WisconsinFailed bill would define hardship for college aid programs
The failed measure would define disadvantaged students through personal economic hardship for provisions covering college aid, support programs, and teacher loans.
What it does
Students would have to document personal economic hardship to meet the bill's definition of disadvantaged. Decisions could not consider race or sex.
The text refers to disadvantaged students in several college aid and support programs, including grants, recruitment efforts, and technical college services such as tutoring and internships.
The text provides for teacher loans to disadvantaged students who meet program rules, including a school job in a Wisconsin district with a high share of economically disadvantaged pupils.
Argument forStudents could qualify based on hardships in their own lives, which may help colleges recognize economic barriers without considering race or sex.
Argument againstStudents might find it harder to qualify because they must describe specific hardships and provide a current personal net worth statement.
More detail
A student would have to document personal economic hardship to meet the definition of disadvantaged. This definition concerns students described as disadvantaged in the higher education provisions. The decision could not rely in whole or in part on race or sex. The student would have to give specific examples of hardship, barriers, or denied opportunities and explain the economic harm they caused. The student would also have to provide a current personal net worth statement and could include other financial information they consider relevant.
The text provides for grants and support programs for students described as disadvantaged. The text covers students in the University of Wisconsin and technical college systems, and undergraduates at private nonprofit colleges or technical colleges. The provisions refer to graduate aid, undergraduate grants, recruitment and retention efforts, and technical college services such as counseling, tutoring, and internships. A grant could not go to a person listed on the statewide child support lien docket unless that person provides an approved payment agreement.
The higher educational aids board would establish a loan program for disadvantaged students who meet its requirements. The provision concerns disadvantaged students who qualify for teacher loans and work in specified Wisconsin schools. Recipients would have to work for a public or private elementary or secondary school, or a tribal school, in a Wisconsin district meeting the stated enrollment threshold. The enrolled text shows both 40 and 60 percent for that threshold, so the required percentage is unclear.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- 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 20Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 3-20-2026Major
- Mar 18Presented to the Governor on 3-18-2026To Governor
- Feb 27Report correctly enrolledMinor
- Feb 18Action ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 18Assembly Amendment 1 concurred in
- Feb 17Placed on calendar 2-18-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 13Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Feb 12Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded CONCURRENCE AS AMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 53, Noes 45Passed House
- Feb 12Rules suspended
- Feb 12Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 12Assembly Amendment 4 withdrawn and returned to authorMinor
- Feb 12Assembly Amendment 4 offered by Representative ClancyMinor
- Feb 12Assembly Amendment 3 withdrawn and returned to authorMinor
- Feb 12Assembly Amendment 3 offered by Representative HysellMinor
- Feb 12Assembly Amendment 2 withdrawn and returned to authorMinor
- Feb 12Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representative SnodgrassMinor
- Feb 12Assembly Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Feb 12Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 12Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take upMajor
- Feb 11Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Piwowarczyk and AllenMinor
- Feb 10Placed on calendar 2-12-2026 by Committee on Rules
- Feb 10Read first time and referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Jan 22Received from SenateMinor
- Jan 21Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 21Read a third time and passedPassed Senate
- Jan 21Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Jan 21Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Jan 21Read a second timeMinor
- Jan 16Placed on calendar 1-21-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 12Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 12Report passage recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2Minor
- Jan 12Executive action taken
- Jan 7Public hearing held
- 2025
- Dec 3Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Dec 3Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Dec 2Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Nov 25Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Nov 14Read first time and referred to Committee on Universities and Technical CollegesMinor
- Nov 14Introduced by Senators Wimberger, Nass, Quinn and Tomczyk; cosponsored by Representatives Piwowarczyk, Behnke, Callahan, Dittrich, Goeben, Green, B. Jacobson, Knodl, Melotik, Murphy, Mursau, Nedweski, O'Connor, Penterman, Tucker and WichgersIntroduced
Education