Assembly Bill 597
A state matching grant program for recipients of federal per diem payments. (FE)
Topics: United States: Veterans Affairs, Department of, Veteran: Relief, Veterans Affairs, Department of
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 2, 2026. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Oct 27, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Nov 19, 2025
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Feb 11, 2026
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2025 Wisconsin Act 154
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 2, 2026: “Published 4-3-2026”
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The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 609. That version died when the session ended.
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 federal law, the federal Department of Veterans Affairs awards per diem payments to eligible organizations that furnish services to homeless veterans in an amount of up to $82.73 per day per veteran housed.
This bill creates a state matching grant program to provide state matching per diem payments to organizations that, on the date of their grant application, have been awarded federal per diem payments for the upcoming fiscal year. Under the bill, the state Department of Veterans Affairs may approve grants of $25 per day per veteran that may be housed, and must pay the grant awards on a quarterly basis in an amount that equals $25 per day per veteran housed by the eligible entity in the previous quarter.
Who's behind it
21 representatives are its . All 21 are Republicans.
8 more lawmakers .
See all 29 names Hide the names
Authors (21)
- Dave Armstrong · Republican, Assembly
- Brent Jacobson · Republican, Assembly
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Lindee Brill · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Donovan · Republican, Assembly
- Ben Franklin · Republican, Assembly
- Joy Goeben · Republican, Assembly
- Chanz Green · Republican, Assembly
- Karen Hurd · Republican, Assembly
- Dean Kaufert · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Clint Moses · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Pat Snyder · Republican, Assembly
- John Spiros · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Summerfield · Republican, Assembly
- Duke Tucker · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (8)
- Jesse James · Republican, Senate
- Ortiz-Velez and Stubbs
- Romaine Quinn · Republican, Senate
- Mark Spreitzer · Democrat, Senate
- Rob Stafsholt · Republican, Senate
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Cory Tomczyk · Republican, Senate
- Eric Wimberger · Republican, Senate
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 4 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs vote on an amendment
Passed, 12 to 0 · Nov 13, 2025
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 12, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs vote to recommend it
Passed, 12 to 0 · Nov 13, 2025
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 Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 12, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 98 to 0 · Nov 19, 2025 · 1 didn't vote
See how each of the 99 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (98)
- Adam Neylon (R, 15)
- Alex Dallman (R, 39)
- Alex Joers (D, 81)
- Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D, 90)
- Amanda Nedweski (R, 32)
- Andrew Hysell (D, 48)
- Angela Stroud (D, 73)
- Angelina Cruz (D, 62)
- Angelito Tenorio (D, 14)
- Ann Roe (D, 44)
- Barbara Dittrich (R, 99)
- Ben DeSmidt (D, 65)
- Ben Franklin (R, 88)
- Bob Donovan (R, 61)
- Bob Wittke (R, 63)
- Brent Jacobson (R, 87)
- Brienne Brown (D, 43)
- Calvin Callahan (R, 35)
- Chanz Green (R, 74)
- Christian Phelps (D, 93)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Chuck Wichgers (R, 84)
- Cindi Duchow (R, 97)
- Clint Anderson (D, 45)
- Clint Moses (R, 92)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Darrin Madison (D, 10)
- Dave Armstrong (R, 67)
- Dave Maxey (R, 83)
- Dave Murphy (R, 56)
- David Steffen (R, 4)
- Dean Kaufert (R, 53)
- Deb Andraca (D, 23)
- Duke Tucker (R, 75)
- Elijah Behnke (R, 6)
- Francesca Hong (D, 76)
- Greta Neubauer (D, 66)
- Gus Gustafson (R, 55)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jenna Jacobson (D, 50)
- Jerry O'Connor (R, 60)
- Jessie Rodriguez (R, 21)
- Jill Billings (D, 95)
- Jim Piwowarczyk (R, 98)
- Joan Fitzgerald (D, 46)
- Jodi Emerson (D, 91)
- Joe Sheehan (D, 26)
- Joel Kitchens (R, 1)
- John Spiros (R, 86)
- Joy Goeben (R, 5)
- Kalan Haywood (D, 16)
- Karen DeSanto (D, 40)
- Karen Hurd (R, 69)
- Karen Kirsch (D, 7)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lee Snodgrass (D, 52)
- Lindee Brill (R, 27)
- Lisa Subeck (D, 79)
- Lori Palmeri (D, 54)
- Margaret Arney (D, 18)
- Mark Born (R, 37)
- Maureen McCarville (D, 42)
- Mike Bare (D, 80)
- Nancy VanderMeer (R, 70)
- Pat Snyder (R, 85)
- Paul Melotik (R, 22)
- Paul Tittl (R, 25)
- Priscilla Prado (D, 9)
