Senate Bill 181
A levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE)
Topics: County: Taxation, Medical service, Municipality: Taxation, Referendum, Shared revenue
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 9, 2026. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Apr 14, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Jan 21, 2026
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed 92 to 1
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2025 Wisconsin Act 212
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 9, 2026: “Published 4-9-2026”
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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 197. 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.
Generally, under current law, local levy limits are applied to the property tax levies that are imposed by political subdivisions. A political subdivision may not increase its levy by a percentage that exceeds its “valuation factor,” which is the greater of 0 percent or the percentage change in the political subdivision’s equalized value due to new construction, less improvements removed. Current law also contains a number of exceptions to the levy limit, such as amounts a county levies for a countywide emergency medical system, for a county children with disabilities education board, and for certain bridge and culvert construction and repair. This bill creates an additional exception to local levy limits. Under the bill, the amounts a city, village, town, or county levies for costs associated with regional emergency medical services, either through participation in a joint emergency services district or through one or more intergovernmental agreements to provide emergency medical services, or both, are exempt. Under the bill, “regional” means consisting of a service area that is at least 232 square miles or includes at least eight municipalities.
The bill also excludes expenditures of amounts levied for a regional emergency medical system that are exempt from local levy limits under the bill from being considered in determining eligibility for an expenditure restraint incentive program payment. Under current law, a municipality is eligible to receive an expenditure restraint incentive program payment if its property tax levy is greater than 5 mills and if the annual increase in its municipal budget, subject to certain exceptions, is less than the sum of factors based on inflation and the increased value of property in the municipality as a result of new construction.
Who's behind it
6 senators are its . 5 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.
29 more lawmakers .
See all 35 names Hide the names
Authors (6)
- Rachael Cabral-Guevara · Republican, Senate
- Jesse James · Republican, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
- Brad Pfaff · Democrat, Senate
- Patrick Testin · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (29)
- Clint Anderson · Democrat, Assembly
- Deb Andraca · Democrat, Assembly
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Donovan · Republican, Assembly
- Cindi Duchow · Republican, Assembly
- Jodi Emerson · Democrat, Assembly
- Ben Franklin · Republican, Assembly
- Chanz Green · Republican, Assembly
- Gus Gustafson · Republican, Assembly
- Jodi Habush Sinykin · Democrat, Senate
- Jenna Jacobson · Democrat, Assembly
- Alex Joers · Democrat, Assembly
- Dean Kaufert · Republican, Assembly
- Joel Kitchens · Republican, Assembly
- Tony Kurtz · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Maxey · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Melotik · Republican, Assembly
- Clint Moses · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Amanda Nedweski · Republican, Assembly
- Greta Neubauer · Democrat, Assembly
- Lori Palmeri · Democrat, Assembly
- Jim Piwowarczyk · Republican, Assembly
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Angela Stroud · Democrat, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
- Randy Udell · Democrat, Assembly
- Nancy VanderMeer · Republican, Assembly
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.
