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Bills from the 2021–22 session

Senate Bill 409

Anti-racism and anti-sexism student instruction and anti-racism and anti-sexism training for employees at the University of Wisconsin System and the Technical College System. (FE)

Vetoed by the governor

Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Apr 15, 2022. Lawmakers did not ⁠, so it stands.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jun 10, 2021

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 22, 2022

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 60 to 33

  5. Governor, stopped here

    Vetoed Apr 15, 2022.

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, May 17, 2022: “Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82”

Read the governor's veto message · All vetoes this session

Read the bill

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What it would have done

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill prohibits race and sex stereotyping in instruction provided to students in University of Wisconsin System institutions and Technical College System technical colleges and in training provided to employees of the University of Wisconsin System and technical colleges.

Under the bill, the institutions and technical colleges shall not allow instruction to students that promotes race or sex stereotyping in any course or as part of any curriculum and shall not require an employee to attend a training that teaches, advocates, acts upon, or promotes race or sex stereotyping. Among the concepts that are prohibited to be taught under the bill are the following: that one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex and that an individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, bears responsibility for acts committed in the past by other individuals of the same race or sex. The institutions and technical colleges must post all course syllabuses, including updates to the syllabuses, on their websites.

Read the full summary

The bill provides that the Board of Regents of the UW System and the Technical College System Board shall withhold from a violating institution or technical college 10 percent of certain state aid that would have otherwise been allocated to that institution or technical college. The bill also allows a student or employee of an institution or technical college to issue a complaint to the Board of Regents or the Technical College System Board regarding an alleged violation of the bill, and to file a civil action seeking declaratory or injunctive relief regarding an alleged violation of the bill. If the student or employee is successful in the civil action, the court shall award the student or employee attorney fees.

Who's behind it

2 senators are its ⁠. All 2 are Republicans.

21 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 23 names

Authors (2)

Signed on in support (21)

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 10 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges vote on an amendment

Passed, 6 to 3 · Feb 16, 2022

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 Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 6, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 4 · Feb 16, 2022

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 Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 5, Noes 4”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Failed, 13 to 20 · Feb 22, 2022

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

Official motion: “Refused to reconsider vote by which Senate Bill 409 passed offered by Senator LeMahieu, Ayes 13, Noes 20”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote

Passed, 60 to 32 · Feb 22, 2022 · 7 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (60)

Official motion: “SHALL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR STAND”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 60 to 33 · Feb 22, 2022 · 4 didn't vote

See how each of the 97 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (60)

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

Senate vote

Failed, 12 to 21 · Feb 22, 2022

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

Official motion: “Refused to refer to committee on Senate Organization, Ayes 12, Noes 21”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 60 to 32 · Feb 22, 2022

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

Official motion: “Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 32”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 60 to 32 · Feb 22, 2022

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

Official motion: “Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 32”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 21 to 12 · Feb 22, 2022

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “CALL THE QUESTION”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 21 to 12 · Feb 22, 2022

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

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

What happened

  1. May 17, 2022

    The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.

  2. Apr 15, 2022

    The governor vetoed it.

  3. Apr 14, 2022

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 22, 2022

    The Assembly passed it too, 60 to 33.

  5. Feb 22, 2022

    “Point of order that Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 not germane under Assembly Rule 54 (3)(f) well taken” (the official wording)

  6. Feb 22, 2022

    “Read” (the official wording)

  7. Feb 22, 2022

    The Assembly received it.

  8. Feb 22, 2022

    “Messaged” (the official wording)

  9. Feb 22, 2022

    The Senate passed it, 21 to 12.

  10. Feb 22, 2022

    “Move to call the question, Ayes 21, Noes 12” (the official wording)

  11. Feb 22, 2022

    “Read a third time” (the official wording)

  12. Feb 22, 2022

    The Senate adopted it.

  13. Feb 16, 2022

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 4.

  14. Feb 16, 2022

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 6, Noes 3” (the official wording)

  15. Feb 10, 2022

    The committee held a public hearing.

  16. Oct 8, 2021

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  17. Jun 17, 2021 to Jun 28, 2021

    2 more representatives signed on in support.

  18. Jun 10, 2021

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges.

  19. Jun 10, 2021

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jun 10, 2021 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Jacque and Nass; cosponsored by Representatives Gundrum, Allen, Behnke, Brandtjen, Cabral-Guevara, Dittrich, Horlacher, Knodl, Kuglitsch, Magnafici, Murphy, Ramthun, Rozar, Skowronski, Sortwell, Wichgers, Thiesfeldt, Armstrong and Tusler

  2. Jun 10, 2021 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges

  3. Jun 17, 2021 · Senate

    Representative Schraa added as a cosponsor

  4. Jun 28, 2021 · Senate

    Representative Steffen added as a cosponsor

  5. Oct 8, 2021 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Nov 22, 2021 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Jacque

  7. Feb 10, 2022 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  8. Feb 16, 2022 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  9. Feb 16, 2022 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 6, Noes 3

  10. Feb 16, 2022 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 5, Noes 4

  11. Feb 16, 2022 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  12. Feb 18, 2022 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-22-2022 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  13. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Read a second time

  14. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  15. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  16. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  17. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Read a third time

  18. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Move to call the question, Ayes 21, Noes 12

  19. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Refused to refer to committee on Senate Organization, Ayes 12, Noes 21

  20. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Passed, Ayes 21, Noes 12

  21. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Refused to reconsider vote by which Senate Bill 409 passed offered by Senator LeMahieu, Ayes 13, Noes 20

  22. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Messaged

  23. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  24. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Read

  25. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Rules suspended to withdraw from Senate message and take up

  26. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  27. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Stubbs, Haywood, Baldeh, Drake, Moore Omokunde, Anderson, Billings, Brostoff, Conley, Considine, Emerson, Goyke, Hong, B. Meyers, Neubauer, S. Rodriguez, Shankland, Shelton, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Spreitzer, Subeck, Vining and Vruwink

  28. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representatives L. Myers, Stubbs, Baldeh, Drake, Haywood, Moore Omokunde, Anderson, Billings, Brostoff, Conley, Considine, Emerson, Goyke, Hong, B. Meyers, Neubauer, S. Rodriguez, Shankland, Shelton, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Spreitzer, Subeck, Vining and Vruwink

  29. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representatives Hong, Shankland, Anderson, Baldeh, Billings, Brostoff, Conley, Considine, Drake, Emerson, Goyke, Haywood, B. Meyers, Moore Omokunde, Neubauer, S. Rodriguez, Shelton, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Spreitzer, Stubbs, Subeck, Vining and Vruwink

  30. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 32

  31. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 32

  32. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Point of order that Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 not germane under Assembly Rule 54 (3)(f) well taken

  33. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Decision of the Chair appealed

  34. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Decision of the Chair upheld, Ayes 60, Noes 32

  35. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  36. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  37. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 60, Noes 33, Paired 2

  38. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  39. Feb 22, 2022 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  40. Feb 25, 2022 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  41. Apr 14, 2022 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 4-14-2022

  42. Apr 15, 2022 · Senate

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-15-2022

  43. May 17, 2022 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 5-17-2022 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  44. May 17, 2022 · Senate

    Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

Terms on this page

Veto override

Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.

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

Veto override

Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.

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