Assembly Bill 486
Permissible financial aid reductions in higher education. (FE)
Topics: Colleges and universities, Scholarships and loans, Technical college, University of Wisconsin
Passed the Assembly, then stopped
The Assembly passed it on Feb 12, 2026, but the Senate never voted on it. A bill has to . The last day for votes this session was Mar 19, 2026. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Oct 9, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 12, 2026
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Senate vote, stopped here
Stopped here. The Senate never voted on it.
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 23, 2026: “Failed to concur in pursuant to ”
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The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 868. That version died when the session ended.
Terms on this page
Second chamber's vote
A bill has to pass both the Assembly and the Senate in the same form before it goes to the governor.
Official term: Concurrence. More in the glossary
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill prohibits an institution of higher education from reducing gift aid that the institution has offered to a student because the student has received a private scholarship from a Wisconsin-based entity, unless certain circumstances apply. The bill applies to University of Wisconsin System institutions, Wisconsin technical colleges, and private, nonprofit institutions that are members of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. “Gift aid” is defined in the bill to mean all financial aid that is not a loan or work-study program, including grants, scholarships, tuition waivers, and third-party payments. “Private scholarship” is defined to mean a scholarship of $5,000 or less awarded by a Wisconsin-based entity but does not include an award funded by an entity that is affiliated with the institution of higher education.
Under the bill, an institution of higher education may reduce the amount of gift aid it offers to a student athlete as a result of a private scholarship award if the reduction must be done in order to comply with the individual or team financial aid restrictions of a governing national intercollegiate athletic association. The institution of higher education may also reduce the amount of a student’s offered gift aid as a result of a private scholarship award if the student’s total gift aid from all sources exceeds the student’s financial need and if the institution first alerts the student that the student may request a reassessment of a certain metric of how the institution of higher education calculates the student’s financial need. Before reducing the amount of a student’s offered gift aid, an institution of higher education must first attempt to reduce or replace other kinds of gift aid that the student has been offered, subject to applicability and to the extent that such action is permitted by the federal Department of Education.
Read the full summary Show less
The bill also requires an institution of higher education to make a sincere attempt to ask the provider of a private scholarship to rescind and re-award to a student a private scholarship in a way that does not constrain how the institution applies it to the student’s cost of attendance or to ask for a private scholarship award provider to clarify the way in which a private scholarship may be used. A private scholarship provider is not required to comply with the institution’s requests.
Who's behind it
5 representatives are its . All 5 are Republicans.
1 more lawmaker .
See all 6 names Hide the names
Authors (5)
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Maxey · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Shae Sortwell · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (1)
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
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 4 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities vote on an amendment
Passed, 6 to 4 · Jan 14, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 6, Noes 4”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities vote to recommend it
Passed, 6 to 4 · Jan 14, 2026
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 6, Noes 4”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 53 to 45 · Feb 12, 2026 · 1 didn't vote
See how each of the 99 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (53)
- Adam Neylon (R, 15)
- Alex Dallman (R, 39)
- Amanda Nedweski (R, 32)
- Barbara Dittrich (R, 99)
- Ben Franklin (R, 88)
- Bob Donovan (R, 61)
- Bob Wittke (R, 63)
- Brent Jacobson (R, 87)
- Calvin Callahan (R, 35)
- Chanz Green (R, 74)
- Chuck Wichgers (R, 84)
- Cindi Duchow (R, 97)
- Clint Moses (R, 92)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Dave Armstrong (R, 67)
- Dave Maxey (R, 83)
- Dave Murphy (R, 56)
- David Steffen (R, 4)
- Dean Kaufert (R, 53)
- Duke Tucker (R, 75)
- Elijah Behnke (R, 6)
- Gus Gustafson (R, 55)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jerry O'Connor (R, 60)
- Jessie Rodriguez (R, 21)
- Jim Piwowarczyk (R, 98)
- Joel Kitchens (R, 1)
- John Spiros (R, 86)
- Joy Goeben (R, 5)
- Karen Hurd (R, 69)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lindee Brill (R, 27)
