A bill authored by State Rep. William Penterman in the Wisconsin Assembly aims to enhance driver education by including comprehensive school bus safety training in all approved courses, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “driver education instruction related to school bus safety”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates that all approved driver education courses in Wisconsin must incorporate instruction on school bus safety. Specifically, the curriculum is required to cover topics such as student crossing procedures, the use of school bus lights, and the rules governing when drivers must stop for a stopped school bus. Additionally, the instruction must explain how these requirements vary based on highway configurations. This requirement applies to courses approved by the Department of Public Instruction, the Technical College System Board, and private driver schools licensed by the Department of Transportation. The bill will affect all driver education courses beginning on its effective date.
The bill was co-authored by Sen. Jesse L. James (Republican-23rd District), Rep. Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Rep. Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Rep. Joy L. Goeben (Republican-5th District), and Rep. Russell Goodwin (Democrat-12th District). It was co-sponsored by Sen. Mark Spreitzer (Democrat-15th District), along with six other co-sponsors.
William Penterman has co-authored or authored another 111 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with two of them being enacted.
Penterman graduated from Ripon College in 2018 with a BA.
Penterman, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state’s 38th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Barbara Dittrich.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| AB394 | 08/29/2025 | Driver education instruction related to school bus safety |
| AB393 | 08/29/2025 | School bus operation by drivers over 70 and drivers with medical conditions |
| AB382 | 07/31/2025 | Requirements for children born alive following abortion or attempted abortion and providing a penalty |
| AB163 | 04/08/2025 | Redeterminations of eligibility for the Medical Assistance program and database confirmation for public assistance program eligibility. (FE) |
| AB135 | 03/13/2025 | The right to repair motor vehicles and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| AB119 | 03/11/2025 | Transfer of nursing home beds |
| AB89 | 02/28/2025 | Theft crimes and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| AB84 | 02/28/2025 | Prostitution crime surcharge and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB32 | 02/17/2025 | Access to public high schools for military recruiters |
| AB30 | 02/17/2025 | Prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state |
| AB29 | 02/17/2025 | Impoundment of vehicles used in certain traffic offenses |
