Senate Bill 783
The commercial driver training grant program. (FE)
Topics: Motor vehicle: Driver's license, Workforce Development, Department of
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 6, 2026. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Dec 12, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Feb 11, 2026
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 17, 2026
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2025 Wisconsin Act 159
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 6, 2026: “Published 4-3-2026”
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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 766. 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.
Current law provides for a commercial driver training grant program. Under the program, the Department of Workforce Development provides grants to individuals or other entities that provide training leading to an individual receiving a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in this state, if certain requirements are satisfied. These requirements include that the training satisfy the entry-level driver training requirements established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and that the applicant be a provider listed with the FMCSA and provide the training at an in-state facility operated by the applicant.
This bill expands eligibility for grants under the program to applicants other than training providers. Under the bill, therefore, an applicant that pays for a third party training provider to provide training may receive a grant under the program. The bill requires any applicant to have at least one facility in this state, but eliminates the requirement that the training be provided at a facility in this state. The bill retains the requirements that the training meet the FMCSA requirements, the training provider be listed with the FMCSA, and the individual reside in and receive a CDL in this state. Finally, the bill expressly prohibits more than one grant being awarded per individual trained.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
10 more lawmakers .
See all 12 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Eric Wimberger · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (10)
- Brienne Brown · Democrat, Assembly
- Steve Doyle · Democrat, Assembly
- Jodi Emerson · Democrat, Assembly
- Rob Kreibich · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Melotik · Republican, Assembly
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez · Democrat, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Treig Pronschinske · Republican, Assembly
- Ratcliff, Spreitzer, Drake and Smith
- Duke Tucker · Republican, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 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 passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 6, 2026
The new law was published.
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Apr 6, 2026
The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 159.
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Apr 2, 2026
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 6, 2026 to Mar 19, 2026
3 more representatives signed on in support.
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Feb 17, 2026
The Assembly passed it too.
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Feb 16, 2026
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Feb 13, 2026
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Feb 12, 2026
The Assembly received it.
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Feb 11, 2026
The Senate passed it.
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Feb 11, 2026
4 more senators signed on in support.
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Feb 9, 2026
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Feb 4, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Jan 22, 2026
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Jan 20, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Dec 12, 2025
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.
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Dec 12, 2025
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Dec 12, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Wimberger and Marklein; cosponsored by Representatives Pronschinske, Kreibich, Melotik and Penterman
- Dec 12, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government
- Jan 20, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 22, 2026 · Senate
Representative Tucker added as a cosponsor
- Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Senators Ratcliff, Spreitzer, Drake and Smith added as coauthors
- 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 passed
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 13, 2026 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 13, 2026 · Assembly
Withdrawn from Committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 2-17-2026
- Feb 16, 2026 · Assembly
Representative Ortiz-Velez added as a cosponsor
- Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 26, 2026 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Representative Brown added as a cosponsor
- Mar 18, 2026 · Senate
Representative Doyle added as a cosponsor
- Mar 19, 2026 · Senate
Representative Emerson added as a cosponsor
- Apr 2, 2026 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026
- Apr 6, 2026 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 159
- Apr 6, 2026 · Senate
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