Senate Bill 15
Motor vehicle instruction permit and probationary license eligibility and duration. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Jul 9, 2021. It's .
-
Introduced, passed
Jan 28, 2021
-
Committee, passed
Approved
-
Senate vote, passed
Passed Apr 14, 2021
-
Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jun 22, 2021
-
Governor, passed
Signed
-
Law, here now
2021 Wisconsin Act 64
Latest entry in the official record, Jul 9, 2021: “Published 7-9-2021”
Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.
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.
This bill lowers the age of eligibility for and increases the duration of a motor vehicle instruction permit and establishes a minimum age for a motor vehicle probationary license.
Under current law, DOT may issue an instruction permit to a person who is at least 15 years and 6 months of age, has passed a knowledge test, and, except for age or lack of training, is qualified to obtain an operator's license. If the person is under 18 years of age, the person must also be enrolled in a driver education course. Subject to certain restrictions, the permit authorizes the operation of motor vehicles, excluding commercial motor vehicles, school buses, motorcycles, motor bicycles, and mopeds. An instruction permit is valid for 12 months.
Read the full summary Show less
Under the bill, a person is eligible for an instruction permit at the age of 15, and the permit is valid for 18 months.
Under current law, with limited exceptions, a probationary license is issued to applicants who qualify for an original license and remains in effect for two years from the date of the licensee's next birthday. During the first nine months following issuance of a probationary license, a licensee under the age of 18 is generally subject to restrictions on the operation of “Class D” vehicles, which are automobiles, light trucks, and mopeds. A person must hold an instruction permit for at least six months before being eligible for a probationary license. The bill retains this requirement and provides that DOT may not issue a probationary license to a person who is under the age of 16.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . 1 is a Democrat and 1 is a Republican.
13 more lawmakers .
See all 15 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Kathleen Bernier · Republican, Senate
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (13)
- James Edming · Republican, Assembly
- Rick Gundrum · Republican, Assembly
- Jesse James · Republican, Senate
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Clint Moses · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Warren Petryk · Republican, Assembly
- Jon Plumer · Republican, Assembly
- Treig Pronschinske · Republican, Assembly
- Timothy Ramthun · Republican, Assembly
- Ken Skowronski · Republican, Assembly
- Shae Sortwell · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · 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 Transportation and Local Government vote on an amendment
Passed, 5 to 0 · Apr 7, 2021
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 Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Apr 7, 2021
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 Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
-
Jul 9, 2021
The new law was published.
-
Jul 9, 2021
The governor signed it. It became 2021 Wisconsin Act 64.
-
Jul 6, 2021
Sent to the governor.
-
Jun 22, 2021
The Assembly passed it too.
-
Jun 15, 2021
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
-
Apr 14, 2021
The Assembly received it.
-
Apr 14, 2021
The Senate passed it.
-
Apr 14, 2021
The Senate adopted it.
-
Apr 7, 2021
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
-
Apr 7, 2021
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
-
Mar 10, 2021
The committee held a public hearing.
-
Feb 12, 2021
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
-
Jan 29, 2021
1 more representative signed on in support.
-
Jan 28, 2021
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.
-
Jan 28, 2021
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 28, 2021 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Bernier and L. Taylor; cosponsored by Representatives Pronschinske, James, Petryk, Edming, Gundrum, Knodl, Moses, Mursau, Plumer, Ramthun, Skowronski and Sortwell
- Jan 28, 2021 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government
- Jan 29, 2021 · Senate
Representative Wichgers added as a cosponsor
- Feb 12, 2021 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 10, 2021 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 19, 2021 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Bernier
- Apr 7, 2021 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Apr 7, 2021 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Apr 7, 2021 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Apr 7, 2021 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Apr 13, 2021 · Senate
Placed on calendar 4-14-2021 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Apr 14, 2021 · Senate
Read a second time
- Apr 14, 2021 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 adopted
- Apr 14, 2021 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Apr 14, 2021 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Apr 14, 2021 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Apr 14, 2021 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Apr 14, 2021 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Jun 15, 2021 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Jun 16, 2021 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 6-22-2021 by Committee on Rules
- Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Jun 22, 2021 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 22, 2021 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Jun 28, 2021 · Senate
LRB correction (Senate Amendment 1)
- Jun 28, 2021 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Jul 6, 2021 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 7-6-2021
- Jul 9, 2021 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 7-8-2021. 2021 Wisconsin Act 64
- Jul 9, 2021 · Senate
Published 7-9-2021
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