Senate Bill 408
The liability of an adult sponsor of a minor applicant for a motor vehicle operator's license
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 2, 2016. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Dec 3, 2015
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Jan 20, 2016
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 11, 2016
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2015 Wisconsin Act 202
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 2, 2016: “Published 3-2-2016”
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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.
This bill limits the liability that may be imputed to a parent or other adult who sponsors a person under the age of 18 (minor) in obtaining a motor vehicle operator's license.
Under current law, with limited exceptions, an application for a motor vehicle operator's license by a minor must be signed and verified by a parent or other adult sponsor. After the operator's license is issued, any negligence or willful misconduct of the minor when operating a motor vehicle is imputed to the parents or to the adult sponsor who signed the application. The parents or the adult sponsor is jointly and severally liable with the minor for any damages caused by the minor's negligent or willful misconduct.
Read the full summary Show less
This bill creates a limit for liability imputed to the parents or adult sponsor for damages caused by the minor's negligent or willful misconduct. Under the bill, liability is limited to the higher of: 1) a total of $300,000 for all parents or adult sponsors to all parties arising from any one accident; or 2) the limits of any insurance coverage provided to the minor under the parent's or adult sponsor's applicable insurance policies.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
11 more lawmakers .
See all 13 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Chris Kapenga · Republican, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (11)
- David Craig · Republican, Senate
- Rob Hutton · Republican, Senate
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Mike Kuglitsch · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Kulp · Republican, Assembly
- Adam Neylon · Republican, Assembly
- Mike Rohrkaste · Republican, Assembly
- Joe Sanfelippo · Republican, Assembly
- Thomas Larson · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Tittl · Republican, Assembly
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 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote to recommend it
Passed, 3 to 2 · Jan 8, 2016
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 Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote on an amendment
Passed, 61 to 34 · Feb 11, 2016
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 61, Noes 34”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 2, 2016
The new law was published.
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Mar 2, 2016
The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 202.
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Feb 25, 2016
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 11, 2016
The Assembly passed it too.
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Feb 11, 2016
“Placed at the foot of the calendar of 2-11-2016” (the official wording)
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Jan 25, 2016
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jan 21, 2016
The Assembly received it.
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Jan 20, 2016
The Senate passed it.
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Jan 8, 2016
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.
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Dec 16, 2015
The committee held a public hearing.
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Dec 3, 2015
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
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Dec 3, 2015
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Dec 3, 2015 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Kapenga and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Kuglitsch, Craig, Hutton, Jacque, Knodl, Kulp, T. Larson, Neylon, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo and Tittl
- Dec 3, 2015 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Dec 16, 2015 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 7, 2016 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 8, 2016 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Jan 8, 2016 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jan 19, 2016 · Senate
Placed on calendar 1-20-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 20, 2016 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jan 20, 2016 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 20, 2016 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Jan 20, 2016 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Jan 20, 2016 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 21, 2016 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Jan 25, 2016 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 2-11-2016 by Committee on Rules
- Feb 11, 2016 · Assembly
Placed at the foot of the calendar of 2-11-2016
- Feb 11, 2016 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 11, 2016 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Wachs
- Feb 11, 2016 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 61, Noes 34
- Feb 11, 2016 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 11, 2016 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 11, 2016 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 11, 2016 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 11, 2016 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 25, 2016 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Feb 25, 2016 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 2-25-2016
- Mar 2, 2016 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 3-1-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 202
- Mar 2, 2016 · Senate
Published 3-2-2016
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