Senate Bill 208
The use of child restraint systems in motor vehicles
Topics: Children, Maternal and infant care, Motor vehicle: Equipment
Became law
The governor signed it on Dec 8, 2011. It's .
-
Introduced, passed
Sep 28, 2011
-
Committee, passed
Approved
-
Senate vote, passed
Passed Oct 27, 2011
-
Assembly vote, passed
Passed Nov 1, 2011
-
Governor, passed
Signed
-
Law, here now
2011 Wisconsin Act 111
Latest entry in the official record, Dec 12, 2011: “Published 12-20-2011”
Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.
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.
Under current law, with certain exceptions, no child under the age of eight years may be transported in a motor vehicle unless the child is properly restrained in a child safety restraint system (car seat) or booster seat or by a safety belt (seat belt).
The type of restraint system required depends on the age and size of the child, with more protective systems required for younger or smaller children and less protective systems required for older or larger children. A child who is:
Read the full summary Show less
1. Less than one year old or who weighs less than 20 pounds must be properly restrained in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of the vehicle if the vehicle is equipped with a back seat.
2. At least one year old and weighs at least 20 pounds but is less than four years old or weighs less than 40 pounds must be properly restrained in a forward-facing car seat in the back seat of the vehicle if the vehicle is equipped with a back seat.
3. At least four years old but less than eight years old, weighs between 40 and 80 pounds, and is no more than four feet nine inches tall must be properly restrained in a booster seat.
4. Under the age of eight and exceeds the weight or height limits specified in item 3, above, must be properly restrained by a seat belt.
If a child, because of age, weight, or height, falls into more than one of these categories, the child must be transported according to the requirements of the more protective category.
This bill clarifies that a child may be transported in a more protective category of restraint system than the minimum type of restraint system otherwise required.
Who's behind it
4 senators are its . 2 are Democrats and 2 are Republicans.
5 more lawmakers .
See all 9 names Hide the names
Authors (4)
- Glenn Grothman · Republican, Senate
- Julie M. Lassa · Democrat, Senate
- Terry Moulton · Republican, Senate
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (5)
- Mike Endsley · Republican, Assembly
- Mark Honadel · Republican, Assembly
- Steve Kestell · Republican, Assembly
- Daniel LeMahieu · Republican, Assembly
- Richard Spanbauer · Republican, Assembly
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Labor vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Oct 24, 2011
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 Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
-
Dec 12, 2011
The new law was published.
-
Dec 8, 2011
The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 111.
-
Dec 6, 2011
Sent to the governor.
-
Nov 1, 2011
The Assembly passed it too.
-
Oct 28, 2011
“Read first time and referred to calendar” (the official wording)
-
Oct 28, 2011
The Assembly received it.
-
Oct 27, 2011
The Senate passed it.
-
Oct 24, 2011
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
-
Oct 13, 2011
The committee held a public hearing.
-
Sep 28, 2011
Sent to the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs.
-
Sep 28, 2011
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Sep 28, 2011 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Grothman, Lassa, Moulton and Taylor;Cosponsored by Representatives Endsley, Honadel, Kestell, LeMahieu and Spanbauer
- Sep 28, 2011 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs
- Oct 13, 2011 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Oct 24, 2011 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Oct 24, 2011 · Senate
Report passage recommended by committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Oct 24, 2011 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Oct 26, 2011 · Senate
Placed on calendar 10-27-2011 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Read a second time
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 28, 2011 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Oct 28, 2011 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to calendar
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 2, 2011 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Nov 4, 2011 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled on 11-4-2011
- Dec 6, 2011 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 12-5-2011
- Dec 8, 2011 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 12-7-2011. 2011 Wisconsin Act 111
- Dec 12, 2011 · Senate
Published 12-20-2011
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