- Randy Udell (D, 47)
- Renuka Mayadev (D, 77)
- Rick Gundrum (R, 58)
- Rob Brooks (R, 59)
- Rob Kreibich (R, 28)
- Rob Summerfield (R, 68)
- Rob Swearingen (R, 34)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Robyn Vining (D, 13)
- Ron Tusler (R, 3)
- Russell Goodwin (D, 12)
- Ryan Clancy (D, 19)
- Ryan Spaude (D, 89)
- Scott Allen (R, 82)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Shae Sortwell (R, 2)
- Shannon Zimmerman (R, 30)
- Shelia Stubbs (D, 78)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Supreme Moore Omokunde (D, 17)
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D, 8)
- Tara Johnson (D, 96)
- Tip McGuire (D, 64)
- Todd Novak (R, 51)
- Tony Kurtz (R, 41)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Treig Pronschinske (R, 29)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Vinnie Miresse (D, 71)
- Will Penterman (R, 38)
Didn't vote (1)
- Sequanna Taylor (D, 11)
Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Mental Health vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Jan 22, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 2, 2026
The new law was published.
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Apr 2, 2026
The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 154.
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Apr 1, 2026
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 11, 2026
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Feb 11, 2026
The Senate passed it too.
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Jan 22, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Jan 13, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Nov 20, 2025
Sent to the Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families.
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Nov 20, 2025
The Senate received it.
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Nov 19, 2025
The Assembly passed it, 98 to 0.
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Nov 19, 2025
The Assembly adopted it.
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Nov 19, 2025
2 more representatives signed on in support.
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Nov 13, 2025
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Nov 13, 2025
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 12 to 0.
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Nov 7, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 29, 2025
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Oct 29, 2025
The committee held a public hearing.
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Oct 27, 2025
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs.
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Oct 27, 2025
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Oct 27, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Franklin, Moses, Hurd, Summerfield, Armstrong, Behnke, Brill, Dittrich, Donovan, Goeben, Green, B. Jacobson, Kaufert, Knodl, O'Connor, Penterman, Snyder, Spiros, Tucker, Wichgers and Mursau; cosponsored by Senators Wimberger, James, Quinn, Stafsholt and Tomczyk
- Oct 27, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs
- Oct 29, 2025 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Oct 29, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Steffen added as a coauthor
- Nov 7, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Nov 11, 2025 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Franklin
- Nov 12, 2025 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representatives Sinicki, Tenorio, McCarville and Brown
- Nov 13, 2025 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Nov 13, 2025 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 12, Noes 0
- Nov 13, 2025 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs, Ayes 12, Noes 0
- Nov 13, 2025 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Nov 13, 2025 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 11-19-2025 by Committee on Rules
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Representatives Ortiz-Velez and Stubbs added as coauthors
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 98, Noes 0
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 20, 2025 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Nov 20, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families
- Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 22, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 22, 2026 · Senate
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Jan 22, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Senator Spreitzer added as a cosponsor
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Feb 13, 2026 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 2-12-2026
- Apr 1, 2026 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 4-1-2026
- Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 154
- Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly
Published 4-3-2026
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