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Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 856

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: climate change scholarships and making an appropriation. (FE)

Environmental protection Higher educational aids board Scholarships and loans

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Senate, not reached
  3. Passes Assembly, not reached
  4. Governor signs, not reached
  5. Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates a climate change scholarship program to be administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board. The program provides scholarships to students who are enrolled in an institution of higher education and who are engaged in studies directly related to programs preparing the students for careers in occupational areas addressing or responding to climate change. A student may not receive more than $5,000 in scholarships under this program per academic year.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Carpenter (D) , Hesselbein (D) , L. Johnson (D) , Smith (D) , Spreitzer (D)

18 cosponsors

Arney (D) , Bare (D) , Billings (D) , Clancy (D) , DeSmidt (D) , J. Jacobson (D) , Joers (D) , Madison (D) , Mayadev (D) , Moore Omokunde (D) , Neubauer (D) , Palmeri (D) , Sheehan (D) , Sinicki (D) , Stroud (D) , Taylor (D) , Tenorio (D) , Vining (D)

Registered lobbying interests · 1

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

  1. Jan 15, 2026 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Smith, Carpenter, Hesselbein, L. Johnson and Spreitzer; cosponsored by Representatives Billings, Arney, Bare, DeSmidt, Joers, Madison, Moore Omokunde, Neubauer, Palmeri, Sheehan, Sinicki, Stroud, Taylor, Tenorio and Vining

  2. Jan 15, 2026 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges

  3. Feb 2, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Clancy added as a cosponsor

  4. Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

    Representative Mayadev added as a cosponsor

  5. Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

    Representative J. Jacobson added as a cosponsor

  6. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1