Senate
- Luther S. Olsen · Republican, Senate
- Kathleen Vinehout · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (12)
- Fred Clark · Democrat, Assembly
- Kristen Dexter · Democrat, Assembly
- Phil Garthwaite · Democrat, Assembly
- Steve Hilgenberg · Democrat, Assembly
- Ann Hraychuck · Democrat, Assembly
- Mary Williams · Republican, Assembly
- Nick Milroy · Democrat, Assembly
- Louis Molepske Jr. · Democrat, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Sondy Pope · Democrat, Assembly
- Jeff Smith · Democrat, Senate
- Ted Zigmunt · Democrat, Assembly
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Education vote to recommend it
Passed, 7 to 0 · Apr 5, 2010
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by committee on Education, Ayes 7, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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May 13, 2010
The new law was published.
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May 12, 2010
The governor signed it. It became 2009 Wisconsin Act 307.
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May 11, 2010
Sent to the governor.
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Apr 15, 2010
The Assembly passed it too.
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Apr 13, 2010
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Apr 13, 2010
The Assembly received it.
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Apr 13, 2010
The Senate passed it.
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Apr 5, 2010
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 0.
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Mar 25, 2010
The committee held a public hearing.
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Mar 8, 2010
Sent to the Senate Committee on Education.
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Mar 8, 2010
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Mar 8, 2010 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Vinehout, Holperin, Kreitlow and Olsen;Cosponsored by Representatives Clark, Hraychuck, Pope-Roberts, Hilgenberg, Dexter, Milroy, Zigmunt, Garthwaite, Smith, Molepske Jr., Mursau and M. Williams
- Mar 8, 2010 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Education
- Mar 25, 2010 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 31, 2010 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Apr 5, 2010 · Senate
Report passage recommended by committee on Education, Ayes 7, Noes 0
- Apr 5, 2010 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Apr 8, 2010 · Senate
Placed on calendar 4-13-2010 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Read a second time
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Apr 13, 2010 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Apr 13, 2010 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Apr 13, 2010 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 11:44 A.M. on 4-15-2010 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 22
- Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Apr 16, 2010 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Apr 26, 2010 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled on 4-26-2010
- May 11, 2010 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 5-11-2010
- May 12, 2010 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 5-12-2010. 2009 Wisconsin Act 307
- May 13, 2010 · Senate
Published 5-26-2010
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
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
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote