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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Senate Bill 550

Special registration plates associated with certain professional basketball teams and making an appropriation. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 31, 2016. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 12, 2016

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 16, 2016

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 91 to 4

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 296

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 31, 2016: “Published 3-31-2016”

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 allows persons who are interested in supporting the Milwaukee Bucks to obtain special motor vehicle registration plates.

Under current law, a group or organization that meets certain criteria may apply to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for designation as an authorized special group. If the application is approved, members of the authorized special group may obtain special registration plates for certain vehicles, including automobiles and motor homes, that are owned or leased by special group members.

Read the full summary

A fee, in addition to the regular registration fee for the particular kind of vehicle, is charged for the issuance or reissuance of most special plates.

This bill establishes an authorized special group specifically enumerated in state law for persons interested in obtaining special plates expressing support for certain professional basketball teams. In addition to the regular vehicle registration fee, special group members are required to pay a $15 fee for issuance or reissuance of the special plates and to annually include a voluntary payment of $25. Eighty percent of the voluntary payment is deposited in the general fund until the state is fully reimbursed for its contributions to a professional basketball arena, and all other amounts are paid to the Milwaukee Bucks Foundation. The bill requires the special plates to display a logo or symbol associated with the professional basketball team and that the plates' design be approved by the president of the Milwaukee Bucks.

DOT may not issue these special plates until DOT has obtained authority to use any applicable trademark or service mark associated with the team on these special plates and until DOT receives a contribution from any interested person or group in the amount of the initial costs of production of these special plates or $23,700, whichever is less.

Who's behind it

5 senators are its ⁠. All 5 are Republicans.

12 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 17 names

Authors (5)

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 7 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · 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 Transportation and Veterans Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 0 · 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 Transportation and Veterans Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 15, 2016

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

Official motion: “Referred to joint committee on Finance by Committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 15, 2016

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

Official motion: “Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 24 to 8 · 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 24, Noes 8”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 91 to 4 · Feb 18, 2016 · 4 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (91)

Didn't vote (4)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 91, Noes 4”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 63 to 32 · Feb 18, 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 63, Noes 32”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 31, 2016

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 31, 2016

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 296.

  3. Mar 29, 2016

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 18, 2016

    The Assembly passed it too, 91 to 4.

  5. Feb 18, 2016

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  6. Feb 16, 2016

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  7. Feb 16, 2016

    The Assembly received it.

  8. Feb 16, 2016

    The Senate passed it, 24 to 8.

  9. Feb 16, 2016

    The Senate adopted it.

  10. Feb 15, 2016

    “Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes2” (the official wording)

  11. Feb 15, 2016

    Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.

  12. Feb 5, 2016

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.

  13. Feb 5, 2016

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  14. Feb 3, 2016

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  15. Jan 21, 2016

    The committee held a public hearing.

  16. Jan 12, 2016

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs.

  17. Jan 12, 2016

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 12, 2016 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators LeMahieu, Harris Dodd, Gudex, C. Larson, Lassa, Lazich, Stroebel, Tiffany and L. Taylor; cosponsored by Representatives Tittl, Allen, Barnes, Hintz, Jarchow, Kahl, Ohnstad, A. Ott, Rohrkaste, Sinicki, Steffen, Vorpagel and Zamarripa

  2. Jan 12, 2016 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs

  3. Jan 15, 2016 · Senate

    Senator Harris Dodd withdrawn as a coauthor

  4. Jan 19, 2016 · Senate

    Senator C. Larson withdrawn as a coauthor

  5. Jan 21, 2016 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  6. Jan 21, 2016 · Senate

    Representative Kahl withdrawn as a cosponsor

  7. Feb 1, 2016 · Senate

    Representative Ohnstad withdrawn as a cosponsor

  8. Feb 2, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator LeMahieu

  9. Feb 3, 2016 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  10. Feb 4, 2016 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  11. Feb 5, 2016 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  12. Feb 5, 2016 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  13. Feb 5, 2016 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  14. Feb 15, 2016 · Senate

    Senator Lassa withdrawn as a coauthor

  15. Feb 15, 2016 · Senate

    Referred to joint committee on Finance by Committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  16. Feb 15, 2016 · Senate

    Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes2

  17. Feb 15, 2016 · Senate

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

  18. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Senator L. Taylor withdrawn as a coauthor

  19. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senators L. Taylor, C. Larson, Ringhand and Carpenter

  20. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 offered by Senator L. Taylor

  21. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Read a second time

  22. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  23. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 laid on table

  24. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 laid on table

  25. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  26. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  27. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 24, Noes 8

  28. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  29. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  30. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  31. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 2:38 PM on 2-18-2016 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 29

  32. Feb 17, 2016 · Assembly

    LRB correction (Senate Amendment 2)

  33. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Representative Barca added as a cosponsor

  34. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  35. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Bowen

  36. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 63, Noes 32

  37. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  38. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  39. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 91, Noes 4

  40. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  41. Feb 19, 2016 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  42. Feb 25, 2016 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  43. Mar 29, 2016 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 3-29-2016

  44. Mar 31, 2016 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-30-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 296

  45. Mar 31, 2016 · Senate

    Published 3-31-2016

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