Senate Bill 437
The revenue limit ceiling for school districts. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 4, 2020. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Sep 23, 2019
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Jan 21, 2020
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 20, 2020
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2019 Wisconsin Act 176
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 4, 2020: “Published 3-4-2020”
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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
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
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, the formula for determining a school district's revenue limit does not apply to a school district with per pupil revenue that is less than the revenue ceiling. Instead, the school district is allowed to increase its per pupil revenue up to the revenue ceiling.
Under current law, the per pupil revenue ceiling is $9,700 in the 2019-20 school year and $10,000 in each school year thereafter. However, under current law, the general per pupil revenue ceiling amount does not apply to a school district in which, in any of the three preceding school years, a referendum question to exceed the district's revenue limit for operating costs was rejected. For such a school district, the per pupil revenue ceiling amount is the per pupil revenue ceiling amount that applied in the school year in which the operating referendum was rejected (revenue ceiling freeze).
Read the full summary Show less
This bill creates an exception to the revenue ceiling freeze. Under the bill, the revenue ceiling freeze does not apply to an operating referendum that was rejected at an election held in the 2018-19 school year if (a) the operating referendum was for the costs of operating and maintaining a new school building and (b) at the same election, the voters rejected a referendum to incur debt for the purpose of constructing the new school building.
Who's behind it
Rob Cowles, a Republican, is its .
1 more lawmaker .
See all 2 names Hide the names
Author (1)
- Rob Cowles · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (1)
- Jim Steineke · 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.
How lawmakers voted
There were 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Education vote to recommend it
Passed, 9 to 0 · Jan 13, 2020
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 Education, Ayes 9, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote on an amendment
Passed, 19 to 14 · Jan 21, 2020
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected, Ayes 19, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 4, 2020
The new law was published.
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Mar 4, 2020
The governor signed it. It became 2019 Wisconsin Act 176.
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Feb 28, 2020
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 20, 2020
The Assembly passed it too.
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Feb 18, 2020
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jan 21, 2020
The Assembly received it.
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Jan 21, 2020
The Senate passed it.
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Jan 13, 2020
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 9 to 0.
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Oct 29, 2019
The committee held a public hearing.
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Oct 16, 2019
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Sep 23, 2019
Sent to the Senate Committee on Education.
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Sep 23, 2019
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Sep 23, 2019 · Senate
Introduced by Senator Cowles; cosponsored by Representative Steineke
- Sep 23, 2019 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Education
- Oct 16, 2019 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Oct 29, 2019 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Oct 29, 2019 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senators Schachtner, Bewley, Larson and Johnson
- Jan 13, 2020 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 13, 2020 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 9, Noes 0
- Jan 13, 2020 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jan 17, 2020 · Senate
Placed on calendar 1-21-2020 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 21, 2020 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Senators Schachtner, Bewley, Smith, Johnson, Miller, Ringhand, Risser, Erpenbach, Carpenter and Larson
- Jan 21, 2020 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jan 21, 2020 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 2 rejected, Ayes 19, Noes 14
- Jan 21, 2020 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 21, 2020 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Jan 21, 2020 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Jan 21, 2020 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 21, 2020 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 18, 2020 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 18, 2020 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 11:41 AM on 2-20-2020 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 21
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 21, 2020 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 25, 2020 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Feb 28, 2020 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 2-28-2020
- Mar 4, 2020 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 3-3-2020. 2019 Wisconsin Act 176
- Mar 4, 2020 · Senate
Published 3-4-2020
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
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote