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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Assembly Bill 740

Wisconsin grants for technical college students and making appropriations. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 28, 2016. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 19, 2016

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 16, 2016

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 19 to 13

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 281

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 28, 2016: “Published 3-29-2016”

Read the bill

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What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill provides for additional funding for Wisconsin grants to technical college students. Under current law, the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) administers the Wisconsin grants program, which provides grants to resident postsecondary students enrolled in institutions of higher education, including technical colleges. The bill provides additional funding for Wisconsin grants to technical college students by allowing the Technical College System Board (TCSB) to solicit contributions from technical college district boards to HEAB to provide funding for the grants. In addition, the bill allows the TCSB to transfer money from certain of its appropriations for the grants. The bill limits the total amount the TCSB may transfer in a fiscal year based on the amount of contributions by district boards in the fiscal year. Under that limit, the amount of contributions is subtracted from $1,000,000, and the transfers may not exceed the difference.

The bill also provides additional general purpose revenue (GPR) for the grants to technical college students, but only if the TCSB makes transfers or district boards make contributions in a fiscal year. The bill provides GPR in a fiscal year in an amount equal to the sum of the transfers and contributions in the fiscal year, except that the GPR may not exceed $1,000,000.

Who's behind it

8 lawmakers are its ⁠. All 8 are Republicans.

3 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 11 names

Authors (8)

Signed on in support (3)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

How lawmakers voted

There were 9 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities vote on an amendment

Passed, 10 to 4 · Feb 1, 2016

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 10, Noes 4”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities vote to recommend it

Passed, 9 to 5 · Feb 1, 2016

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 9, Noes 5”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 63 to 35 · Feb 16, 2016

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 63, Noes 35”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 63 to 35 · Feb 16, 2016

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Assembly Substitute Amendment 4 laid on table, Ayes 63, Noes 35”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 61 to 36 · Feb 16, 2016

See how each of the 97 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (61)

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 61, Noes 36, Paired 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 3 to 2 · Mar 14, 2016

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 19 to 13 · Mar 15, 2016

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 19 to 13 · Mar 15, 2016

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 19 to 13 · Mar 15, 2016 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Didn't vote (1)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 19, Noes 13”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 28, 2016

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 28, 2016

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 281.

  3. Mar 24, 2016

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 15, 2016

    The Senate passed it too, 19 to 13.

  5. Mar 14, 2016

    “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  6. Mar 14, 2016

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.

  7. Feb 17, 2016

    Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.

  8. Feb 17, 2016

    The Senate received it.

  9. Feb 16, 2016

    The Assembly passed it, 61 to 36.

  10. Feb 16, 2016

    The Assembly adopted it.

  11. Feb 5, 2016

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  12. Feb 1, 2016

    Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.

  13. Feb 1, 2016

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 9 to 5.

  14. Jan 21, 2016

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  15. Jan 21, 2016

    The committee held a public hearing.

  16. Jan 21, 2016

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  17. Jan 19, 2016

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.

  18. Jan 19, 2016

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 19, 2016 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Heaton, Bernier, A. Ott, Petryk, E. Brooks, Skowronski, Czaja and Rodriguez; cosponsored by Senators Harsdorf, Gudex, L. Taylor and Ringhand

  2. Jan 19, 2016 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities

  3. Jan 19, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Heaton

  4. Jan 21, 2016 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Jan 21, 2016 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Jan 21, 2016 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  7. Jan 21, 2016 · Assembly

    Representative Ballweg added as a coauthor

  8. Jan 26, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representatives Wachs, Berceau, Billings, Hesselbein and Jorgensen

  9. Jan 28, 2016 · Assembly

    Executive session held

  10. Feb 1, 2016 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 10, Noes 4

  11. Feb 1, 2016 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 9, Noes 5

  12. Feb 1, 2016 · Assembly

    Referred to joint committee on Finance

  13. Feb 5, 2016 · Assembly

    Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and referred to committee on Rules

  14. Feb 11, 2016 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 2-16-2016 by Committee on Rules

  15. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  16. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 4 offered by Representatives Shankland, Wachs, Danou, Hesselbein, Doyle, Mason, Goyke, Meyers, Kessler, Spreitzer, Pope, Johnson, Berceau, Stuck, Hebl, Kolste, Billings, Young, Subeck, C. Taylor, Sargent and Bowen

  17. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 4 laid on table, Ayes 63, Noes 35

  18. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representatives Mason, C. Taylor and Barca

  19. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 63, Noes 35

  20. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  21. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  22. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  23. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 61, Noes 36, Paired 2

  24. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  25. Feb 17, 2016 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  26. Feb 17, 2016 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to joint committee on Finance

  27. Mar 14, 2016 · Senate

    Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and rereferred to committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)

  28. Mar 14, 2016 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  29. Mar 14, 2016 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  30. Mar 14, 2016 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-15-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  31. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Senator L. Taylor withdrawn as a cosponsor

  32. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Senator Ringhand withdrawn as a cosponsor

  33. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Hansen, Wirch, C. Larson, Ringhand, Harris Dodd, Vinehout, Miller and Bewley

  34. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senators Hansen, Wirch, C. Larson, Ringhand, Harris Dodd, Vinehout, Miller and Bewley

  35. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Read a second time

  36. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13

  37. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13

  38. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  39. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  40. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 19, Noes 13

  41. Mar 15, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  42. Mar 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  43. Mar 23, 2016 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 3-23-2016

  44. Mar 24, 2016 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 3-24-2016

  45. Mar 28, 2016 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-28-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 281

  46. Mar 28, 2016 · Assembly

    Published 3-29-2016

Terms on this page

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act. More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary

From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act

More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis

More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor

More in the glossary

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate

More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote

More in the glossary