AB 166 Wisconsin Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: academic and career planning services provided to pupils and requiring the reporting of certain data on college student costs and outcomes. (FE)

AB 166 requires Wisconsin colleges and universities to collect and report specific data about student outcomes and costs starting in 2027. Institutions must report graduates' average salaries (6 months and 5 years post-graduation by major), average debt, graduation rates, cost of attendance, and popular degree programs. The state board will also create and publish a list of the 50 most in-demand jobs in Wisconsin with required education levels and average salaries. This data will be provided to high schools for students in grades 10-12 as part of required academic and career planning services. The bill directly affects higher education institutions and students seeking career guidance.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Oct 2025
Assembly Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Nov 2025
Vetoed
Dec 2025
Introduced Apr 8, 2025 Vetoed Dec 5, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Text Text as Enrolled · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill was converted from a draft proposal into an enacted law, adding official enactment dates and publication notices required for legal effect. The core policy requirements remain unchanged, mandating that colleges report student cost and outcome data to the Higher Educational Aids Board, which will then share this information with high schools to assist students in career planning.
Scope change
The scope of applicability remains identical to the draft, covering University of Wisconsin System institutions, technical colleges, and private nonprofit colleges in Wisconsin.
TECHNICAL

Added standard statutory language regarding the date of enactment and publication, which is legally necessary for the bill to become effective.

Reformatted the text to match the official style of an enacted Wisconsin Act, including section headers and page numbering conventions.

ENFORCEMENT

Added Section 2, which explicitly mandates that the Higher Educational Aids Board provide the compiled data to school boards and requires school boards to distribute it to high school juniors and seniors starting in the 2027-28 school year.

Floor votes · Assembly Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
39
Key actions
7
Committee
5
Amendments
2
Dec 5, 2025
Vetoed
Report vetoed by the Governor on 12-5-2025
lower
Nov 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and concurred in
upper
Oct 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 56, Noes 39, Paired 2
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on calendar 4-22-2025 by Committee on Rules
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 10, Noes 3
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 10, Noes 3
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Melotik
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Melotik, Maxey, Behnke, Dittrich, Green, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, Sheehan and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senator Feyen
lower
11 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors