WisconsinWisconsin would join interstate compact for social worker licenses
If enacted, Wisconsin would join an interstate agreement allowing eligible social workers to seek permission to practice in other member states.
What it does
Wisconsin would join a multistate licensing agreement so eligible social workers could seek permission to practice in other member states. Fees and license requirements would apply.
A compact commission would manage shared rules, fees, subpoenas, and licensing records. Wisconsin’s licensing board would appoint the state’s representative.
Argument forSocial workers who meet the compact’s requirements could practice in other member states without seeking a separate full license in each state.
Argument againstSocial workers could face added fees and broader disciplinary consequences because the compact allows shared data and can deactivate multistate practice authorization.
More detail
Wisconsin would enter the Social Work Licensure Compact upon enactment. The compact would cover social workers licensed or eligible for a social work license in a member state, including bachelor’s, master’s, and clinical social workers. A social worker would need to meet the compact’s category-specific requirements and pay any required fees to obtain a multistate license. A social worker practicing in another member state would remain subject to that state’s regulators. A home-state disciplinary action could deactivate the worker’s multistate authorization in all member states until the required conditions are met. If enacted, the compact would take effect in Wisconsin upon enactment because the required minimum number of states has already enacted it.
A compact commission would oversee the agreement, and member states would share required licensing and discipline information. Wisconsin’s marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, and social work examining board would appoint Wisconsin’s commission representative; the system would cover people subject to the compact. The commission could adopt binding rules, hire staff, and collect annual state assessments or fees from licensees to cover its operating costs. Member states could issue subpoenas enforceable in other states. Home-state disciplinary orders would have to state when a worker’s multistate authorization is deactivated, and member states would submit required information to the shared data system. These compact duties would apply in Wisconsin if the compact takes effect upon enactment.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 21Representative Palmeri added as a coauthorLatest
- Apr 9Published 4-9-2026Major
- Apr 9Report approved by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-8-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 232Became Law
- Apr 2Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026To Governor
- Feb 26Report correctly enrolled on 2-26-2026Minor
- Feb 26LRB correction
- Feb 18Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Feb 18Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 18Senator Smith added as a cosponsor
- Feb 18Read a third time and concurred inPassed Senate
- Feb 18Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 18Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 18Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 17Placed on calendar 2-18-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Vote recorded Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 17Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- 2025
- Aug 14Representative Goodwin added as a coauthor
- Jun 27Available for scheduling
- Jun 27Read first time and referred to committee on Senate OrganizationMinor
- Jun 24Received from AssemblyMinor
- Jun 24Ordered immediately messaged
- Jun 24Read a third time and passedPassed Assembly
- Jun 24Rules suspended
- Jun 24Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Jun 24Read a second timeMinor
- Jun 24Representatives Andraca and Stroud added as coauthors
- Jun 20Withdrawn from Committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 6-24-2025Minor
- Jun 6Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 9, Noes 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 6Report passage recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 9, Noes 0Minor
- Jun 4Executive action taken
- May 28Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- May 21Representative Snodgrass added as a coauthor
- May 21Public hearing held
- May 2Representative Mayadev added as a coauthor
- Apr 9Representative Hysell added as a coauthor
- Mar 24Representative Billings added as a coauthor
- Mar 10Senator Habush Sinykin added as a cosponsor
- Mar 3Representatives Fitzgerald and Subeck added as coauthors
- Feb 28Read first time and referred to Committee on Children and FamiliesMinor
- Feb 28Introduced by Representatives VanderMeer, Tittl, Anderson, Bare, Dittrich, Doyle, Emerson, Franklin, Green, Gundrum, J. Jacobson, Joers, Johnson, Knodl, Melotik, Miresse, Moore Omokunde, Mursau, Novak, O'Connor, Phelps, Roe, Sinicki, Snyder, Stubbs, Udell and Vining; cosponsored by Senators Stafsholt, Cabral-Guevara, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, James, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Spreitzer, Wall and RatcliffIntroduced
HealthcareGovernment & EthicsMental Health