Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: To Executive Bipartisan · 4 R · 1 D cosponsors

AB 696 — Relating to: various changes to the laws governing the practice of accounting and modifying various administrative rules promulgated by the Accounting Examining Board relating to accounting.

Last action — Published 4-3-2026

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced November 26, 2025. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 90% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (4 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

An Act to repeal 442.04 (5) (b) 5.; to renumber and amend 442.04 (5) (a); to amend 442.025 (4) (a) 2., 442.03, 442.04 (5) (b) 4. and 442.04 (6) (b); to repeal and recreate 442.04 (5) (b) 3.; to create 442.04 (5m) of the statutes;

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill modifies educational and experience requirements for obtaining a CPA certificate and alters the ability for out-of-state CPAs to practice in Wisconsin.

  • 442.025 (4) (a) 2.

    has met requirements similar to those under s. 442.04 (5) (b). → has met requirements similar to those under s. 442.04 (5) (b). A person whose principal place of business or residence is not in this state and who holds a valid certified public accountant certificate or license from another state, as of the day before the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date], and as of that date, had practice privileges in this state under s. 442.025 (4), 2023 stats., shall continue to have all the privileges of licensees in this state without the need to obtain a license.

    Changes the conditions under which out-of-state CPAs may practice in Wisconsin, focusing on substantial equivalence rather than third-party verification.

  • 442.03

    and or firm have has complied with all of the provisions of this chapter, including licensure. → and or firm has complied with all of the provisions of this chapter, including licensure.

    Clarifies the compliance language regarding licensing for CPA practice.

  • 442.04 (5) (b) 3.

    The person has, except as provided in sub. (6), satisfied one of the following: a. Received a master’s degree from an institution, for which the person completed course work in accounting and business subjects, as determined by the examining board, and completed not less than one year of work experience or its equivalent that satisfies sub. (5m). b. Received a bachelor’s degree from an institution, completed at least 150 semester hours of education that included course work in accounting and business subjects, as determined by the examining board, and completed not less than one year of work experience or its equivalent that satisfies sub. (5m). c. Received a bachelor’s degree from an institution, for which the person completed course work in accounting and business subjects, as determined by the examining board, and completed not less than 2 years of work experience or its equivalent that satisfies sub. (5m).

    Revises the educational pathways and work experience requirements for obtaining a CPA certificate.

  • 442.04 (5) (b) 4.

    A person is not eligible to take the examination under this subdivision unless the person has completed at least 120 semester hours of education at or received a bachelor’s degree from an institution that include. → A person is not eligible to take the examination under this subdivision unless the person has completed at least 120 semester hours of education or received a bachelor’s degree from an institution that included coursework in accounting and business subjects, as determined by the examining board.

    Clarifies eligibility for taking the CPA examination by allowing candidates who have completed either 120 semester hours or a bachelor's degree.

  • 442.04 (6) (b)

    Apply training and service described in par. (a) to satisfy a portion of the 150 semester education hours required under sub. (5) (b) 3. b.

    Allows military training to count towards a portion of educational requirements for CPAs.

  • 442.04 (5) (b) 5.

    The person must have satisfied the requirement under sub. (5) (b) 3. and has a valid license or certificate from another state.

    Removes the requirement for individuals with out-of-state CPA licenses regarding specific experience qualifications.

Action History

  1. Published 4-3-2026

  2. Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 166

  3. Presented to the Governor on 4-1-2026

  4. Report correctly enrolled on 2-13-2026

  5. LRB correction

  6. Received from Senate concurred in

  7. Ordered immediately messaged

  8. Read a third time and concurred in

  9. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  10. Ordered to a third reading

  11. Read a second time

  12. Rules suspended and taken up

  13. Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  14. Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  15. Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  16. Received from Assembly

  17. Ordered immediately messaged

  18. Read a third time and passed

  19. Rules suspended

  20. Ordered to a third reading

  21. Read a second time

  22. Placed on calendar 2-10-2026 by Committee on Rules

  23. Senator Drake added as a cosponsor

  24. Representative Penterman added as a coauthor

  25. Referred to committee on Rules

  26. Report passage recommended by Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform, Ayes 7, Noes 0

  27. Executive action taken

  28. Public hearing held

  29. Representative Ortiz-Velez added as a coauthor

  30. Read first time and referred to Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform

  31. Introduced by Representatives Wittke, Dittrich, Knodl, Prado and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senator Marklein

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 126 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (126)

126 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 126 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

finance labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does AB 696 do?
An Act to repeal 442.04 (5) (b) 5.; to renumber and amend 442.04 (5) (a); to amend 442.025 (4) (a) 2., 442.03, 442.04 (5) (b) 4. and 442.04 (6) (b); to repeal and recreate 442.04 (5) (b) 3.; to create 442.04 (5m) of the statutes;
Who sponsors AB 696?
AB 696 is sponsored by Marklein, Wittke, Robert (Republican), Dittrich, Barbara (Republican), Knodl, Daniel (Republican), Prado, Priscilla (Democrat), and Wichgers, Chuck (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 696?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced November 26, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track AB 696?
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