All Roll Calls
Yes: 36 • No: 30
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)
Signed by Governor
Sen Bill 210Scholarships and loansSchool -- Administration
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
More scholarship access at small schools
Wisconsin high schools with 1–499 pupils must name one top-grade senior as an academic excellence scholar. Grades across all subjects count. Schools with fewer than 80 pupils now have direct access to this scholarship designation process. Local school authorities handle selection and required notices without nominations or designation by the Higher Educational Aids Board. Eligible seniors include 12th-graders at public, private, and tribal schools, plus Wisconsin's specified schools for deaf and blind students. When top grades are tied, school faculty choose scholars and rank alternates by February 25. Alternates need a grade point average of at least 3.800. Same-grade alternates can replace designated scholars who do not qualify for the award. For two school years after a closure or merger, districts must preserve the school's original number of scholar designations. Those places go to students enrolled when the school closed or merged, preserving their scholarship eligibility. Historical closure rules also require next-highest-grade selections in specified cases involving 1989–90 and 1991–92. Schools that rank academic-subject grades rather than grade point averages can request a waiver from the executive secretary. These changes do not increase scholarship amounts or add funding.
Home-schooled students excluded from scholarship designation
Students enrolled in a home-based private education program do not count as seniors under these scholarship rules. This exclusion applies to programs defined by Wisconsin law. These students cannot receive academic excellence scholar designations through provisions that require senior status.
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
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
Published 12-10-2025
12/10/2025SenateReport approved by the Governor on 12-9-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 80
12/10/2025SenatePresented to the Governor on 12-4-2025
12/4/2025SenateReport correctly enrolled
11/24/2025SenateReceived from Assembly concurred in
11/20/2025SenateOrdered immediately messaged
11/19/2025HouseRead a third time and concurred in
11/19/2025HouseRules suspended
11/19/2025HouseOrdered to a third reading
11/19/2025HouseRead a second time
11/19/2025HouseRules suspended to withdraw from Senate message and take up
11/19/2025HouseRead
11/19/2025HouseReceived from Senate
11/19/2025HouseOrdered immediately messaged
11/18/2025SenateRead a third time and passed
11/18/2025SenateRules suspended to give bill its third reading
11/18/2025SenateOrdered to a third reading
11/18/2025SenateWithdrawn from joint committee on Finance and taken up
11/18/2025SenateReferred to joint committee on Finance
11/18/2025SenateSenate Amendment 2 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15
11/18/2025SenateSenate Amendment 1 adopted, Ayes 18, Noes 15
11/18/2025SenateRead a second time
11/18/2025SenateSenate Amendment 2 offered by Senators Smith, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Habush Sinykin, Hesselbein, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Roys and Spreitzer
11/18/2025SenatePlaced on calendar 11-18-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
11/14/2025SenateSenate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Tomczyk
10/16/2025Senate
Bill Text
Senate Amendment 1
11/18/2025
Bill Text
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)
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), 146.89 (1) (r) 6., 146.89 (1) (r) 7., 146.997 (1) (d) 11., 252.14 (1) (ar) 7., 252.15 (1) (er), 253.10 (2) (f), 303.08 (1) (f), 440.03 (13) (b) (intro.), 440.15, 446.01 (1v) (m), 450.10 (3) (a) 10., 457.01 (1c), 457.01 (1r), 457.01 (10), 457.02 (5) and (5m), 457.03 (2), 457.033, 457.035 (2), 457.04 (1), 457.04 (2), 457.04 (4), 457.04 (7), 457.09 (4) (b) 1., 457.09 (4) (b) 2., 457.24 (1), 457.26 (2) (intro.) and 905.04 (1) (g); to repeal and recreate 632.89 (1) (dm); to create 14.898, 440.03 (11m) (c) 2v., 440.03 (13) (c) 1. id., 457.01 (5g), 457.01 (5j), 457.01 (12), 457.08 (4m), 457.25 (1g) and subchapter III of chapter 457 [precedes 457.70] of the statutes; Relating to: ratification of the Social Work Licensure Compact. (FE)
SB45, An Act; Relating to: state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE)
AB1034, An Act to amend 20.285 (1) (gj); to create 20.285 (1) (cj), 20.285 (1) (ck), 20.285 (1) (cL) and 36.11 (12) of the statutes; Relating to: name, image, and likeness rights for University of Wisconsin System student athletes; maintenance costs for University of Wisconsin–Madison intercollegiate athletic facilities; and making an appropriation. (FE)
AB650, An Act to amend 20.445 (1) (aL) of the statutes; Relating to: funding for identity verification under the unemployment insurance law and making an appropriation. (FE)
SB181, An Act to amend 79.05 (2) (c); to create 66.0602 (3) (o) of the statutes; Relating to: a levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE)