Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: admission of students to technical college programs.
- 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
Current law requires the Technical College System Board (TCS Board) to promulgate rules establishing technical colleges’ priorities in admitting students who are residents of the technical college district, students who are state residents but not district residents, and students who are not state residents. The rules promulgated by the TCS Board also allow a technical college to adopt a policy to reserve a reasonable number of program spaces to accommodate admission of students in special circumstances, subject to approval by the TCS Board. Factors that may be considered for special circumstance admission include hardship, school-to-work program participation, special need, and enrollment diversity.
This bill allows a technical college to adopt a policy to reserve program spaces to accommodate admission of students in protective services programs, including programs that prepare students to provide law enforcement, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or firefighting services. The policy is not subject to the TCS Board’s approval. The bill also codifies, with some modification, the TCS Board’s rule allowing a technical college to reserve program spaces for students in special circumstances.
Sponsors
Registered lobbying interests · 3
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record
Votes
Senate: Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2
Passed 3–2 Mar 9, 2026 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Senate: Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2
Passed 3–2 Mar 9, 2026 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Full history
- Dec 12, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Tomczyk and Hutton; cosponsored by Representatives Dittrich, Armstrong, Brill, Donovan, Duchow, Green, Gundrum, B. Jacobson, Kaufert, Moses, Murphy, Mursau, Nedweski, O'Connor, Piwowarczyk, Tittl, Wichgers and Miresse
- Dec 12, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges
- Dec 15, 2025 · Senate
Representative Ortiz-Velez added as a cosponsor
- Dec 16, 2025 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Tomczyk
- Jan 8, 2026 · Senate
Representative Miresse withdrawn as a cosponsor
- Jan 9, 2026 · Senate
Representative Ortiz-Velez withdrawn as a cosponsor
- Jan 15, 2026 · Senate
Representative Tucker added as a cosponsor
- Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1