Senate Committee on Health vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Nov 11, 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 Health, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Passed, 30 to 3 · Jan 21, 2026
See how each of the 33 senators voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (30)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Brad Pfaff (D, 32)
- Chris Larson (D, 7)
- Cory Tomczyk (R, 29)
- Dan Feyen (R, 20)
- Devin LeMahieu (R, 9)
- Dianne Hesselbein (D, 27)
- Dora Drake (D, 4)
- Eric Wimberger (R, 2)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Jamie Wall (D, 30)
- Jeff Smith (D, 31)
- Jesse James (R, 23)
- Jodi Habush Sinykin (D, 8)
- John Jagler (R, 13)
- Julian Bradley (R, 28)
- Kelda Roys (D, 26)
- Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D, 18)
- LaTonya Johnson (D, 6)
- Mary Felzkowski (R, 12)
- Melissa Ratcliff (D, 16)
- Patrick Testin (R, 24)
- Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R, 19)
- Rob Hutton (R, 5)
- Rob Stafsholt (R, 10)
- Romaine Quinn (R, 25)
- Sarah Keyeski (D, 14)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Tim Carpenter (D, 3)
- Van Wanggaard (R, 21)
No (3)
- Bob Wirch (D, 22)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Mark Spreitzer (D, 15)
Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Joint Committee on Finance vote to recommend it
Passed, 15 to 0 · Feb 4, 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 Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 92 to 1 · Feb 19, 2026 · 6 didn't vote
See how each of the 99 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (92)
- Adam Neylon (R, 15)
- Alex Dallman (R, 39)
- Alex Joers (D, 81)
- Amanda Nedweski (R, 32)
- Andrew Hysell (D, 48)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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 Krug (R, 72)
- Sequanna Taylor (D, 11)
- Shannon Zimmerman (R, 30)
- Shelia Stubbs (D, 78)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Supreme Moore Omokunde (D, 17)
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D, 8)
- 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)
No (1)
- Shae Sortwell (R, 2)
Didn't vote (6)
- Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D, 90)
- Angela Stroud (D, 73)
- Joe Sheehan (D, 26)
- Priscilla Prado (D, 9)
- Scott Allen (R, 82)
- Tara Johnson (D, 96)
Official motion: “CONCURRENCE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 9, 2026
The new law was published.
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Apr 9, 2026
The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 212.
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Apr 2, 2026
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 19, 2026
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Feb 19, 2026
The Assembly passed it too, 92 to 1.
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Feb 4, 2026
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Feb 4, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 15 to 0.
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Jan 30, 2026
Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.
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Jan 22, 2026
The Assembly received it.
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Jan 21, 2026
The Senate passed it, 30 to 3.
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Jan 21, 2026
The Senate adopted it.
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Nov 11, 2025
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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May 14, 2025 to Jul 3, 2025
2 more representatives signed on in support.
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Apr 29, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Apr 23, 2025 to Apr 25, 2025
3 more representatives signed on in support.
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Apr 23, 2025
The committee held a public hearing.
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Apr 21, 2025
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Apr 14, 2025
Sent to the Senate Committee on Health.
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Apr 14, 2025
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Apr 14, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Marklein, James, Cabral-Guevara, Nass, Pfaff, Spreitzer and Testin; cosponsored by Representatives Kurtz, Gustafson, Behnke, Dittrich, Donovan, Duchow, Franklin, Green, Kaufert, Kitchens, Maxey, Melotik, Moses, Mursau, Neubauer, Palmeri, Piwowarczyk, Steffen, Subeck, Udell, VanderMeer and Nedweski
- Apr 14, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Health
- Apr 21, 2025 · Senate
Senator Habush Sinykin added as a coauthor
- Apr 23, 2025 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Apr 23, 2025 · Senate
Representative Andraca added as a cosponsor
- Apr 24, 2025 · Senate
Representative Anderson added as a cosponsor
- Apr 25, 2025 · Senate
Representative Stroud added as a cosponsor
- Apr 29, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- May 14, 2025 · Senate
Representative Emerson added as a cosponsor
- Jul 3, 2025 · Senate
Representative Joers added as a cosponsor
- Nov 11, 2025 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Nov 11, 2025 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Health, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Nov 11, 2025 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Nov 12, 2025 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Marklein
- Jan 16, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 1-21-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Senator Spreitzer withdrawn as a coauthor
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adopted
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 30, Noes 3
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Jan 30, 2026 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to joint committee on Finance
- Feb 3, 2026 · Assembly
Executive action taken by joint committee on Finance
- Feb 4, 2026 · Assembly
Report concurrence recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0
- Feb 4, 2026 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 11:09 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 92, Noes 1
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 23, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 26, 2026 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Mar 19, 2026 · Senate
Representative J. Jacobson added as a cosponsor
- Apr 2, 2026 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026
- Apr 9, 2026 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 4-8-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 212
- Apr 9, 2026 · Senate
Published 4-9-2026
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