Senate Bill 597
Early admission to kindergarten and first grade at a private school participating in a parental choice program. (FE)
Vetoed by the governor
Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Mar 31, 2022. Lawmakers did not , so it stands.
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Introduced, passed
Oct 8, 2021
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed 21 to 12
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 22, 2022
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Governor, stopped here
Vetoed Mar 31, 2022.
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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”
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Terms on this page
Veto override
Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.
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 would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, a child may not be admitted to four-year-old kindergarten, five-year-old kindergarten, or first grade unless the child is four years old, five years old, or six years old, respectively, on or before September 1 of the school year.
However, current law also requires school boards to prescribe procedures, conditions, and standards for early admission (early admission policy) to four-year-old kindergarten, five-year-old kindergarten, and first grade, and provides an exception to the minimum age requirements for children admitted in accordance with a school board's early admission policy. Current law also specifies that for purposes of counting pupils enrolled in schools or school districts, a pupil enrolled in four-year-old kindergarten, five-year-old kindergarten, or first grade may only be counted if the pupil satisfies the minimum age set by law or an age allowed under a school board's early admission policy.
Read the full summary Show less
This bill creates an exception to the minimum age requirements for admission to four-year-old kindergarten, five-year-old kindergarten, or first grade for private schools participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, Racine Parental Choice Program, or the Wisconsin Statewide Parental Choice Program. The bill authorizes the governing body of a private school participating in a parental choice program to establish an early admission policy for four-year-old kindergarten, five-year-old kindergarten, and first grade. Under the bill, a child who is admitted in accordance with a governing body's early admission policy may be counted as a pupil enrolled in the private school.
Who's behind it
7 senators are its . All 7 are Republicans.
11 more lawmakers .
See all 18 names Hide the names
Authors (7)
- Joan Ballweg · Republican, Senate
- Alberta Darling · Republican, Senate
- Mary Felzkowski · Republican, Senate
- Dan Feyen · Republican, Senate
- John Jagler · Republican, Senate
- Duey Stroebel · Republican, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (11)
- Mark Born · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Rick Gundrum · Republican, Assembly
- Jessie Rodriguez · Republican, Assembly
- Samantha Kerkman · Republican, Assembly
- Mike Kuglitsch · Republican, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Timothy Ramthun · Republican, Assembly
- Donna Rozar · Republican, Assembly
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Ron Tusler · Republican, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There were 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Education vote to recommend it
Passed, 4 to 3 · Jan 21, 2022
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 4, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Passed, 21 to 12 · Jan 25, 2022
See how each of the 33 senators voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (21)
- Alberta Darling (R, 8)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Dale Kooyenga (R, 5)
- Dan Feyen (R, 20)
- Devin LeMahieu (R, 9)
- Duey Stroebel (R, 20)
- Eric Wimberger (R, 2)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Jerry Petrowski (R, 29)
- Joan Ballweg (R, 14)
- John Jagler (R, 13)
- Julian Bradley (R, 28)
- Kathleen Bernier (R, 23)
- Mary Felzkowski (R, 12)
- Patrick Testin (R, 24)
- Rob Cowles (R, 2)
- Rob Stafsholt (R, 10)
- Roger Roth (R, 19)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Van Wanggaard (R, 21)
No (12)
- Bob Wirch (D, 22)
- Brad Pfaff (D, 32)
- Chris Larson (D, 7)
- Janet Bewley (D, 25)
- Janis Ringhand (D, 15)
- Jeff Smith (D, 31)
- Jon Erpenbach (D, 27)
- Kelda Roys (D, 26)
- LaTonya Johnson (D, 6)
- Lena Taylor (D, 4)
- Melissa Agard (D, 16)
- Tim Carpenter (D, 3)
Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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May 17, 2022
The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.
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Mar 31, 2022
The governor vetoed it.
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Mar 28, 2022
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 22, 2022
The Assembly passed it too.
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Feb 17, 2022
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jan 25, 2022
The Assembly received it.
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Jan 25, 2022
The Senate passed it, 21 to 12.
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Jan 21, 2022
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 3.
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Jan 18, 2022
The committee held a public hearing.
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Dec 14, 2021
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Oct 22, 2021
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 11, 2021
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Oct 8, 2021
Sent to the Senate Committee on Education.
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Oct 8, 2021
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Oct 8, 2021 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, Ballweg, Darling, Feyen, Jagler, Stroebel and Felzkowski; cosponsored by Representatives J. Rodriguez, Kerkman, Dittrich, Gundrum, Kuglitsch, Penterman, Rozar, Steffen and Tusler
- Oct 8, 2021 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Education
- Oct 11, 2021 · Senate
Representative Born added as a cosponsor
- Oct 22, 2021 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Dec 14, 2021 · Senate
Representative Ramthun added as a cosponsor
- Jan 18, 2022 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 21, 2022 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 21, 2022 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 4, Noes 3
- Jan 21, 2022 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jan 21, 2022 · Senate
Placed on calendar 1-25-2022 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 25, 2022 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jan 25, 2022 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 25, 2022 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Jan 25, 2022 · Senate
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 21, Noes 12
- Jan 25, 2022 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 25, 2022 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 17, 2022 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 17, 2022 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 2-22-2022 by Committee on Rules
- Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 22, 2022 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 25, 2022 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Mar 28, 2022 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 3-28-2022 by directive of the Majority Leader
- Mar 31, 2022 · Senate
Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-31-2022
- May 17, 2022 · Senate
Placed on calendar 5-17-2022 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- 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.
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.
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