Senate Bill 534
Self-insurance by religious sects for purposes of motor vehicle financial responsibility and liability insurance requirements. (FE)
Stopped in committee
It never got a , so it never came up for a vote. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Jan 8, 2016
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Committee, stopped here
Stopped here. No public hearing was held.
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Senate vote, not reached
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 13, 2016: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It never got a hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs. See every bill that never got a hearing this session.
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Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, if a motor vehicle accident results in injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is required to notify the operator and the owner of the vehicle involved in the accident that the person must deposit with DOT security for the accident in an amount determined by DOT to be sufficient to satisfy any judgment for damages resulting from the accident. Unless an exception applies, if a person fails to timely deposit security after this notice, DOT must suspend the person's operating privilege if the person was the vehicle operator and suspend all vehicle registrations of the person if the person was the vehicle owner. One of the exceptions is that the person provides proof of financial responsibility. In addition, if DOT receives a certified copy of a judgment for damages of $500 or more arising out of a motor vehicle accident, DOT must immediately suspend the operating privilege and all registrations of the person against whom the judgment was rendered unless the person can provide proof of financial responsibility. In both situations, proof of financial responsibility includes coverage under a motor vehicle liability insurance policy with specified minimum liability limits. In lieu of a motor vehicle liability insurance policy, a person can show that the person is a self-insurer possessing a certificate of self-insurance issued by DOT.
Also under current law, subject to certain exceptions, a person cannot operate a motor vehicle in this state unless the owner or operator of the vehicle has in effect a motor vehicle liability insurance policy for the vehicle providing coverage in at least specified minimum liability limits. However, there is an exception for a motor vehicle owned by a self-insurer possessing a certificate of self-insurance issued by DOT.
Read the full summary Show less
Under current law, a person who owns a fleet of more than 25 motor vehicles registered in the person's name may qualify as a self-insurer. Upon application, DOT may issue a certificate of self-insurance to the person if DOT is satisfied that the person is possessed, and will continue to be possessed, of ability to pay judgments obtained against the person.
Under this bill, a religious sect the members of which have collectively registered with DOT more than 25 vehicles may qualify as a self-insurer. Upon application, DOT may issue a certificate of self-insurance to a religious sect the members of which have a long-standing history of providing mutual financial assistance in a time of need, if DOT is satisfied that the religious sect is possessed, and will continue to be possessed, of ability to pay judgments obtained against the religious sect. If DOT issues a certificate of self-insurance to a religious sect, the certificate of self-insurance provides the same exception for members of the religious sect that, under current law, applies to a fleet owner: the certificate of self-insurance can be used in lieu of motor vehicle liability insurance to satisfy proof of financial responsibility and mandatory motor vehicle liability insurance requirements.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
9 more lawmakers .
See all 11 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Luther S. Olsen · Republican, Senate
- Duey Stroebel · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (9)
- Joan Ballweg · Republican, Senate
- Kathleen Bernier · Republican, Senate
- Cody Horlacher · Republican, Assembly
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Bob Kulp · Republican, Assembly
- John Macco · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Joe Sanfelippo · Republican, Assembly
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt · Republican, Assembly
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.
What happened
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Apr 13, 2016
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Jan 14, 2016
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Jan 8, 2016
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs.
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Jan 8, 2016
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 8, 2016 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Olsen and Stroebel; cosponsored by Representatives Kulp, Jacque, Ballweg, Sanfelippo, Bernier, Thiesfeldt, Horlacher, Murphy and Macco
- Jan 8, 2016 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs
- Jan 14, 2016 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Jan 28, 2016 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Olsen
- Apr 13, 2016 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate