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Bills from the 2019–20 session

Senate Bill 266

Requiring political subdivisions and Marquette University to pay health insurance premiums for survivors of a law enforcement officer who dies in the line of duty and making an appropriation. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Oct 16, 2019. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jun 7, 2019

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Oct 8, 2019

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 96 to 0

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2019 Wisconsin Act 19

Latest entry in the official record, Oct 16, 2019: “Published 10-17-2019”

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 requires a political subdivision (a city, village, town, or county) and Marquette University to pay health insurance premiums for the surviving spouse and dependent children of a law enforcement officer who dies in the line of duty if the political subdivision or university paid such premiums for the law enforcement officer while he or she was employed by the political subdivision or university. The requirement does not apply to a surviving spouse who remarries or reaches the age of 65, or to a surviving child after he or she reaches the age of 26. Current law provides similar benefits to the surviving spouse and dependent children of a fire fighter who dies, or has died, in the line of duty if the municipality (city, village, or town) paid such premiums for the fire fighter while he or she was employed by the municipality.

Also, under the bill, if a political subdivision or Marquette University pays such health insurance premiums, the political subdivision or university must file a request for reimbursement for its costs with the Public Service Commission, which is required to provide reimbursement. The bill allows the PSC to contract with the Department of Revenue to administer the reimbursements. The reimbursement payments are funded by a fee called the “police and fire protection fee,” which current law requires communications providers and prepaid wireless retailers to collect from their customers.

Who's behind it

21 senators are its ⁠. 11 are Democrats and 10 are Republicans.

78 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 99 names

Authors (21)

Signed on in support (78)

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 8 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Sep 25, 2019

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

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 0 · Sep 25, 2019

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 Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Joint Committee on Finance vote on an amendment

Passed, 15 to 0 · Oct 2, 2019

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 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Joint Committee on Finance vote on an amendment

Passed, 15 to 0 · Oct 2, 2019

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

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Joint Committee on Finance vote to recommend it

Passed, 15 to 0 · Oct 2, 2019

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 Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 33 to 0 · Oct 8, 2019

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 96 to 0 · Oct 10, 2019 · 3 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (96)

Didn't vote (3)

Official motion: “CONCURRENCE”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 61 to 35 · Oct 10, 2019

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 35”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Oct 16, 2019

    The new law was published.

  2. Oct 16, 2019

    The governor signed it. It became 2019 Wisconsin Act 19.

  3. Oct 11, 2019

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Oct 10, 2019

    The Assembly passed it too, 96 to 0.

  5. Oct 8, 2019

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Oct 8, 2019

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Oct 8, 2019

    The Senate passed it, 33 to 0.

  8. Oct 8, 2019

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Oct 2, 2019

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 15 to 0.

  10. Oct 2, 2019

    “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  11. Oct 2, 2019

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  12. Sep 30, 2019

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  13. Sep 27, 2019

    Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.

  14. Sep 25, 2019

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

  15. Sep 25, 2019

    “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  16. Sep 17, 2019 to Sep 19, 2019

    3 more representatives and 1 senator signed on in support.

  17. Sep 17, 2019

    The committee held a public hearing.

  18. Jul 9, 2019 to Sep 12, 2019

    4 more representatives and 3 senators signed on in support.

  19. Jun 25, 2019

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  20. Jun 24, 2019

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  21. Jun 7, 2019

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

  22. Jun 7, 2019

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jun 7, 2019 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, Bewley, Bernier, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Feyen, Fitzgerald, Hansen, Jacque, Johnson, Marklein, Olsen, Petrowski, Ringhand, Risser, Roth, Schachtner, Smith, L. Taylor, Testin and Wirch; cosponsored by Representatives Spiros, Doyle, Anderson, Billings, Bowen, Brandtjen, Brostoff, Dittrich, Duchow, Edming, Emerson, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Horlacher, James, Kitchens, Kolste, Krug, Kulp, Kurtz, Macco, Milroy, Murphy, Mursau, L. Myers, Neubauer, Novak, Nygren, Ohnstad, Ott, Petryk, Pope, Pronschinske, Quinn, Ramthun, Riemer, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Sargent, Schraa, Shankland, Sinicki, Skowronski, Snyder, Spreitzer, Stafsholt, Steffen, Stubbs, Stuck, Subeck, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tauchen, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, Tusler, Vorpagel, Vruwink, Wichgers, Zimmerman, Kerkman, Jagler and Wittke

  2. Jun 7, 2019 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  3. Jun 24, 2019 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Jun 25, 2019 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Jul 9, 2019 · Senate

    Senator Kooyenga added as a coauthor

  6. Jul 11, 2019 · Senate

    Representative McGuire added as a cosponsor

  7. Jul 15, 2019 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Wanggaard and Bewley

  8. Aug 15, 2019 · Senate

    Senator Larson added as a coauthor

  9. Sep 10, 2019 · Senate

    Senator Darling added as a coauthor

  10. Sep 11, 2019 · Senate

    Representative Born added as a cosponsor

  11. Sep 11, 2019 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  12. Sep 12, 2019 · Senate

    Representatives Brooks and Loudenbeck added as cosponsors

  13. Sep 17, 2019 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  14. Sep 17, 2019 · Senate

    Representatives Katsma and B. Meyers added as cosponsors

  15. Sep 18, 2019 · Senate

    Representative Gruszynski added as a cosponsor

  16. Sep 19, 2019 · Senate

    Senator Tiffany added as a coauthor

  17. Sep 25, 2019 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  18. Sep 25, 2019 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  19. Sep 25, 2019 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  20. Sep 25, 2019 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  21. Sep 27, 2019 · Senate

    Withdrawn from committee on Senate Organization and rereferred to joint committee on Finance pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)

  22. Sep 30, 2019 · Senate

    Representative Vining added as a cosponsor

  23. Oct 1, 2019 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senators Wanggaard and Bewley

  24. Oct 2, 2019 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  25. Oct 2, 2019 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0

  26. Oct 2, 2019 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0

  27. Oct 2, 2019 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0

  28. Oct 2, 2019 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  29. Oct 4, 2019 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 10-8-2019 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  30. Oct 8, 2019 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  31. Oct 8, 2019 · Senate

    Read a second time

  32. Oct 8, 2019 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 withdrawn and returned to author

  33. Oct 8, 2019 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1 withdrawn and returned to author

  34. Oct 8, 2019 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 2 adopted

  35. Oct 8, 2019 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  36. Oct 8, 2019 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  37. Oct 8, 2019 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 33, Noes 0

  38. Oct 8, 2019 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  39. Oct 8, 2019 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  40. Oct 8, 2019 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  41. Oct 8, 2019 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 10-10-2019 by Committee on Rules

  42. Oct 10, 2019 · Assembly

    Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up

  43. Oct 10, 2019 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  44. Oct 10, 2019 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Hebl

  45. Oct 10, 2019 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 61, Noes 35

  46. Oct 10, 2019 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  47. Oct 10, 2019 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  48. Oct 10, 2019 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 96, Noes 0

  49. Oct 10, 2019 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  50. Oct 11, 2019 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  51. Oct 11, 2019 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  52. Oct 11, 2019 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 10-11-2019 by directive of the President, pursuant to Senate Rule 44m (3)

  53. Oct 16, 2019 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 10-16-2019. 2019 Wisconsin Act 19

  54. Oct 16, 2019 · Senate

    Published 10-17-2019

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