Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: creating an innovation grant program for institutions of higher education and making an appropriation. (FE)
Colleges and universities Economic development corporation wisconsin
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to establish and administer an Innovation Grant Program to provide to private nonprofit colleges funding for the development of new academic programs and community partnerships that are designed to meet workforce needs and infrastructure projects that benefit the broader public and that are designed to meet workforce needs. Under the bill, WEDC awards grants to these colleges to support the launch of innovative academic programs that are designed to meet workforce needs and infrastructure projects that benefit the larger public and that are designed to meet workforce needs, subject to the following limitations: 1) the grant recipient must provide matching funding; 2) the grant recipient must demonstrate a pathway for the academic program or infrastructure project to become self-sustaining; and 3) no more than 10 percent of the total amount of grants may be awarded to a single private nonprofit college.
What it would cost
Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs
Sponsors
Registered lobbying interests · 4
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record
Full history
- Feb 26, 2026 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Cabral-Guevara and Spreitzer; cosponsored by Representatives Maxey, Murphy, Knodl, Kreibich, Neylon, Wichgers and Hysell
- Feb 26, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges
- Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 18, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1