Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate Bipartisan · 7 D · 3 R cosponsors

SB 2 — Relating to: expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War.

Last action — Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

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

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 24, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Assembly.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 43 sponsors

    1 primary, 42 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (7 D · 3 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote 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 amend 45.44 (3) (c) (intro.) and 45.51 (2) (a) 1.; to create 36.27 (2) (b) 5., 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. g., 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. g. and 45.01 (12) (fm) of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

47 added · 11 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill SB 2 broaden the definition of "veteran" to include individuals who were naturalized under the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000, allowing them access to various veterans benefits. However, admission to state veterans homes and burial benefits at veterans cemeteries are not included due to federal regulations. This change is significant as it recognizes the contributions of Hmong veterans and ensures they can receive support, enhancing inclusivity in veteran services.

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- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBa0007/1 MJW:cdc SENATE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 2 March 12, 2025 - Offered by SenatACQUE.
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-0057/1 MJW:cdc SENATE BILL 2 January 24, 2025 - Introduced by Senators J ACQUE, TOMCZYK , CARPENTER , K EYESKI, PFAFF, RATCLIFF, SPREITZER, WALL, W ANGGAARD and W IRCH, cosponsored by Representatives URPHY, SNYDER, ANDERSON , ARMSTRONG , B ARE, BEHNKE, BILLINGS, BRIL, BROWN , DES MIDT, DONOVAN , RANKLIN , H YSELL, B.ACOBSON , KITCHENS, KREIBICH, AXEY , MCCARVILLE, MELOTIK, M IRESSE, MURSAU , O'CONNOR , PALMERI, PIWOWARCZYK , RIVERA-WAGNER , SHEEHAN , S INICK, SPAUDE , SUBECK , TENORIO , TUCKER , TUSLER and W ICHGERS.
At the locations indicated, amend the bill as follows:
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs.
1.
A N A CT to amend 45.44 (3) (c) (intro.) and 45.51 (2) (a) 1.;
Page 2, line 18:
to create 36.27 (2) (b) 5., 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r.
after that line insert:
g., 38.24 (8) (a) 1r.
XSECTION 7.
g.
45.61 (2) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
and 45.01 (12) (fm) of the statutes;
45.61 (2) (e) A person who was naturalized pursuant to section 2 (1) of the federal Hmong Veterans[ Naturalization Act of 2000, P.L.
relating to:
106-207, if the person is eligible for burial in a national cemetery under 38 USC 2402.Y.
expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War.
END )
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill expands the definition of “veteran” to include individuals who were naturalized pursuant to the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000.
The bill extends most veterans benefits to anyone who meets this newly expanded definition of veteran, however, admission to a state veterans home and burial in a veterans cemetery are not included benefits as they are subject to federal regulation.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
36.27 (2) (b) 5.
of the statutes is created to read:
36.27 (2) (b) 5.
A person who is a resident of and living in this state at the time - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-0057/1 MJW:cdc SENATE BILL 2 SECTION 1 of registering at an institution, and who is a veteran as described under s.
45.01 (12) (fm), is entitled to the exemption under par.
(a).
S ECTION 2.
36.27 (3p) (a) 1r.
g.
of the statutes is created to read:
36.27 (3p) (a) 1r.
g.
The person meets the criteria described under s.
45.01 (12) (fm).
S ECTION 3.
38.24 (8) (a) 1r.
g.
of the statutes is created to read:
38.24 (8) (a) 1r.
g.
The person meets the criteria described under s.
45.01 (12) (fm).
S ECTION 4.
45.01 (12) (fm) of the statutes is created to read:
45.01 (12) (fm) A person who was naturalized pursuant to section 2 (1) of the federal Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000, P.L.
106-207, and resides in this state.
S ECTION 5.
Show all 50 changed rows (10 more)
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45.44 (3) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.44 (3) (c) (intro.) A veteran, as defined in s.
45.01 (12) (a) to (f) (fm), or one of the following:
S ECTION 6.
45.51 (2) (a) 1.
of the statutes is amended to read:
45.51 (2) (a) 1.
A veteran, other than a veteran described under s.
45.01 (12) (fm).
(END)
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Action History

  1. Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. Senator Hesselbein added as a coauthor

  3. Representative Steffen added as a cosponsor

  4. Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  5. Senator Drake added as a coauthor

