WisconsinWisconsin governor would decide whether to join scholarship tax credit program
The governor would decide whether Wisconsin joins a federal tax credit program, and the state would list eligible scholarship groups if it meets federal rules.
What it does
The governor would elect whether Wisconsin joins a federal tax credit program for people who contribute to scholarship groups.
The department would send the federal government and publish a yearly list of eligible Wisconsin scholarship groups, and certify that it can meet federal rules.
Argument forIf the governor elects to join and the state meets federal rules, donors may be able to support qualifying scholarship groups through the federal tax credit program.
Argument againstThe state may need to check scholarship groups and meet federal rules before Wisconsin can take part in the program.
More detail
The governor would elect whether Wisconsin participates in the federal tax credit program. The program is established under federal law for individuals who make qualified contributions to scholarship granting organizations. The election would cover individuals who make qualified contributions to scholarship granting organizations. The governor would make the election by July 1, 2026, for the tax year beginning after December 31, 2026.
The department would send and publish a yearly list of eligible scholarship groups and certify that it can meet federal program requirements. The list would cover scholarship granting organizations located in Wisconsin that meet federal requirements. The groups must be located in Wisconsin and meet federal requirements. The department would do this annually to help Wisconsin qualify for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.
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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 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- Mar 30Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 3-30-2026Major
- Mar 26Presented to the Governor on 3-26-2026To Governor
- Jan 23Report correctly enrolled on 1-23-2026Minor
- Jan 22Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Jan 21Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded CONCURRENCE. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 21Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15Passed Senate
- Jan 21Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Jan 21Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Jan 21Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and taken up
- Jan 21Referred to joint committee on FinanceMinor
- Jan 21Read a second timeMinor
- Jan 16Placed on calendar 1-21-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 9Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 9Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2Minor
- Jan 9Executive action taken
- Jan 6Public hearing held
- 2025
- Nov 20Read first time and referred to committee on EducationMinor
- Nov 20Received from AssemblyMinor
- Nov 19Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Nov 19Read a third time and passed, Ayes 54, Noes 44Passed Assembly
- Nov 19Rules suspended
- Nov 19Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Nov 19Read a second timeMinor
- Nov 13Placed on calendar 11-19-2025 by Committee on Rules
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Ways and Means, Ayes 5, Noes 3. Result: pass.Lower
- Nov 13Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Nov 13Report passage recommended by Committee on Ways and Means, Ayes 5, Noes 3Minor
- Nov 12Executive action taken
- Nov 5Public hearing held
- Oct 30Representative Melotik added as a coauthor
- Oct 29Read first time and referred to Committee on Ways and MeansMinor
- Oct 29Introduced by Representatives Rodriguez, Franklin, Behnke, Dittrich, Donovan, Goeben, Green, Gundrum, B. Jacobson, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, Nedweski, O'Connor, Penterman, Spiros, Steffen, Tusler, Wichgers, Wittke and Gustafson; cosponsored by Senators Felzkowski, Hutton, Wanggaard, Jagler, James, Kapenga, Nass, Quinn, Tomczyk and WimbergerIntroduced
EducationTaxes & Budget