Relating to: an income and franchise tax exemption for broadband expansion grants and for federal high-cost program funding for broadband expansion. (FE)
SB 176 creates tax exemptions for income received from broadband expansion grants and federal high-cost program funding. It exempts from state income and franchise taxes funds provided by the state, local governments, tribal governments, or the federal government for broadband expansion projects. This directly affects businesses, internet service providers, and organizations receiving these specific grants or federal funding. The exemption applies to both state broadband grants and federal high-cost program funds (under 47 USC 254) used for expanding broadband access in the state, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.
Bill status
vetoed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Assembly Passage
Feb 2026
Vetoed
Apr 2026
Introduced Apr 3, 2025
Vetoed Apr 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Bill Text
→
Text as Enrolled
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was converted from a proposed draft to its final enrolled version, changing the tax treatment from an exemption to a specific tax credit. This shift allows entities receiving broadband grants to claim a 6.32% credit against their state income tax instead of simply excluding the income from taxation, with the credit applicable for years starting after December 31, 2025, and before January 1, 2031.
Scope change
The bill now applies to both corporate income tax and franchise tax returns, whereas the draft only mentioned income and franchise tax exemptions.
FISCAL
Changed the tax benefit from an income/franchise tax exemption to a specific tax credit equal to 6.32% of qualified broadband funding.
TIMELINE
Added a specific time window for claiming the credit: taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and before January 1, 2031.
ELIGIBILITY
Added rules preventing partnerships, limited liability companies, and tax-option corporations from claiming the credit directly, requiring them to pass the credit through to their owners instead.
REQUIREMENT
Added detailed administrative requirements for partnerships and LLCs to calculate and distribute the credit amounts to their partners, shareholders, or members.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2026 · Assembly Feb 19, 2026
How they voted
20–14
Passed
Total votes 34
Feb 11, 2026
D
Democratic16
81% Nay
R
Republican18
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
43
Key actions
8
Committee
5
Amendments
5
Apr 6, 2026
Vetoed
Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-3-2026
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 20, Noes 13
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 60, Noes 34
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Summerfield
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 20, Noes 13
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Amended
Senate Amendment 1 rejected
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Introduced
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Hesselbein, Smith, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Habush Sinykin, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Roys, Spreitzer, Wall and Wirch
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report passage recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 11, Noes 4
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Withdrawn from committee on Senate Organization and rereferred to joint committee on Finance pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)
upper
Oct 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report of Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions requested
upper
Sep 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report passage recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 7, Noes 1
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Senators Quinn, Bradley, Feyen, James, Keyeski, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Stafsholt, Testin, Tomczyk and Wimberger;
cosponsored by Representatives Summerfield, Steffen, Gustafson, Armstrong, Callahan, Dittrich, Green, B. Jacobson, J. Jacobson, Johnson, Kaufert, Kitchens, Kreibich, Moses, Mursau, Novak, O'Connor, Subeck, Swearingen, Tucker, Udell, VanderMeer and Wittke
upper
11 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Brad Pfaff
DDemocratic
P
Cory Tomczyk
RRepublican
P
Dan Feyen
RRepublican
P
Eric Wimberger
RRepublican
P
Jesse James
RRepublican
P
Julian Bradley
RRepublican
P
Melissa Ratcliff
DDemocratic
P
Patrick Testin
RRepublican
P
Rob Stafsholt
RRepublican
P
Romaine Quinn
RRepublican
P
Sarah Keyeski
DDemocratic
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