Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: To Executive 21 R cosponsors

AB 602 — Relating to: participating in the federal tax credit program for contributions to scholarship granting organizations.

Last action — Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced October 29, 2025. It awaits signature.

Vetoed by Governor Tony Evers (Democratic) on March 30, 2026.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 31 sponsors

    1 primary, 30 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (21 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 4 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

An Act to create 16.004 (25) of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

20 added · 55 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to Assembly Bill 602 clarify the process by which Wisconsin will participate in a federal tax credit program for donations to scholarship granting organizations. Specifically, the bill now requires the governor to officially choose to participate in this program by a set date. This matters because it sets a clear timeline and process for accessing federal funding that could help support scholarships for eligible students in Wisconsin. By ensuring participation, the state could potentially increase financial support for students seeking education funding.

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- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-4365/1 FFK:klm&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 602 October 29, 2025 - Introduced by RepresentativODRIGUEZ, FRANKLIN, BEHNKE, D ITTRICH, DONOVAN , GOEBEN , GREEN , GUNDRUM , B.
Date of enactment:
JACOBSON , KNODL, K REIBICH, MURPHY , NEDWESKI, O'CONNOR , PENTERMAN , SPIROS, STEFFEN, T USLER, W ICHGERS, W ITTKE and G USTAFSON , cosponsored by Senators F ELZKOWSKI, HUTTON , WANGGAARD , AGLER, JAMES, KAPENGA , ASS, QUINN, T OMCZYK and W IMBERGER .
Assembly Bill 602 Date of publication*:
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
WISCONSIN ACT A N A CT to create 16.004 (25) of the statutes;
A N A CT to create 16.004 (25) of the statutes;
participating in the federal tax credit program for contributions to scholarship granting organizations.
participating in the federal tax credit program for con- tributions to scholarship granting organizations.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau The federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, P.L.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in sen- and comply with any other requirement under 26 USC ate and assembly, do enact as follows:
119-106, created a federal tax credit for qualifying contributions to scholarship granting organizations.
25F, including any regulations or guidance issued under S ECTION 1.
For purposes of this tax credit, federal law defines a “qualifying contribution” as a charitable contribution of cash to a scholarship granting organization that uses the contribution to fund scholarships for eligible students solely within the state that includes the scholarship granting organization on a list submitted by the state to the U.S.
16.004 (25) of the statutes is created to 26 USC 25F (h), to ensure that the state is eligible to par- read:
secretary of the treasury.
ticipate in taxable years beginning after December 31, 16.004 (25) Q UALIFYING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTING 2026.
Under federal law, participation in this tax credit program is optional for states.
SECTION 2.
The tax credit applies to a state only if the governor of the state or another individual, agency, or entity designated under state law to make such election with respect to federal tax benefits voluntarily elects to participate in the program.
This bill requires the governor to make the necessary election for this state to participate in the federal tax credit program described above beginning with the taxable year beginning after December 31, 2026.
The bill also requires the Department of Administration to annually submit to the U.S.
secretary of the treasury a list of scholarship granting organizations located in this state to which qualifying contributions may be made and to comply with federal law, including any - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-4365/1 FFK:klm&wlj ASSEMBLY BILL 602 SECTION 1 regulations or guidance issued by the U.S.
secretary of the treasury related to the tax credit program, to ensure the state is eligible to participate in the tax credit program in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
S ECTION 1.
16.004 (25) of the statutes is created to read:
16.004 (25) Q UALIFYING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTING ORGANIZATIONS .
The department shall annually submit to the U.S.
secretary of the treasury and publish on the department’s website a list of scholarship granting organizations that meet the requirements under 26 USC 25F and are located in this state.
The department shall certify to the U.S.
secretary of the treasury the department’s authority to submit the list on behalf of the state and comply with any other requirement under 26 USC 25F, including any regulations or guidance issued under 26 USC 25F (h), to ensure that the state is eligible to participate in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
S ECTION 2.
(1) E LECTION.
ORGANIZATIONS .
By no later than July 1, 2026, the governor shall elect to participate in the federal tax credit program established under 26 USC 25F for individuals who make qualified contributions to scholarship granting organizations beginning with the taxable year beginning after December 31, 2026.
The department shall annually submit to the U.S.
(END)
secretary of the treasury and publish on the (1) E LECTION .
By no later than July 1, 2026, the department’s website a list of scholarship granting orga- governor shall elect to participate in the federal tax nizations that meet the requirements under 26 USC 25F credit program established under 26 USC 25F for indi- and are located in this state.
The department shall cer- viduals who make qualified contributions to scholarship tify to the U.S.
secretary of the treasury the depart- granting organizations beginning with the taxable year ment’s authority to submit the list on behalf of the state beginning after December 31, 2026.
* Section 991.11,ISCONSINSTATUTES:
Effective date of acts.
“Every act and every portion of an act enacted by the legislature over the gov- ernor's partial veto which does not expressly prescribe the time when it takes effect shall take effect on the day after its date of publication.”
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Action History

