Senate Bill 972
Recommendations made by the council on early literacy curricula
Topics: Legislature: Committees, Legislature: Finance, Joint Committee on, Literacy, Public Instruction, Department of
Stopped before the full Senate voted
The recommended passing it, but the full Senate never voted on it. The last day for votes this session was Mar 19, 2026. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
-
Introduced, passed
Feb 6, 2026
-
Committee, passed
Approved
-
Senate vote, stopped here
Stopped here. The full Senate never voted on it.
-
Assembly vote, not reached
-
Governor, not reached
-
Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 23, 2026: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.
Embed this on your site
Paste this code into your page. The card shows the latest record each time it loads. Preview the card
The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 998. That version was vetoed.
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
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 would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, each school year, the Council on Early Literacy Curricula must recommend early literacy curricula and instructional materials for use in the following school year to the Department of Public Instruction. Within 30 days of receiving CELC’s recommendations, DPI must submit proposed recommendations for early literacy curricula and instructional materials for use in the following school year to the Joint Committee on Finance for approval using the 14-day passive review process. DPI must adopt the proposed recommendations, as approved by JCF. Current law requires DPI to award a grant to a school board, charter school, or private school participating in a parental choice program that, after January 1, 2024, adopts a literacy curriculum included in the approved recommendations.
Under this bill, CELC must recommend early literacy curricula and instructional materials to DPI at least once every three school years, and the recommendations are not limited to use in the following school year. The bill also shortens the deadline for DPI to submit its recommendations to JCF from no later than 30 days after receiving CELC’s recommendations to no later than 14 days after receiving the recommendations. Finally, the bill requires DPI to submit CELC’s recommendations and any of its own recommendations, with an indication as to which entity made each recommendation, to the appropriate legislative standing committees at the same time it submits the recommendations to JCF.
Who's behind it
Howard Marklein, a Republican, is its .
6 more lawmakers .
See all 7 names Hide the names
Author (1)
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (6)
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Kreibich · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Maxey · Republican, Assembly
- Clint Moses · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Wittke · Republican, Assembly
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 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Education vote on an amendment
Passed, 3 to 2 · Mar 6, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Education vote to recommend it
Passed, 3 to 2 · Mar 6, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
-
Mar 23, 2026
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
-
Mar 6, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.
-
Mar 6, 2026
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)
-
Mar 3, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
-
Feb 6, 2026
Sent to the Senate Committee on Education.
-
Feb 6, 2026
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Introduced by Senator Marklein; cosponsored by Representatives Wittke, Kreibich, Maxey, Moses, Behnke and Knodl
- Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Education
- Feb 26, 2026 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Marklein
- Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
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
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote