William Penterman, Wisconsin State Representative for 37th District | Official website
William Penterman, Wisconsin State Representative for 37th District | Official website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "access to public high schools for military recruiters".
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 school boards and governing boards of charter schools in Wisconsin must allow military recruiters access to common areas in high schools and during school-sanctioned events. This access is required to comply with 10 USC 503 (c) and must be equivalent to or greater than the access provided to postsecondary educational institutions or prospective employers. The bill further stipulates that while military recruiters must have access during the school day, they are not required to be given access to classrooms during instructional time. The provisions of this bill are set to apply starting with the 2025-26 school year.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), Representative Calvin T. Callahan (Republican-35th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Representative Benjamin Franklin (Republican-88th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Julian Bradley (Republican-28th District), Senator Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), and Senator Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District), along 14 other co-sponsors.
William Penterman has co-authored or authored another nine bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Alerts Sign-up