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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 9

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: special registration plates with white lettering on a black background. (FE)

Motor vehicle — Taxation or registration Transportation department of — Vehicles

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Senate, not reached
  3. Passes Assembly, not reached
  4. Governor signs, not reached
  5. Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, members of certain designated special groups may obtain from the Department of Transportation special registration plates for certain vehicles that are owned or leased by special group members. A fee, in addition to the regular registration fee for the particular kind of vehicle, is charged for the issuance or reissuance of most special plates.

This bill establishes a special group for persons wishing to have registration plates with white lettering on a black background. The bill requires that plates issued to members of the special group have a black background and white lettering displaying the word “Wisconsin” and the registration number assigned to the vehicle.

The bill provides that, in addition to the required fees, special group members are required to make a voluntary payment of $25 to be issued the special plates. Under the bill, DOT retains $23,700, or the actual initial costs of production, whichever is less, from the voluntary payment moneys for the initial costs of production of the special plates. The remainder of the voluntary payment amounts are deposited in the transportation fund.

What it would cost

Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs

Sponsors

Introduced by: Tomczyk (R)

2 cosponsors

Knodl (R) , Melotik (R)

Votes

Senate: Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2

Passed 3–2 May 8, 2025 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Full history

  1. Jan 24, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senator Tomczyk; cosponsored by Representatives Melotik and Knodl

  2. Jan 24, 2025 · Senate

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

  3. Mar 17, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. May 6, 2025 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  5. May 8, 2025 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  6. May 8, 2025 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  7. May 8, 2025 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  8. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1