- Mark Born (R, 37)
- Nancy VanderMeer (R, 70)
- Pat Snyder (R, 85)
- Paul Melotik (R, 22)
- Paul Tittl (R, 25)
- Rick Gundrum (R, 58)
- Rob Brooks (R, 59)
- Rob Kreibich (R, 28)
- Rob Summerfield (R, 68)
- Rob Swearingen (R, 34)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Ron Tusler (R, 3)
- Scott Allen (R, 82)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Shae Sortwell (R, 2)
- Todd Novak (R, 51)
- Tony Kurtz (R, 41)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Treig Pronschinske (R, 29)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Will Penterman (R, 38)
No (45)
- Alex Joers (D, 81)
- Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D, 90)
- Andrew Hysell (D, 48)
- Angela Stroud (D, 73)
- Angelina Cruz (D, 62)
- Angelito Tenorio (D, 14)
- Ann Roe (D, 44)
- Ben DeSmidt (D, 65)
- Brienne Brown (D, 43)
- Christian Phelps (D, 93)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Clint Anderson (D, 45)
- Darrin Madison (D, 10)
- Deb Andraca (D, 23)
- Francesca Hong (D, 76)
- Greta Neubauer (D, 66)
- Jenna Jacobson (D, 50)
- Jill Billings (D, 95)
- Joan Fitzgerald (D, 46)
- Jodi Emerson (D, 91)
- Joe Sheehan (D, 26)
- Kalan Haywood (D, 16)
- Karen DeSanto (D, 40)
- Karen Kirsch (D, 7)
- Lee Snodgrass (D, 52)
- Lisa Subeck (D, 79)
- Lori Palmeri (D, 54)
- Margaret Arney (D, 18)
- Maureen McCarville (D, 42)
- Mike Bare (D, 80)
- Priscilla Prado (D, 9)
- Randy Udell (D, 47)
- Renuka Mayadev (D, 77)
- Robyn Vining (D, 13)
- Russell Goodwin (D, 12)
- Ryan Clancy (D, 19)
- Ryan Spaude (D, 89)
- Sequanna Taylor (D, 11)
- Shelia Stubbs (D, 78)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Supreme Moore Omokunde (D, 17)
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D, 8)
- Tara Johnson (D, 96)
- Tip McGuire (D, 64)
- Vinnie Miresse (D, 71)
Didn't vote (1)
- Shannon Zimmerman (R, 30)
Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Failed, 2 to 3 · Mar 9, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report concurrence by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 2, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 23, 2026
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Mar 9, 2026
“Report concurrence by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 2, Noes 3” (the official wording)
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Mar 4, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Feb 16, 2026
Sent to the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges.
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Feb 13, 2026
The Senate received it.
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Feb 12, 2026
The Assembly passed it, 53 to 45.
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Feb 12, 2026
The Assembly adopted it.
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Jan 14, 2026
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jan 14, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 6 to 4.
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Dec 17, 2025
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Dec 10, 2025
The committee held a public hearing.
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Oct 16, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 14, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 9, 2025
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.
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Oct 9, 2025
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Oct 9, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Sortwell, Behnke, Maxey, Mursau and O'Connor
- Oct 9, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities
- Oct 14, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Oct 16, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Dec 10, 2025 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Dec 17, 2025 · Assembly
Senator Jacque added as a cosponsor
- Jan 7, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Sortwell
- Jan 8, 2026 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Jan 14, 2026 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 6, Noes 4
- Jan 14, 2026 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 6, Noes 4
- Jan 14, 2026 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 10, 2026 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 2-12-2026 by Committee on Rules
- Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
- Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 45
- Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Universities and Technical Colleges
- Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Report concurrence by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 2, Noes 3
- Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Second chamber's vote
A bill has to pass both the Assembly and the Senate in the same form before it goes to the governor.
Official term: Concurrence. More in the glossary
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
Second chamber's vote
A bill has to pass both the Assembly and the Senate in the same form before it goes to the governor.
Official term: Concurrence
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
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
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote