SB 699 Wisconsin Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: alternative methods of providing pupil transportation services. (FE)

SB 699 modifies school transportation rules to allow more flexible options. It lowers the standard passenger limit for school buses from 14 to 9 or fewer people (excluding the driver) and creates a new emergency process: school boards can request temporary transportation for 10+ passengers if regular service is unavailable, requiring approval from the transportation secretary. The bill also specifies insurance requirements, mandating minimum $10,000 property damage and $25,000 bodily injury coverage for non-school-owned vehicles carrying 9 or fewer passengers. These changes directly affect school districts, bus contractors, and private providers offering pupil transportation services.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Assembly Passage

Feb 2026

Vetoed

Apr 2026

Introduced Dec 2, 2025 Vetoed Apr 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Text → Text as Enrolled · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Wisconsin statutes to increase the passenger capacity limits for non-school bus vehicles used for pupil transportation. It raises the limit for regular use from 9 to 14 passengers and the limit for emergency use from 10 to 15 passengers. The text also includes updated insurance requirements and formatting changes typical of a bill moving from draft to final enrolled status.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of eligible vehicles by allowing more passengers to be transported without triggering an emergency declaration, thereby increasing flexibility for school transportation logistics.

ELIGIBILITY

Increased the maximum number of passengers allowed in a non-school bus vehicle for regular use from 9 to 14.

Increased the maximum number of passengers allowed in a non-school bus vehicle for emergency use from 10 to 15.

REQUIREMENT

Updated insurance liability limits for vehicles transporting 14 or fewer passengers to ensure compliance with state standards.

TECHNICAL

Added standard enrolled bill formatting, including the date of enactment and the official act title.

Floor votes · Assembly Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 6, 2026

Vetoed

Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-3-2026

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 concurred in

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 60, Noes 39

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Introduced

Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Brill

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Introduced

Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Rivera-Wagner

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Introduced

Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Neubauer

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read a third time and passed

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Dec 2, 2025

Introduced

Introduced by Senators LeMahieu, Marklein and Nass; cosponsored by Representatives Brill, Behnke, Dittrich, Goeben, Gundrum, Kitchens, Knodl, Kreibich, Melotik, Murphy, Penterman, Piwowarczyk and Wichgers

upper

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors