WisconsinSB2102025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session)SenateWALLET

An Act to repeal 39.41 (1m) (b), 39.41 (1m) (c) 3., 39.41 (1m) (c) 5., 39.41 (1m) (e) and 39.41 (8); to amend 39.41 (1) (bm), 39.41 (1m) (a) 1., 39.41 (1m) (c) 4., 39.41 (1m) (d), 39.41 (1m) (g), 39.41 (1m) (h), 39.41 (1m) (j) and 39.41 (1m) (m) of the statutes; Relating to: changes to amount of, and criteria for designating recipients of, academic excellence higher education scholarships. (FE)

Sponsored By: Jesse James (Republican), Howard Marklein (Republican), Romaine Quinn (Republican), Cory Tomczyk (Republican)

Became Law

Sen Bill 210Scholarships and loansSchool -- Administration

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Scholarship rights after school closures

If a high school with at least 80 students closes or merges, the board must name the same number of scholars for two years after the closure, from students who were enrolled at that time. Tie rules still apply. For schools that closed after the 1989–90 year, if a receiving district named a scholar in either of the next two years, it must also name the next‑highest‑GPA senior as a scholar, who stays eligible for the related higher education scholarships.

How schools pick top seniors for scholarships

For high schools with 80–499 students, the senior with the highest GPA in all subjects is named a scholar. If seniors tie, faculty must choose the scholar and list alternates by February 25. Alternates can move up if a scholar later does not qualify, and they must have at least a 3.800 GPA. The school board must adopt the faculty’s list. If a school ranks by academic‑subject GPAs, it can request a waiver to use that method. The state also tells each eligible high school how many scholars to name.

Old scholarship selection rules removed

The law removes several older clauses that governed how scholars were designated. This cleans up the statute and ends some past methods and transitional rules. It does not change how much money the scholarship pays.

Who counts as a scholarship senior

A “Senior” now means a 12th grader in a public, private, or tribal high school, or the state schools for the deaf or the blind. Students in home‑based private education programs do not count as seniors for this scholarship.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Jesse James

    Republican • Senate

  • Howard Marklein

    Republican • Senate

  • Romaine Quinn

    Republican • Senate

  • Cory Tomczyk

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Brent Jacobson

    Republican • House

  • Lindee Brill

    Republican • House

  • Chanz Green

    Republican • House

  • Daniel Knodl

    Republican • House

  • Rob Kreibich

    Republican • House

  • Jeffrey Mursau

    Republican • House

  • Jerry O'Connor

    Republican • House

  • Patrick Snyder

    Republican • House

  • John Spiros

    Republican • House

  • Rob Swearingen

    Republican • House

  • Robert Wittke

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 36 • No: 30

Senate vote 11/18/2025

Senate Amendment 2 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15

Yes: 18 • No: 15

Senate vote 11/18/2025

Senate Amendment 1 adopted, Ayes 18, Noes 15

Yes: 18 • No: 15

Actions Timeline

  1. Published 12-10-2025

    12/10/2025Senate
  2. Report approved by the Governor on 12-9-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 80

    12/10/2025Senate
  3. Presented to the Governor on 12-4-2025

    12/4/2025Senate
  4. Report correctly enrolled

    11/24/2025Senate
  5. Received from Assembly concurred in

    11/20/2025Senate
  6. Ordered immediately messaged

    11/19/2025House
  7. Read a third time and concurred in

    11/19/2025House
  8. Rules suspended

    11/19/2025House
  9. Ordered to a third reading

    11/19/2025House
  10. Read a second time

    11/19/2025House
  11. Rules suspended to withdraw from Senate message and take up

    11/19/2025House
  12. Read

    11/19/2025House
  13. Received from Senate

    11/19/2025House
  14. Ordered immediately messaged

    11/18/2025Senate
  15. Read a third time and passed

    11/18/2025Senate
  16. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

    11/18/2025Senate
  17. Ordered to a third reading

    11/18/2025Senate
  18. Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and taken up

    11/18/2025Senate
  19. Referred to joint committee on Finance

    11/18/2025Senate
  20. Senate Amendment 2 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15

    11/18/2025Senate
  21. Senate Amendment 1 adopted, Ayes 18, Noes 15

    11/18/2025Senate
  22. Read a second time

    11/18/2025Senate
  23. Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senators Smith, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Habush Sinykin, Hesselbein, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Roys and Spreitzer

    11/18/2025Senate
  24. Placed on calendar 11-18-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

    11/14/2025Senate
  25. Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Tomczyk

    10/16/2025Senate

Bill Text

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