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Bills from the 2025–26 session

Assembly Bill 998

Recommendations made by the council on early literacy curricula

Topics: Legislature: Committees, Legislature: Finance, Joint Committee on, Literacy, Public Instruction, Department of

Vetoed by the governor

Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Apr 8, 2026. Lawmakers did not ⁠, so it stands.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 2, 2026

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 19, 2026

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Mar 17, 2026

  5. Governor, stopped here

    Vetoed Apr 8, 2026.

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, May 13, 2026: “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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The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 972. That version died when the session ended.

What it would have done

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

Under current law, each school year, the Council on Early Literacy Curricula must recommend early literacy curricula and instructional materials for use in the following school year to the Department of Public Instruction. Within 30 days of receiving CELC’s recommendations, DPI must submit proposed recommendations for early literacy curricula and instructional materials for use in the following school year to the Joint Committee on Finance for approval using the 14-day passive review process. DPI must adopt the proposed recommendations, as approved by JCF. Current law requires DPI to award a grant to a school board, charter school, or private school participating in a parental choice program that, after January 1, 2024, adopts a literacy curriculum included in the approved recommendations.

Under this bill, CELC must recommend early literacy curricula and instructional materials to DPI at least once every three school years, and the recommendations are not limited to use in the following school year. The bill also shortens the deadline for DPI to submit its recommendations to JCF from no later than 30 days after receiving CELC’s recommendations to no later than 14 days after receiving the recommendations. Finally, the bill requires DPI to submit CELC’s recommendations and any of its own recommendations, with an indication as to which entity made each recommendation, to the appropriate legislative standing committees at the same time it submits the recommendations to JCF.

Who's behind it

6 representatives are its ⁠. All 6 are Republicans.

1 more lawmaker ⁠.

See all 7 names

Authors (6)

Signed on in support (1)

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 3 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on State Affairs vote on an amendment

Passed, 7 to 3 · Feb 4, 2026

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 State Affairs, Ayes 7, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on State Affairs vote to recommend it

Passed, 7 to 3 · Feb 4, 2026

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 State Affairs, Ayes 7, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Education vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Mar 6, 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 Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. May 13, 2026

    The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.

  2. Apr 8, 2026

    The governor vetoed it.

  3. Apr 2, 2026

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 17, 2026

    The Senate passed it too.

  5. Mar 6, 2026

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

  6. Mar 3, 2026

    The committee held a public hearing.

  7. Feb 25, 2026

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Education.

  8. Feb 23, 2026

    The Senate received it.

  9. Feb 19, 2026

    The Assembly passed it.

  10. Feb 19, 2026

    The Assembly adopted it.

  11. Feb 4, 2026

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  12. Feb 4, 2026

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 3.

  13. Feb 3, 2026

    The committee held a public hearing.

  14. Feb 2, 2026

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on State Affairs.

  15. Feb 2, 2026

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Feb 2, 2026 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Wittke, Kreibich, Maxey, Moses, Behnke and Knodl; cosponsored by Senator Marklein

  2. Feb 2, 2026 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs

  3. Feb 3, 2026 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  4. Feb 3, 2026 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  5. Feb 3, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Wittke

  6. Feb 4, 2026 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on State Affairs, Ayes 7, Noes 3

  7. Feb 4, 2026 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on State Affairs, Ayes 7, Noes 3

  8. Feb 4, 2026 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  9. Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 12:01 PM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14

  10. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  11. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  12. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  13. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  14. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  15. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  16. Feb 23, 2026 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  17. Feb 25, 2026 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Education

  18. Mar 3, 2026 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  19. Mar 6, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  20. Mar 6, 2026 · Senate

    Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  21. Mar 6, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  22. Mar 16, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  23. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Read a second time

  24. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  25. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  26. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in

  27. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  28. Mar 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  29. Mar 20, 2026 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 3-20-2026

  30. Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026

  31. Apr 8, 2026 · Assembly

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-8-2026

  32. May 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  33. May 13, 2026 · Assembly

    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.

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

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor

Roll call

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

Official term: Roll call vote