Rob Hutton, Wisconsin State Senator for 5th District | Facebook
Rob Hutton, Wisconsin State Senator for 5th District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "personalized registration plate fees for gold star family special registration plates. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill exempts gold star family special registration plates from personalized plate fees. Currently, individuals eligible for gold star family plates, which signify an immediate family member died in military service during a conflict, must pay a general registration fee but are exempt from the special registration fee. However, they are charged an additional annual fee for personalizing these plates. The bill eliminates this $15 personalization fee for gold star family plates. The change will be effective on the first day of the seventh month following the bill's publication.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Chuck Wichgers (Republican-84th District), Senator Julian Bradley (Republican-28th District), Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District), Senator Mark Spreitzer (Democrat-15th District), Senator Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Scott Allen (Republican-82nd District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), and Representative Brent Jacobson (Republican-87th District), along 11 other co-sponsors.
Rob Hutton has co-authored or authored another four bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Hutton graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1990 with a BA.
Hutton, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2023 to represent the state's 5th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Dale Kooyenga.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB38 | 02/12/2025 | Personalized registration plate fees for gold star family special registration plates. (FE) |
| SB25 | 02/05/2025 | Court-issued criminal complaints in officer-involved deaths |
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