  6. Received from Senate

  7. Ordered immediately messaged

  8. Senators Dassler-Alfheim and Smith added as coauthors

  9. Read a third time and passed

  10. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  11. Ordered to a third reading

  12. Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  13. Read a second time

  14. Placed on calendar 5-15-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  15. Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Jacque

  16. Available for scheduling

  17. Report passage recommended by Committee on Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1

  18. Executive action taken

  19. Senator Bradley added as a coauthor

  20. Representative Roe added as a cosponsor

  21. Representative Joers added as a cosponsor

  22. Public hearing held

  23. Representative Udell added as a cosponsor

  24. Senators Habush Sinykin and Larson added as coauthors

  25. Read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs

  26. Introduced by Senators Jacque, Tomczyk, Carpenter, Keyeski, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Spreitzer, Wall, Wanggaard and Wirch; cosponsored by Representatives Murphy, Snyder, Anderson, Armstrong, Bare, Behnke, Billings, Brill, Brown, DeSmidt, Donovan, Franklin, Hysell, B. Jacobson, Kitchens, Kreibich, Maxey, McCarville, Melotik, Miresse, Mursau, O'Connor, Palmeri, Piwowarczyk, Rivera-Wagner, Sheehan, Sinicki, Spaude, Subeck, Tenorio, Tucker, Tusler and Wichgers

Sponsors

  • Murphy · Cosponsor
  • Snyder · Cosponsor
  • Armstrong · Cosponsor
  • Bare · Cosponsor
  • Behnke · Cosponsor
  • Billings · Cosponsor
  • Brill · Cosponsor
  • Brown · Cosponsor
  • DeSmidt · Cosponsor
  • Donovan · Cosponsor
  • Franklin · Cosponsor
  • Hysell · Cosponsor
  • B. Jacobson · Cosponsor
  • Kitchens · Cosponsor
  • Kreibich · Cosponsor
  • Maxey · Cosponsor
  • McCarville · Cosponsor
  • Melotik · Cosponsor
  • Miresse · Cosponsor
  • Mursau · Cosponsor
  • O'Connor · Cosponsor
  • Palmeri · Cosponsor
  • Piwowarczyk · Cosponsor
  • Rivera-Wagner · Cosponsor
  • Sheehan · Cosponsor
  • Sinicki · Cosponsor
  • Spaude · Cosponsor
  • Subeck · Cosponsor
  • Tenorio · Cosponsor
  • Tucker · Cosponsor
  • Tusler · Cosponsor
  • Wichgers · Cosponsor
  • André Jacque · Primary
  • Cory Tomczyk · Cosponsor
  • Tim Carpenter · Cosponsor
  • Sarah Keyeski · Cosponsor
  • Brad Pfaff · Cosponsor
  • Melissa Ratcliff · Cosponsor
  • Mark Spreitzer · Cosponsor
  • Jamie Wall · Cosponsor
  • Van Wanggaard · Cosponsor
  • Robert Wirch · Cosponsor
  • J ANDERSON · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 42 co-sponsors · 89 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (42)

Not signed on (89)

89 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 89 →

"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

Subjects

civil-rights veterans
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 2 do?
An Act to amend 45.44 (3) (c) (intro.) and 45.51 (2) (a) 1.; to create 36.27 (2) (b) 5., 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. g., 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. g. and 45.01 (12) (fm) of the statutes;
Who sponsors SB 2?
SB 2 is sponsored by Murphy, Snyder, Armstrong, Bare, Behnke, Billings, Brill, Brown, DeSmidt, Donovan, Franklin, Hysell, B. Jacobson, Kitchens, Kreibich, Maxey, McCarville, Melotik, Miresse, Mursau, O'Connor, Palmeri, Piwowarczyk, Rivera-Wagner, Sheehan, Sinicki, Spaude, Subeck, Tenorio, Tucker, Tusler, Wichgers, Jacque, André (Republican), Tomczyk, Cory (Republican), Carpenter, Tim (Democrat), Keyeski, Sarah (Democrat), Pfaff, Brad (Democrat), Ratcliff, Melissa (Democrat), Spreitzer, Mark (Democrat), Wall, Jamie (Democrat), Wanggaard, Van (Republican), Wirch, Robert (Democrat), and ANDERSON, J.
What is the current status of SB 2?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 24, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 2?
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