Senate Bill 785
Including information about investigations of license holders in an online licensing portal maintained by the Department of Public Instruction. (FE)
Topics: Public Instruction, Department of, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Teacher: Certificate
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 6, 2026. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Dec 22, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Feb 11, 2026
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 18, 2026
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2025 Wisconsin Act 185
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 6, 2026: “Published 4-4-2026”
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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 795. 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
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 does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction to maintain on the Department of Public Instruction’s website an online licensing portal that is searchable by the public at no cost. Under the bill, the portal must include information related to license holders who are investigated by DPI. Specifically, the portal must include for each license holder who is under investigation the name of the license holder and the outcome of the investigation, including if the investigation was terminated because the license holder voluntarily surrendered the license during the investigation. The portal must also include the name of each individual whose license is revoked by DPI.
Under current law, DPI must post on its website the name of each license holder who is under investigation and the name of each individual whose license is revoked by DPI as the result of an investigation.
Who's behind it
5 senators are its . All 5 are Republicans.
13 more lawmakers .
See all 18 names Hide the names
Authors (5)
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- John Jagler · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
- Romaine Quinn · Republican, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (13)
- Brent Jacobson · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Joy Goeben · Republican, Assembly
- Chanz Green · Republican, Assembly
- Gus Gustafson · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Kreibich · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Maxey · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Will Penterman · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Smith · Democrat, Senate
- Ron Tusler · Republican, Assembly
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 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Education vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 3, 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 Education, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 66 to 32 · Feb 18, 2026 · 1 didn't vote
See how each of the 99 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (66)
- Adam Neylon (R, 15)
- Alex Dallman (R, 39)
- Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D, 90)
- Amanda Nedweski (R, 32)
- Barbara Dittrich (R, 99)
- Ben Franklin (R, 88)
- Bob Donovan (R, 61)
- Bob Wittke (R, 63)
- Brent Jacobson (R, 87)
- Brienne Brown (D, 43)
- 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)
- Jenna Jacobson (D, 50)
- Jerry O'Connor (R, 60)
- Jessie Rodriguez (R, 21)
- Jill Billings (D, 95)
- Jim Piwowarczyk (R, 98)
- Jodi Emerson (D, 91)
- Joe Sheehan (D, 26)
- Joel Kitchens (R, 1)
- John Spiros (R, 86)
- Joy Goeben (R, 5)
- Karen Hurd (R, 69)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lindee Brill (R, 27)
- Lori Palmeri (D, 54)
- 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)
- Robyn Vining (D, 13)
- Ron Tusler (R, 3)
- Ryan Spaude (D, 89)
- Scott Allen (R, 82)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Shae Sortwell (R, 2)
- Shannon Zimmerman (R, 30)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D, 8)
- Todd Novak (R, 51)
- Tony Kurtz (R, 41)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Treig Pronschinske (R, 29)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Vinnie Miresse (D, 71)
- Will Penterman (R, 38)
No (32)
- Alex Joers (D, 81)
- Andrew Hysell (D, 48)
- Angela Stroud (D, 73)
- Angelina Cruz (D, 62)
- Angelito Tenorio (D, 14)
- Ann Roe (D, 44)
- Ben DeSmidt (D, 65)
- 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)
- Joan Fitzgerald (D, 46)
- Kalan Haywood (D, 16)
- Karen DeSanto (D, 40)
- Karen Kirsch (D, 7)
- Lee Snodgrass (D, 52)
- Lisa Subeck (D, 79)
- Margaret Arney (D, 18)
- Maureen McCarville (D, 42)
- Mike Bare (D, 80)
- Priscilla Prado (D, 9)
- Randy Udell (D, 47)
- Renuka Mayadev (D, 77)
- Ryan Clancy (D, 19)
- Sequanna Taylor (D, 11)
- Shelia Stubbs (D, 78)
- Supreme Moore Omokunde (D, 17)
- Tara Johnson (D, 96)
- Tip McGuire (D, 64)
Didn't vote (1)
- Russell Goodwin (D, 12)
Official motion: “CONCURRENCE AS AMENDED”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 6, 2026
The new law was published.
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Apr 6, 2026
The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 185.
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Apr 2, 2026
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 17, 2026
“Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)
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Mar 17, 2026
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Feb 19, 2026
The Senate adopted it.
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Feb 18, 2026
The Assembly passed it too, 66 to 32.
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Feb 18, 2026
The Assembly adopted it.
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Feb 13, 2026
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Feb 12, 2026
The Assembly received it.
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Feb 11, 2026
The Senate passed it.
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Feb 3, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Jan 28, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 2, 2026
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Dec 22, 2025
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Dec 22, 2025
Sent to the Senate Committee on Education.
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Dec 22, 2025
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Dec 22, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Jagler, Quinn, Wanggaard, Jacque and Nass; cosponsored by Representatives Gustafson, Goeben, Penterman, Tusler, B. Jacobson, O'Connor, Dittrich, Green, Maxey, Kreibich and Murphy
- Dec 22, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Education
- Dec 22, 2025 · Senate
Representative Knodl added as a cosponsor
- Jan 2, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Jan 28, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- 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 passed
- Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 13, 2026 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 13, 2026 · Assembly
Withdrawn from Committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 2-17-2026
- Feb 17, 2026 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 1:23 PM on 2-18-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 13
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Neubauer
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Gustafson
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 adopted
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 66, Noes 32
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 19, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 adopted
- Mar 16, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 concurred in
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Senator Smith added as a coauthor
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Action ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 20, 2026 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Apr 2, 2026 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026
- Apr 6, 2026 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 4-3-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 185
- Apr 6, 2026 · Senate
Published 4-4-2026
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
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
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