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Bills from the 2025–26 session

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 ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Dec 12, 2025

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 11, 2026

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 17, 2026

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2025 Wisconsin Act 159

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 6, 2026: “Published 4-3-2026”

Read the bill

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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 766. That version died when the session ended.

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

Authors (2)

Signed on in support (10)

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

  1. Apr 6, 2026

    The new law was published.

  2. Apr 6, 2026

    The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 159.

  3. Apr 2, 2026

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 6, 2026 to Mar 19, 2026

    3 more representatives signed on in support.

  5. Feb 17, 2026

    The Assembly passed it too.

  6. Feb 16, 2026

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  7. Feb 13, 2026

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  8. Feb 12, 2026

    The Assembly received it.

  9. Feb 11, 2026

    The Senate passed it.

  10. Feb 11, 2026

    4 more senators signed on in support.

  11. Feb 9, 2026

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  12. Feb 4, 2026

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.

  13. Jan 22, 2026

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  14. Jan 20, 2026

    The committee held a public hearing.

  15. Dec 12, 2025

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.

  16. Dec 12, 2025

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Dec 12, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Wimberger and Marklein; cosponsored by Representatives Pronschinske, Kreibich, Melotik and Penterman

  2. Dec 12, 2025 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government

  3. Jan 20, 2026 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Jan 22, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Tucker added as a cosponsor

  5. Feb 4, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  6. Feb 4, 2026 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  7. Feb 4, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  8. Feb 9, 2026 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  9. Feb 9, 2026 · Senate

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

  10. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Senators Ratcliff, Spreitzer, Drake and Smith added as coauthors

  11. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Read a second time

  12. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  13. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  14. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed

  15. Feb 11, 2026 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  16. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  17. Feb 13, 2026 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  18. Feb 13, 2026 · Assembly

    Withdrawn from Committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 2-17-2026

  19. Feb 16, 2026 · Assembly

    Representative Ortiz-Velez added as a cosponsor

  20. Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up

  21. Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  22. Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  23. Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  24. Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  25. Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  26. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  27. Feb 26, 2026 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  28. Mar 6, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Brown added as a cosponsor

  29. Mar 18, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Doyle added as a cosponsor

  30. Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Emerson added as a cosponsor

  31. Apr 2, 2026 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026

  32. Apr 6, 2026 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 159

  33. 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

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

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