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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Senate Bill 533

Regulating the production and use of photo identification cards by local units of government. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Apr 25, 2016. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 8, 2016

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 16, 2016

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 62 to 35

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 374

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 25, 2016: “Published 4-26-2016”

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.

This bill prohibits towns and counties from issuing, or expending funds for the issuance of a photo identification card for any resident of the town or county, other than an employment-related identification card for employees of the town or county.

The bill also provides that an ID card issued by a city or village may not be used for voting, registration for voting, or to obtain public benefits, such as Wisconsin Works, including Wisconsin Shares; the food stamp program; the Medical Assistance program; and the programs that provide state supplemental payments to persons receiving federal supplemental security income. Under the bill, if a city or village issues an ID card, the card must state clearly on its face that the card is not authorized for voting purposes.

Read the full summary

The bill specifies that any card issued by a city, village, town, or county that had been used as an identification document for proof of residence for voting registration may no longer be used for that purpose.

Who's behind it

8 senators are its ⁠. All 8 are Republicans.

12 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 20 names

Authors (8)

Signed on in support (12)

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 6 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Elections and Local Government vote on an amendment

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 5, 2016

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

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Elections and Local Government vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 5, 2016

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

Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 62 to 35 · Feb 16, 2016

See how each of the 97 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (62)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 62, Noes 35, Paired 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 19 to 13 · Feb 16, 2016

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 19 to 13 · Feb 16, 2016

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 19 to 13 · Feb 16, 2016 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Didn't vote (1)

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 19, Noes 13”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Apr 25, 2016

    The new law was published.

  2. Apr 25, 2016

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 374.

  3. Apr 21, 2016

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 16, 2016

    The Assembly passed it too, 62 to 35.

  5. Feb 16, 2016

    “Read” (the official wording)

  6. Feb 16, 2016

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Feb 16, 2016

    The Senate passed it, 19 to 13.

  8. Feb 16, 2016

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Feb 5, 2016

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  10. Feb 5, 2016

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  11. Feb 3, 2016

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  12. Jan 28, 2016

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  13. Jan 26, 2016

    The committee held a public hearing.

  14. Jan 8, 2016

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Elections and Local Government.

  15. Jan 8, 2016

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 8, 2016 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, LeMahieu, Lasee, Gudex, Kapenga, Stroebel, Nass and Lazich; cosponsored by Representatives Sanfelippo, Brandtjen, Allen, Born, Craig, Duchow, Gannon, Kremer, J. Ott, Rodriguez, Skowronski and Weatherston

  2. Jan 8, 2016 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Elections and Local Government

  3. Jan 25, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  4. Jan 26, 2016 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  5. Jan 28, 2016 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Jan 28, 2016 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  7. Feb 3, 2016 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  8. Feb 3, 2016 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  9. Feb 5, 2016 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  10. Feb 5, 2016 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Elections and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  11. Feb 5, 2016 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  12. Feb 15, 2016 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-16-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  13. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senators Miller, Risser, Shilling, Lassa, Wirch, Carpenter, L. Taylor, C. Larson, Ringhand and Bewley

  14. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 offered by Senators Carpenter, L. Taylor and C. Larson

  15. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Read a second time

  16. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  17. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13

  18. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13

  19. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  20. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  21. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 19, Noes 13

  22. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  23. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  24. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Read

  25. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended and taken up

  26. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  27. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  28. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  29. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 62, Noes 35, Paired 2

  30. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  31. Feb 17, 2016 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  32. Feb 25, 2016 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  33. Apr 21, 2016 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 4-21-2016

  34. Apr 25, 2016 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 4-25-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 374

  35. Apr 25, 2016 · Senate

    Published 4-26-2016

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

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