  1. Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

  2. Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  3. Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-30-2026

  4. Presented to the Governor on 3-26-2026

  5. Report correctly enrolled on 1-23-2026

  6. Received from Senate concurred in

  7. Ordered immediately messaged

  8. Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  9. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  10. Ordered to a third reading

  11. Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and taken up

  12. Referred to joint committee on Finance

  13. Read a second time

  14. Placed on calendar 1-21-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  15. Available for scheduling

  16. Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  17. Executive action taken

  18. Public hearing held

  19. Read first time and referred to committee on Education

  20. Received from Assembly

  21. Ordered immediately messaged

  22. Read a third time and passed, Ayes 54, Noes 44

  23. Rules suspended

  24. Ordered to a third reading

  25. Read a second time

  26. Placed on calendar 11-19-2025 by Committee on Rules

  27. Referred to committee on Rules

  28. Report passage recommended by Committee on Ways and Means, Ayes 5, Noes 3

  29. Executive action taken

  30. Public hearing held

  31. Representative Melotik added as a coauthor

  32. Read first time and referred to Committee on Ways and Means

  33. Introduced by Representatives Rodriguez, Franklin, Behnke, Dittrich, Donovan, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, B. Jacobson, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, Nedweski, O'Connor, Penterman, Spiros, Steffen, Tusler, Wichgers, Wittke and Gustafson; cosponsored by Senators Felzkowski, Hutton, Wanggaard, Jagler, James, Kapenga, Nass, Quinn, Tomczyk and Wimberger

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 30 co-sponsors · 101 not signed on · 54 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (30)

Not signed on (101)

101 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 101 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Read a third time and concurred in

Passed 18 Yea · 15 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 18000
Democrat 01200
Unaffiliated 0300
Total 181500
% of votes cast 55%45%0%0%
How each member voted (33)
Member Party Vote
JOHNSON — Nay
DASSLER-ALFHEI — Nay
HABUSH SINYKIN — Nay
Carpenter, Tim Democrat Nay
Drake, Dora Democrat Nay
Hesselbein, Dianne Democrat Nay
Keyeski, Sarah Democrat Nay
Larson, Chris Democrat Nay
Pfaff, Brad Democrat Nay
Ratcliff, Melissa Democrat Nay
Roys, Kelda Democrat Nay
Smith, Jeff Democrat Nay
Spreitzer, Mark Democrat Nay
Wall, Jamie Democrat Nay
Wirch, Robert Democrat Nay
Bradley, Julian Republican Yea
Cabral-Guevara, Rachael Republican Yea
Felzkowski, Mary Republican Yea
Feyen, Dan Republican Yea
Hutton, Rob Republican Yea
Jacque, André Republican Yea
Jagler, John Republican Yea
James, Jesse Republican Yea
Kapenga, Chris Republican Yea
LeMahieu, Devin Republican Yea
Marklein, Howard Republican Yea
Nass, Steve Republican Yea
Quinn, Romaine Republican Yea
Stafsholt, Rob Republican Yea
Testin, Patrick Republican Yea
Tomczyk, Cory Republican Yea
Wanggaard, Van Republican Yea
Wimberger, Eric Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Read a third time and passed

