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Bills from the 2021–22 session

Senate Bill 703

Classification of motor vehicle operators as independent contractors or employees

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

    Nov 19, 2021

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 20 to 11

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 23, 2022

  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 provides that, for the purposes of the worker's compensation law, the unemployment insurance law, the minimum wage law, the administration of income and franchise taxes, and wage claims, the fact that the operator of a motor vehicle for a motor carrier deploys, implements, or uses a motor carrier safety improvement is not evidence that the operator is an employee rather than an independent contractor.

Who's behind it

3 senators are its ⁠. All 3 are Republicans.

6 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 9 names

Authors (3)

Signed on in support (6)

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 4 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 8, 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 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, 3 to 2 · Feb 8, 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 Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 20 to 11 · Feb 15, 2022

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 1 adopted, Ayes 20, Noes 11”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 20 to 11 · Feb 15, 2022 · 2 didn't vote

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Didn't vote (2)

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 23, 2022

    The Assembly passed it too.

  5. Feb 17, 2022

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Feb 15, 2022

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Feb 15, 2022

    The Senate passed it, 20 to 11.

  8. Feb 15, 2022

    The Senate adopted it, 20 to 11.

  9. Feb 8, 2022

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  10. Feb 8, 2022

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  11. Jan 19, 2022

    The committee held a public hearing.

  12. Nov 19, 2021

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.

  13. Nov 19, 2021

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Nov 19, 2021 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Cowles, Ballweg and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Spiros, Armstrong, August, Macco, Steffen and Knodl

  2. Nov 19, 2021 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government

  3. Jan 19, 2022 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Feb 3, 2022 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Cowles

  5. Feb 8, 2022 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  6. Feb 8, 2022 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  7. Feb 8, 2022 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  8. Feb 8, 2022 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  9. Feb 11, 2022 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-15-2022 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  10. Feb 15, 2022 · Senate

    Read a second time

  11. Feb 15, 2022 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted, Ayes 20, Noes 11

  12. Feb 15, 2022 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  13. Feb 15, 2022 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  14. Feb 15, 2022 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 20, Noes 11

  15. Feb 15, 2022 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  16. Feb 15, 2022 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  17. Feb 17, 2022 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  18. Feb 22, 2022 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 8:41 AM on 2-23-2022 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 29

  19. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  20. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  21. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  22. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  23. Feb 23, 2022 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  24. Feb 23, 2022 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  25. Mar 2, 2022 · Senate

    LRB correction

  26. Mar 2, 2022 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  27. Apr 14, 2022 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 4-14-2022

  28. Apr 15, 2022 · Senate

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-15-2022

  29. May 17, 2022 · Senate

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

  30. 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

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

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote

More in the glossary