Assembly Bill 696
Various changes to the laws governing the practice of accounting and modifying various administrative rules promulgated by the Accounting Examining Board relating to accounting
Topics: Administrative rules: Revisions, Certified public accountant, Interstate relations
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 2, 2026. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Nov 26, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 10, 2026
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Feb 11, 2026
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2025 Wisconsin Act 166
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 2, 2026: “Published 4-3-2026”
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The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 732. That version died when the session ended.
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
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 does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill makes modifications regarding the educational requirements for taking the certified public accounting (CPA) examination or for obtaining a CPA certificate, or for practicing as a CPA based upon licensure or certification in another state.
Current law provides that a CPA certificate may be granted only to a person who has completed at least 150 semester hours of education in accounting and business subjects, as determined by the board, which issues CPA certificates and licenses. Current law also requires that the person have at least one year of public accounting experience or its equivalent. Current law also provides that a person is not eligible to take the CPA examination unless the person has completed at least 120 semester hours of education in accounting and business subjects, as determined by the board.
Read the full summary Show less
The bill replaces the 150 hours requirement and one year of public accounting experience with specific educational pathways and experience requirements for obtaining a CPA certificate. The methods differ depending on the degree received by the applicant. The bill also allows a person to take the CPA examination after receipt of a bachelor’s degree or after completing 120 hours of education. The bill further details the work experience requirement, including how the board is to evaluate work experience. The bill also makes changes to the board’s rules, including changes to account for the statutory changes in the bill, repealing the requirement to complete semester hours in accounting information systems, and changing the continuing education requirements for a renewal five years or more after the renewal date. Finally, the bill changes the exemption under which a person who has a CPA license or certificate from another state may practice in this state without a license, requiring that the person have met requirements similar to those in this state, instead of requiring third-party verification of qualifications.
Who's behind it
5 representatives are its . 4 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.
4 more lawmakers .
See all 9 names Hide the names
Authors (5)
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Priscilla Prado · Democrat, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Wittke · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (4)
- Dora Drake · Democrat, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez · Democrat, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
How lawmakers voted
There were 2 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform vote to recommend it
Passed, 7 to 0 · Jan 15, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform, Ayes 7, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 10, 2026
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
What happened
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Apr 2, 2026
The new law was published.
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Apr 2, 2026
The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 166.
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Apr 1, 2026
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 11, 2026
The Senate passed it too.
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Feb 10, 2026
“Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)
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Feb 10, 2026
Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.
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Feb 10, 2026
The Senate received it.
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Feb 10, 2026
The Assembly passed it.
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Jan 20, 2026 to Jan 27, 2026
1 more representative and 1 senator signed on in support.
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Jan 15, 2026
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jan 15, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 0.
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Dec 17, 2025
The committee held a public hearing.
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Dec 12, 2025
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Nov 26, 2025
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform.
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Nov 26, 2025
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Nov 26, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Wittke, Dittrich, Knodl, Prado and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senator Marklein
- Nov 26, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform
- Dec 12, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Ortiz-Velez added as a coauthor
- Dec 17, 2025 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Jan 14, 2026 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Jan 15, 2026 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform, Ayes 7, Noes 0
- Jan 15, 2026 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Jan 20, 2026 · Assembly
Representative Penterman added as a coauthor
- Jan 27, 2026 · Assembly
Senator Drake added as a cosponsor
- Feb 5, 2026 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 2-10-2026 by Committee on Rules
- Feb 10, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 10, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 10, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 10, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Feb 10, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization
- Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended and taken up
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Feb 13, 2026 · Assembly
LRB correction
- Feb 13, 2026 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 2-13-2026
- Apr 1, 2026 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 4-1-2026
- Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 166
- Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly
Published 4-3-2026
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
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
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote