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Bills from the 2025–26 session

Senate Bill 176

An income and franchise tax exemption for broadband expansion grants and for federal high-cost program funding for broadband expansion. (FE)

Topics: Data processing, Federal aid, Franchise: Taxation, Income tax: Credit, Income tax: Deduction, Legislature: Tax Exemptions, Joint Survey Committee on, Sunset

Vetoed by the governor

Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Apr 6, 2026. Lawmakers did not ⁠, so it stands.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Apr 3, 2025

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 20 to 13

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 19, 2026

  5. Governor, stopped here

    Vetoed Apr 6, 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 Assembly as AB 208. 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.

This bill exempts from state income and franchise taxes income received in the form of a grant issued by this state; a city, village, town, or county of this state; a tribal government in this state; or the federal government for broadband expansion in this state. The bill also exempts from income and franchise taxes income received in the form of funding from the federal government for any high-cost universal service funding for broadband expansion. Current law provides an income and franchise tax exemption for income received in the form of allocations issued by this state with moneys received from the federal coronavirus relief fund to be used for broadband expansion. The bill prohibits claiming the exemptions under the bill and the exemption under current law for the same grant.

Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill.

Who's behind it

11 senators are its ⁠. 8 are Republicans and 3 are Democrats.

26 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 37 names

Authors (11)

Signed on in support (26)

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 6 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue vote to recommend it

Passed, 7 to 1 · Sep 19, 2025

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 Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 7, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 6 to 3 · Nov 12, 2025

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

Official motion: “Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions received, Ayes 6, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Joint Committee on Finance vote to recommend it

Passed, 11 to 4 · Feb 3, 2026

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

Official motion: “Report passage recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 11, Noes 4”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 20 to 13 · Feb 11, 2026

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 60 to 34 · Feb 19, 2026 · 5 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (60)

Didn't vote (5)

Official motion: “CONCURRENCE AS AMENDED”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 20 to 13 · Mar 17, 2026

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

Official motion: “Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 20, Noes 13”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. May 13, 2026

    The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.

  2. Apr 6, 2026

    The governor vetoed it.

  3. Apr 2, 2026

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 17, 2026

    “Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)

  5. Feb 23, 2026

    The Senate adopted it.

  6. Feb 19, 2026

    The Assembly passed it too, 60 to 34.

  7. Feb 19, 2026

    The Assembly adopted it.

  8. Feb 18, 2026

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  9. Feb 12, 2026

    The Assembly received it.

  10. Feb 11, 2026

    The Senate passed it, 20 to 13.

  11. Feb 3, 2026

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 11 to 4.

  12. Jan 29, 2026

    Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.

  13. Nov 12, 2025

    “Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions received, Ayes 6, Noes 3” (the official wording)

  14. Oct 23, 2025

    “Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions requested” (the official wording)

  15. Sep 19, 2025

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 1.

  16. Jun 10, 2025

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  17. May 21, 2025

    The committee held a public hearing.

  18. May 13, 2025

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  19. Apr 22, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  20. Apr 14, 2025

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  21. Apr 3, 2025

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue.

  22. Apr 3, 2025

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Apr 3, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Quinn, Bradley, Feyen, James, Keyeski, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Stafsholt, Testin, Tomczyk and Wimberger; cosponsored by Representatives Summerfield, Steffen, Gustafson, Armstrong, Callahan, Dittrich, Green, B. Jacobson, J. Jacobson, Johnson, Kaufert, Kitchens, Kreibich, Moses, Mursau, Novak, O'Connor, Subeck, Swearingen, Tucker, Udell, VanderMeer and Wittke

  2. Apr 3, 2025 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture and Revenue

  3. Apr 14, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Joers added as a cosponsor

  4. Apr 22, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. May 13, 2025 · Senate

    Representative McCarville added as a cosponsor

  6. May 21, 2025 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  7. Jun 10, 2025 · Senate

    Representative Bare added as a cosponsor

  8. Sep 18, 2025 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  9. Sep 19, 2025 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 7, Noes 1

  10. Sep 19, 2025 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  11. Oct 23, 2025 · Senate

    Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions requested

  12. Nov 12, 2025 · Senate

    Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions received, Ayes 6, Noes 3

  13. Jan 29, 2026 · Senate

    Withdrawn from committee on Senate Organization and rereferred to joint committee on Finance pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)

  14. Feb 3, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  15. Feb 3, 2026 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 11, Noes 4

  16. Feb 3, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  17. Feb 9, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  18. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Hesselbein, Smith, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Habush Sinykin, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Roys, Spreitzer, Wall and Wirch

  19. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Read a second time

  20. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 rejected

  21. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  22. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  23. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 20, Noes 13

  24. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  25. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  26. Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  27. Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 11:10 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14

  28. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  29. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Summerfield

  30. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  31. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  32. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  33. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 60, Noes 34

  34. Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  35. Feb 23, 2026 · Senate

    Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  36. Mar 16, 2026 · Senate

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

  37. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 20, Noes 13

  38. Mar 17, 2026 · Senate

    Action ordered immediately messaged

  39. Mar 18, 2026 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  40. Apr 2, 2026 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026

  41. Apr 6, 2026 · Senate

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-3-2026

  42. May 12, 2026 · Senate

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

  43. May 13, 2026 · 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

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.

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