Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: an income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. (FE)
Income tax — Deduction Legislature — Tax exemptions joint survey committee on Sunset Wage — Minimum
- Introduced, completed
- Passes Senate, completed
- Passes Assembly, stopped here
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill creates an income tax exemption for cash tips received by an employee from the customers of the employee’s employer.
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.
What it would cost
Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs
Sponsors
Registered lobbying interests · 7
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record
Votes
Senate: Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 3 recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 6, Noes 2
Passed 6–2 Sep 19, 2025 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Senate: Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 5, Noes 3
Passed 5–3 Sep 19, 2025 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Senate: Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions received, Ayes 5, Noes 4
Passed 5–4 Nov 12, 2025 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Senate: Report introduction of Senate Substitute Amendment 4 by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 16, Noes 0
Passed 16–0 Jan 14, 2026 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Senate: Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 4 recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 12, Noes 4
Passed 12–4 Jan 14, 2026 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Senate: Report passage as amended recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 12, Noes 4
Passed 12–4 Jan 14, 2026 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Aye · 18
- André Jacque (1)
- Chris Kapenga (33)
- Cory Tomczyk (29)
- Dan Feyen (20)
- Devin LeMahieu (9)
- Eric Wimberger (2)
- Howard Marklein (17)
- Jesse James (23)
- John Jagler (13)
- Julian Bradley (28)
- Mary Felzkowski (12)
- Patrick Testin (24)
- Rachael Cabral-Guevara (19)
- Rob Hutton (5)
- Rob Stafsholt (10)
- Romaine Quinn (25)
- Steve Nass (11)
- Van Wanggaard (21)
Nay · 15
- Bob Wirch (22)
- Brad Pfaff (32)
- Chris Larson (7)
- Dianne Hesselbein (27)
- Dora Drake (4)
- Jamie Wall (30)
- Jeff Smith (31)
- Jodi Habush Sinykin (8)
- Kelda Roys (26)
- Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (18)
- LaTonya Johnson (6)
- Mark Spreitzer (15)
- Melissa Ratcliff (16)
- Sarah Keyeski (14)
- Tim Carpenter (3)
Aye · 21
- André Jacque (1)
- Brad Pfaff (32)
- Chris Kapenga (33)
- Cory Tomczyk (29)
- Dan Feyen (20)
- Devin LeMahieu (9)
- Eric Wimberger (2)
- Howard Marklein (17)
- Jamie Wall (30)
- Jesse James (23)
- John Jagler (13)
- Julian Bradley (28)
- Mary Felzkowski (12)
- Patrick Testin (24)
- Rachael Cabral-Guevara (19)
- Rob Hutton (5)
- Rob Stafsholt (10)
- Romaine Quinn (25)
- Sarah Keyeski (14)
- Steve Nass (11)
- Van Wanggaard (21)
Nay · 12
- Bob Wirch (22)
- Chris Larson (7)
- Dianne Hesselbein (27)
- Dora Drake (4)
- Jeff Smith (31)
- Jodi Habush Sinykin (8)
- Kelda Roys (26)
- Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (18)
- LaTonya Johnson (6)
- Mark Spreitzer (15)
- Melissa Ratcliff (16)
- Tim Carpenter (3)
Aye · 60
- Adam Neylon (15)
- Alex Dallman (39)
- Amanda Nedweski (32)
- Barbara Dittrich (99)
- Ben DeSmidt (65)
- Ben Franklin (88)
- Bob Donovan (61)
- Bob Wittke (63)
- Brent Jacobson (87)
- Brienne Brown (43)
- Calvin Callahan (35)
- Chanz Green (74)
- Chuck Wichgers (84)
- Cindi Duchow (97)
- Clint Moses (92)
- Dan Knodl (24)
- Dave Armstrong (67)
- Dave Maxey (83)
- Dave Murphy (56)
- David Steffen (4)
- Dean Kaufert (53)
- Duke Tucker (75)
- Elijah Behnke (6)
- Gus Gustafson (55)
- Jeff Mursau (36)
- Jenna Jacobson (50)
- Jerry O'Connor (60)
- Jessie Rodriguez (21)
- Jim Piwowarczyk (98)
- Joel Kitchens (1)
- John Spiros (86)
- Joy Goeben (5)
- Karen Hurd (69)
- Kevin Petersen (57)
- Lindee Brill (27)
- Lori Palmeri (54)
- Mark Born (37)
- Nancy VanderMeer (70)
- Pat Snyder (85)
- Paul Melotik (22)
- Paul Tittl (25)
- Rick Gundrum (58)
- Rob Brooks (59)
- Rob Kreibich (28)
- Rob Summerfield (68)
- Rob Swearingen (34)
- Robin Vos (33)
- Ron Tusler (3)
- Scott Allen (82)
- Scott Krug (72)
- Shae Sortwell (2)
- Shannon Zimmerman (30)
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (8)
- Todd Novak (51)
- Tony Kurtz (41)
- Travis Tranel (49)
- Treig Pronschinske (29)
- Tyler August (31)
