# Wisconsin AB4: An Act to amend 118.165 (1) (d) and 118.33 (1) (a) 1. b.; to create 115.28 (55v), 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m., 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m., 118.60 (2) (a) 10., 119.23 (2) (a) 10. and 121.02 (1) (L) 9. of the statutes; Relating to: required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE)

Wisconsin AB4, An Act to amend 118.165 (1) (d) and 118.33 (1) (a) 1. b.; to create 115.28 (55v), 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m., 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m., 118.60 (2) (a) 10., 119.23 (2) (a) 10. and 121.02 (1) (L) 9. of the statutes; Relating to: required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE), is a 2025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session) House bill sponsored by Elijah Behnke (Republican), Barbara Dittrich (Republican), Bob Donovan (Republican) and 11 others; status failed, last action 2026-03-23 (Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB4-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Wisconsin AB4
- State: Wisconsin
- Session: 2025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session)
- Title: An Act to amend 118.165 (1) (d) and 118.33 (1) (a) 1. b.; to create 115.28 (55v), 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m., 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m., 118.60 (2) (a) 10., 119.23 (2) (a) 10. and 121.02 (1) (L) 9. of the statutes; Relating to: required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE)
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-02-03
- Last action: 2026-03-23, Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
- Sponsors: Elijah Behnke (Republican), Barbara Dittrich (Republican), Bob Donovan (Republican), Cindi Duchow (Republican), Rick Gundrum (Republican), Daniel Knodl (Republican), Rob Kreibich (Republican), David Murphy (Republican), Amanda Nedweski (Republican), Jerry O'Connor (Republican), David Steffen (Republican), Ron Tusler (Republican), Robin Vos (Republican), Chuck Wichgers (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: Parochial and private schools, School -- Administration, School -- Attendance, School -- Charter school, School -- Curriculum
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (106 yes, 90 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Elijah Behnke (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Barbara Dittrich (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Bob Donovan (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Cindi Duchow (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Rick Gundrum (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Daniel Knodl (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Rob Kreibich (Republican), House
- Sponsor: David Murphy (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Amanda Nedweski (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Jerry O'Connor (Republican), House
- Sponsor: David Steffen (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Ron Tusler (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Robin Vos (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Chuck Wichgers (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Dan Feyen (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Paul Melotik (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Van Wanggaard (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-19 | House | Read a third time and passed, Ayes 52, Noes 46 | pass | 52 | 46 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | House | Decision of the Chair upheld, Ayes 54, Noes 44 | pass | 54 | 44 |   |

## Actions (20)

- 2026-03-23: Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: Read first time and referred to committee on Education (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Received from Assembly (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Ordered immediately messaged (House)
- 2025-02-19: Read a third time and passed, Ayes 52, Noes 46 (House)
- 2025-02-19: Rules suspended (House)
- 2025-02-19: Ordered to a third reading (House)
- 2025-02-19: Decision of the Chair upheld, Ayes 54, Noes 44 (House)
- 2025-02-19: Decision of the Chair appealed (House)
- 2025-02-19: Point of order that Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 not germane under Assembly Rule 54 (3)(f) well taken (House)
- 2025-02-19: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Andraca (House)
- 2025-02-19: Read a second time (House)
- 2025-02-17: Referred to calendar of 2-19-2025 pursuant to Assembly Rule 45 (1) (House)
- 2025-02-17: Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 8, Noes 5 (House)
- 2025-02-13: Executive action taken (House)
- 2025-02-06: Public hearing held (House)
- 2025-02-06: Fiscal estimate received (House)
- 2025-02-04: Representative Melotik added as a coauthor (House)
- 2025-02-03: Read first time and referred to Committee on Education (House)
- 2025-02-03: Introduced by Representatives Nedweski, Behnke, Dittrich, Donovan, Duchow, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, O'Connor, Steffen, Tusler, Vos and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard, Cabral-Guevara and Feyen (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [HTML](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB4), [PDF](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB4.pdf)

## Related bills

- AB913: An Act to create 71.05 (6) (b) 57. of the statutes; Relating to: subtraction for certain income of members of the National Guard and Reserves. (FE) (signed)
- AB80: An Act to renumber 457.25 (1); to amend 46.90 (4) (ab) 4., 48.56 (2), 48.561 (2), 49.45 (30j) (a) 1., 51.03 (6) (a), 55.043 (1m) (a) 4., 146.81 (1) (hg), 146.8… (signed)
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## Sources
- [Bill Text (HTML)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB4)
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB4.pdf)

## Related
- [AB913: An Act to create 71.05 (6) (b) 57. of the statutes; Relating to: subtraction fo…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB913-2025)
- [AB80: An Act to renumber 457.25 (1); to amend 46.90 (4) (ab) 4., 48.56 (2), 48.561 (2…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB80-2025)
- [AB1027: An Act Relating to: requiring information relating to the food stamp program to…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB1027-2025)
- [SB36: An Act to repeal 71.63 (6) (n) 1. and 71.63 (6) (n) 2.; to renumber and amend 7…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-SB36-2025)
- [AB674: An Act to create 157.06 (15m) of the statutes; Relating to: prohibiting knowing…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB674-2025)
- [SB176: An Act to create 71.05 (1) (j), 71.26 (1) (j), 71.34 (1k) (q) and 71.45 (1) (dp…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-SB176-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB4-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).