Senate Bill 123
Exemptions from the requirement that an original driver's license be a probationary license. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Dec 7, 2023. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Mar 8, 2023
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Jun 7, 2023
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Oct 17, 2023
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2023 Wisconsin Act 44
Latest entry in the official record, Dec 7, 2023: “Published 12-7-2023”
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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, a probationary license is, with certain exceptions, issued to all applicants who qualify for an original driver's license and remains in effect for two years from the date of the licensee's next birthday. Currently, the following persons are exempt from this requirement:
1. Certain persons who have been licensed by another jurisdiction.
Read the full summary Show less
2. Persons who are issued a commercial driver license.
3. Persons entitled to a regular license under a foreign license reciprocity agreement.
Those who are exempt from the probationary license requirement are instead issued a regular license that remains in effect for eight years after the date of issuance.
Under this bill, a person who provides to the Department of Transportation documentary proof that the person is enlisted in the U.S. armed forces is also exempt from the probationary license requirement.
Who's behind it
7 senators are its . 4 are Republicans and 3 are Democrats.
21 more lawmakers .
See all 28 names Hide the names
Authors (7)
- Tim Carpenter · Democrat, Senate
- Rob Cowles · Republican, Senate
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Brad Pfaff · Democrat, Senate
- Mark Spreitzer · Democrat, Senate
- Cory Tomczyk · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (21)
- Dave Armstrong · Republican, Assembly
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Ty Bodden · Republican, Assembly
- Janel Brandtjen · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Donovan · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Hutton · Republican, Senate
- Jenna Jacobson · Democrat, Assembly
- Alex Joers · Democrat, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Tod Ohnstad · Democrat, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Jessie Rodriguez · Republican, Assembly
- Donna Rozar · Republican, Assembly
- Christine Sinicki · Democrat, Assembly
- Pat Snyder · Republican, Assembly
- John Spiros · Republican, Assembly
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · May 10, 2023
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 Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Dec 7, 2023
The new law was published.
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Dec 7, 2023
The governor signed it. It became 2023 Wisconsin Act 44.
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Nov 30, 2023
Sent to the governor.
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Oct 17, 2023
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Oct 17, 2023
The Assembly passed it too.
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Oct 11, 2023
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jun 14, 2023
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Jun 7, 2023
The Assembly received it.
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Jun 7, 2023
The Senate passed it.
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May 10, 2023
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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May 1, 2023
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Apr 13, 2023
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Apr 12, 2023
The committee held a public hearing.
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Mar 10, 2023
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Mar 8, 2023
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.
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Mar 8, 2023
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Mar 8, 2023 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Cowles, Pfaff, Carpenter, Jacque, Marklein, Spreitzer and Tomczyk; cosponsored by Representatives Snyder, Armstrong, Behnke, Bodden, Brandtjen, Donovan, Joers, Murphy, Mursau, O'Connor, Ohnstad, Penterman, Rodriguez, Rozar, Sinicki, Spiros and Subeck
- Mar 8, 2023 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government
- Mar 10, 2023 · Senate
Representative Knodl added as a cosponsor
- Apr 12, 2023 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Apr 13, 2023 · Senate
Senator Hutton added as a coauthor
- May 1, 2023 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- May 10, 2023 · Senate
Executive action taken
- May 10, 2023 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- May 10, 2023 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jun 5, 2023 · Senate
Placed on calendar 6-7-2023 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jun 7, 2023 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jun 7, 2023 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jun 7, 2023 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Jun 7, 2023 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Jun 7, 2023 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 7, 2023 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Jun 14, 2023 · Assembly
Representative Jacobson added as a cosponsor
- Oct 11, 2023 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Oct 12, 2023 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 10-17-2023 by Committee on Rules
- Oct 17, 2023 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Oct 17, 2023 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Oct 17, 2023 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Oct 17, 2023 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Oct 17, 2023 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Oct 17, 2023 · Assembly
Representative Steffen added as a cosponsor
- Oct 17, 2023 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 18, 2023 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Oct 19, 2023 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Nov 30, 2023 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 11-30-2023
- Dec 7, 2023 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 12-6-2023. 2023 Wisconsin Act 44
- Dec 7, 2023 · Senate
Published 12-7-2023
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