A new bill authored by State Sen. Julian Bradley in the Wisconsin Senate seeks to broaden the definition of qualified data centers for sales and use tax exemptions in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “modifying the sales and use tax exemption for qualified data centers. (FE)”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill modifies the criteria for certifying qualified data centers for a sales and use tax exemption in Wisconsin. Under current law, a data center can be certified if it houses networked server computers for centralizing data processes and meets specific investment thresholds. The bill expands this definition to include data centers with individual server computers and enables owners or tenants to rent space and resources, such as utilities and managed services. However, data centers used for creating cryptocurrencies or related blockchain processes are excluded from certification. The bill takes effect on the first day of the third month after publication.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Shannon Zimmerman (Republican-30th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Nate L. Gustafson (Republican-55th District), and Representative Daniel Knodl (Republican-24th District), along three other co-sponsors.
Julian Bradley has authored or co-authored another 31 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Bradley graduated from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse in 2014 with a BS.
Bradley, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2021 to represent the state’s 28th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Dave Craig.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB244 | 05/09/2025 | Modifying the sales and use tax exemption for qualified data centers. (FE) |
| SB240 | 05/09/2025 | Workforce literacy grant program. (FE) |
| SB231 | 04/29/2025 | Creating a tax credit for expenses related to film production services and for capital investments made by a film production company, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB176 | 04/03/2025 | An income and franchise tax exemption for broadband expansion grants and for federal high-cost program funding for broadband expansion. (FE) |
| SB141 | 03/21/2025 | Allowing an unlicensed person to use a motor vehicle and providing a penalty |
| SB132 | 03/14/2025 | Classification of the crime of impersonating law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and certain other emergency personnel and providing a penalty |
| SB125 | 03/14/2025 | A nuclear power siting study and time limits for taking final action on certain certificate of public convenience and necessity applications. (FE) |
| SB124 | 03/14/2025 | Creating a board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit. (FE) |
| SB115 | 03/07/2025 | Department of Justice collection and reporting of certain criminal case data. (FE) |
| SB93 | 03/07/2025 | Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) |
| SB61 | 02/21/2025 | Excluding expenditures funded by referenda from shared costs for the purpose of determining equalization aid for school districts. (FE) |
| SB57 | 02/21/2025 | County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) |
| SB36 | 02/12/2025 | An income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. (FE) |
| SB35 | 02/12/2025 | Law enforcement and firefighter annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) |
| SB25 | 02/05/2025 | Court-issued criminal complaints in officer-involved deaths |
| SB10 | 02/03/2025 | Access to public high schools for military recruiters |