Passed 54 Yea · 44 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 53000
Democrat 04201
Unaffiliated 1200
Total 544401
% of votes cast 55%44%0%1%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
JOHNSON — Nay
MOORE OMOKUNDE — Nay
SPEAKER — Yea
Anderson, Clinton Democrat Nay
Andraca, Deb Democrat Nay
Arney, Margaret Democrat Nay
Bare, Mike Democrat Nay
Billings, Jill Democrat Nay
Brown, Brienne Democrat Nay
Clancy, Ryan Democrat Nay
Cruz, Angelina Democrat Nay
DeSanto, Karen Democrat Nay
DeSmidt, Ben Democrat Nay
Doyle, Steve Democrat Nay
Emerson, Jodi Democrat Nay
Fitzgerald, Joan Democrat Nay
Goodwin, Russell Democrat Nay
Haywood, Kalan Democrat Nay
Hong, Francesca Democrat Nay
Hysell, Andrew Democrat Nay
Jacobson, Jenna Democrat Nay
Joers, Alex Democrat Nay
Kirsch, Karen Democrat Nay
Madison, Darrin Democrat Nay
Mayadev, Renuka Democrat Nay
McCarville, Maureen Democrat Nay
McGuire, Tip Democrat Nay
Miresse, Vincent Democrat Nay
Neubauer, Greta Democrat Nay
Ortiz-Velez, Sylvia Democrat Nay
Palmeri, Lori Democrat Nay
Phelps, Christian Democrat Nay
Prado, Priscilla Democrat Nay
Rivera-Wagner, Amaad Democrat Nay
Roe, Ann Democrat Nay
Sheehan, Joe Democrat Nay
Sinicki, Christine Democrat Nay
Snodgrass, Lee Democrat Nay
Spaude, Ryan Democrat Nay
Stroud, Angela Democrat Nay
Stubbs, Shelia Democrat Nay
Subeck, Lisa Democrat Nay
Taylor, Sequanna Democrat Not Voting
Tenorio, Angelito Democrat Nay
Udell, Randy Democrat Nay
Vining, Robyn Democrat Nay
Allen, Scott Republican Yea
Armstrong, David Republican Yea
August, Tyler Republican Yea
Behnke, Elijah Republican Yea
Born, Mark Republican Yea
Brill, Lindee Republican Yea
Brooks, Robert Republican Yea
Callahan, Calvin Republican Yea
Dallman, Alex Republican Yea
Dittrich, Barbara Republican Yea
Donovan, Bob Republican Yea
Duchow, Cindi Republican Yea
Franklin, Benjamin Republican Yea
Goeben, Joy Republican Yea
Green, Chanz Republican Yea
Gundrum, Rick Republican Yea
Gustafson, Nate Republican Yea
Hurd, Karen Republican Yea
Jacobson, Brent Republican Yea
Kaufert, Dean Republican Yea
Kitchens, Joel Republican Yea
Knodl, Daniel Republican Yea
Kreibich, Rob Republican Yea
Krug, Scott Republican Yea
Kurtz, Tony Republican Yea
Maxey, Dave Republican Yea
Melotik, Paul Republican Yea
Moses, Clint Republican Yea
Murphy, David Republican Yea
Mursau, Jeffrey Republican Yea
Nedweski, Amanda Republican Yea
Neylon, Adam Republican Yea
Novak, Todd Republican Yea
O'Connor, Jerry Republican Yea
Penterman, William Republican Yea
Petersen, Kevin Republican Yea
Piwowarczyk, Jim Republican Yea
Pronschinske, Treig Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Jessie Republican Yea
Snyder, Patrick Republican Yea
Sortwell, Shae Republican Yea
Spiros, John Republican Yea
Steffen, David Republican Yea
Summerfield, Rob Republican Yea
Swearingen, Rob Republican Yea
Tittl, Paul Republican Yea
Tranel, Travis Republican Yea
Tucker, Duke Republican Yea
Tusler, Ron Republican Yea
VanderMeer, Nancy Republican Yea
Wichgers, Chuck Republican Yea
Wittke, Robert Republican Yea
Zimmerman, Shannon Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

taxation education
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 602 do?
An Act to create 16.004 (25) of the statutes;
Who sponsors AB 602?
AB 602 is sponsored by Felzkowski, Hutton, Wanggaard, Jagler, James, Kapenga, Nass, Quinn, Tomczyk, Wimberger, Rodriguez, Jessie (Republican), Franklin, Benjamin (Republican), Behnke, Elijah (Republican), Dittrich, Barbara (Republican), Donovan, Bob (Republican), Goeben, Joy (Republican), Green, Chanz (Republican), Gundrum, Rick (Republican), Jacobson, Brent (Republican), Knodl, Daniel (Republican), Kreibich, Rob (Republican), Murphy, David (Republican), Nedweski, Amanda (Republican), O'Connor, Jerry (Republican), Penterman, William (Republican), Spiros, John (Republican), Steffen, David (Republican), Tusler, Ron (Republican), Wichgers, Chuck (Republican), Wittke, Robert (Republican), and Gustafson, Nate (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 602?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced October 29, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track AB 602?
Track AB 602 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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