A bill authored by State Sen. Steve L. Nass in the Wisconsin Senate aims to enhance student safety by permitting audiovisual recording devices on school buses under school board policies, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “equipment of school buses with audiovisual recording devices”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill allows school buses to be equipped with audiovisual recording devices to monitor the interior of the bus while transporting students to and from school and school-sponsored activities. Such installation is conditional upon the school board adopting a policy that authorizes the recordings, and the policy must be communicated to pupils, their parents or guardians, and visibly posted inside the bus. The recordings are deemed confidential and are designated for use exclusively by school officials and law enforcement personnel in investigations, school disciplinary actions, and criminal prosecutions related to incidents on or near the bus.
The bill was co-authored by Rep. William Penterman (Republican-38th District). It was co-sponsored by Rep. Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Rep. Russell Goodwin (Democrat-12th District), and Rep. Rick Gundrum (Republican-58th District), along with four other co-sponsors.
Steve L. Nass has co-authored or authored another 105 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with five of them being enacted.
Nass graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1978 with a BS.
Nass, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2015 to represent the state’s 11th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Neal Kedzie.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB391 | 08/25/2025 | Equipment of school buses with audiovisual recording devices |
| SB389 | 08/11/2025 | The per pupil adjustment for school district revenue limits. (FE) |
| SB376 | 07/16/2025 | A tax credit for employer-provided child care. (FE) |
| SB365 | 07/09/2025 | Fleet registration of certain motor vehicles. (FE) |
| SB364 | 06/27/2025 | The regulation of family and group child care centers. (FE) |
| SB357 | 06/27/2025 | Establishing English as the official state language, use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing English language interpreters, and use of English for governmental oral and written communication and for nongovernmental purposes. (FE) |
| SB312 | 06/04/2025 | Changing an individual’s sex on a birth certificate |
| SB311 | 06/04/2025 | Prohibiting funding for health services for unlawfully present individuals. (FE) |
| SB304 | 06/02/2025 | Hours for voting by absentee ballot in person at the office of the municipal clerk or an alternate site. (FE) |
| SB277 | 05/21/2025 | The expiration of administrative rules. (FE) |
| SB270 | 05/20/2025 | The right of appeal for complainants aggrieved by decisions of the Elections Commission concerning the conduct of election officials |
| SB262 | 05/20/2025 | Assisted living facility referral agencies and providing a penalty |