- Vinnie Miresse (71)
- Will Penterman (38)
Nay · 31
- Alex Joers (81)
- Amaad Rivera-Wagner (90)
- Andrew Hysell (48)
- Angela Stroud (73)
- Angelina Cruz (62)
- Angelito Tenorio (14)
- Ann Roe (44)
- Christian Phelps (93)
- Christine Sinicki (20)
- Clint Anderson (45)
- Darrin Madison (10)
- Deb Andraca (23)
- Greta Neubauer (66)
- Jill Billings (95)
- Joan Fitzgerald (46)
- Joe Sheehan (26)
- Kalan Haywood (16)
- Karen DeSanto (40)
- Karen Kirsch (7)
- Lisa Subeck (79)
- Margaret Arney (18)
- Maureen McCarville (42)
- Mike Bare (80)
- Priscilla Prado (9)
- Randy Udell (47)
- Renuka Mayadev (77)
- Sequanna Taylor (11)
- Shelia Stubbs (78)
- Supreme Moore Omokunde (17)
- Tara Johnson (96)
- Tip McGuire (64)
Not voting · 8
- Francesca Hong (76)
- Jodi Emerson (91)
- Lee Snodgrass (52)
- Robyn Vining (13)
- Russell Goodwin (12)
- Ryan Clancy (19)
- Ryan Spaude (89)
- Steve Doyle (94)
Full history
- Feb 12, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Jacque, Bradley, Hutton, Cabral-Guevara, Feyen, Nass, Quinn and Tomczyk; cosponsored by Representatives Tusler, Behnke, Green, Gundrum, Kreibich, Maxey, Mursau, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Tittl, Tranel and Wichgers
- Feb 12, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture and Revenue
- Feb 18, 2025 · Senate
Representative Gustafson added as a cosponsor
- Feb 28, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- May 21, 2025 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jun 9, 2025 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Jacque
- Jul 2, 2025 · Senate
Representative Melotik added as a cosponsor
- Aug 7, 2025 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Senator Jacque
- Aug 18, 2025 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Senator Jacque
- Sep 3, 2025 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Sep 18, 2025 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Sep 19, 2025 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 3 recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 6, Noes 2
- Sep 19, 2025 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 5, Noes 3
- Sep 19, 2025 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Oct 23, 2025 · Senate
Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions requested
- Nov 12, 2025 · Senate
Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions received, Ayes 5, Noes 4
- Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
Withdrawn from committee on Senate Organization and rereferred to joint committee on Finance pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)
- Jan 14, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 14, 2026 · Senate
Report introduction of Senate Substitute Amendment 4 by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 16, Noes 0
- Jan 14, 2026 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 4 recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 12, Noes 4
- Jan 14, 2026 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 12, Noes 4
- Jan 14, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jan 15, 2026 · Senate
Representative Steffen added as a cosponsor
- Jan 16, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 1-21-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 4 offered by Senators Hesselbein, Smith, Spreitzer, Drake, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Habush Sinykin, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Roys, Wall and Wirch
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Point of order that Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 4 was not germane well taken
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate, Ayes 18, Noes 15
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 4 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 21, Noes 12
- Jan 21, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Read
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from Senate message and take up
- 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 60, Noes 31
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 23, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 25, 2026 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Apr 2, 2026 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026
- Apr 6, 2026 · Senate
Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-3-2026
- May 12, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- May 13, 2026 · Senate
Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82