Southern Wisconsin Times

A new bill authored by State Sen. Mark Spreitzer in the Wisconsin Senate seeks to amend statutes to permit flashing purple lights on vehicles during funeral processions, aiming to enhance visibility and distinction, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "authorized lights for funeral procession vehicles".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the statutes to allow for the use of a flashing purple light on vehicles during a funeral procession. Previously, the law permitted the lead vehicle, or all vehicles if uniformly equipped, in a funeral procession to use a flashing amber light. With this amendment, vehicles in the procession can now optionally be equipped with a flashing purple light instead of amber, enhancing visibility and distinction from other vehicles on the road.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Dean Kaufert (Republican-53rd District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), Senator Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District), Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Calvin T. Callahan (Republican-35th District), Representative Ryan M. Clancy (Democrat-19th District), and Representative Ben DeSmidt (Democrat-65th District), along 14 other co-sponsors.

Mark Spreitzer has co-authored or authored another 75 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with one of them being enacted.

Spreitzer graduated from Beloit College in 2009 with a BA.

Spreitzer, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2023 to represent the state's 15th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Janis Ringhand.

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
SB288	05/30/2025	Authorized lights for funeral procession vehicles
SB272	05/21/2025	Eligibility for Family Care for individuals who are deaf-blind. (FE)
SB233	04/29/2025	Inducements to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers, recall petitions, and certain other petitions
SB223	04/25/2025	Discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, insurance coverage, national guard, jury duty, and adoption and in the receipt of mental health or vocational rehabilitation services
SB217	04/16/2025	Eliminating the publication requirement for a name change petition seeking to conform an individual’s name with the individual’s gender identity
SB185	04/14/2025	Property tax exemption for nonprofit theaters. (FE)
SB149	03/21/2025	Requiring the legislature to convene an extraordinary session if an executive order of the president of the United States freezes federal aid to the state
SB60	02/21/2025	Expanding the homestead income tax credit. (FE)