Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: Introduced 2 R cosponsors

SB 591 — Relating to: dual enrollment programs, creating the Council on Dual Enrollment, and transfer of postsecondary course credits. (FE)

Last action — Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

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

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced October 24, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 13 sponsors

    1 primary, 12 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote 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 amend 36.11 (3) (b), 36.11 (3) (cm) 5., 36.31 (2m) (b), 36.31 (2m) (c), 36.31 (2m) (d), 36.65 (3), 38.12 (14) (a) 1., 38.12 (14) (a) 3., 38.12 (14) (c), 38.12 (14) (d), subchapter I (title) of chapter 106 [precedes 106.001], 118.55 (3) (a), 118.55 (3) (b), 118.55 (5) (e) 1. and 118.55 (8) (a); to create 15.227 (16), 36.31 (2m) (bm) and 106.08 of the statutes;

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

8 changes Share ↗

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

The bill establishes the Council on Dual Enrollment and enhances policies for transfer of postsecondary credits earned by high school students while amending several existing statutes regarding education and enrollment.

  • 36.11 (3) (b)

    Subject to s. 36.31 (2m), the board shall establish policies for the appropriate transfer of credits between institutions within the system, including postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil enrolled in a course at an institution within the system under the program under s. 118.55. → Subject to s. 36.31 (2m), the board shall establish policies for the appropriate transfer of credits between institutions within the system, including postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil enrolled in a course at an institution within the system under the program under s. 118.55. If the board determines that postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil under the program under s. 118.55 are not transferable under this paragraph, the board shall permit the individual to appeal the decision.

    This change allows for an appeal process if postsecondary credits earned under the program are deemed non-transferable.

  • 36.11 (3) (cm) 5.

    By September 1, 2026, all credits for core general education courses must be transferable between UW System institutions and satisfy general education requirements at the receiving institution.

    This establishes a clear deadline by which core general education credits must be transferable.

  • 36.31 (2m) (b)

    The Board of Regents and the WTCS Board must enter into an agreement that identifies at least 72 credits of core general education courses that are transferable and satisfy general education requirements at the receiving UW institution or technical college.

    This mandates the identification of specific transferable credits between higher education institutions.

  • 36.31 (2m) (c)

    The Board of Regents and WAICU, on behalf of private nonprofit colleges, shall enter into an agreement that identifies at least 36 credits of core general education courses that are transferable and satisfy general education requirements at the receiving UW institution or at a receiving private college that chooses to participate in the agreement.

    This requires agreements to ensure that essential credits are recognized across various types of institutions.

  • 36.31 (2m) (d)

    If core general education course credits are transferable under current law, postsecondary credits earned by a high school pupil under ECCP or SCNP for completion of a core general education course are likewise transferable.

    This ensures that high school credits earned under specified programs are recognized effectively.

  • 36.65 (3)

    The board shall include in the report required under sub. (2) a description of the agreement entered into under s. 36.31 (2m) (b) and a summary of the board’s implementation of the agreement. → The board shall include in the report required under sub. (2) a description of the agreements entered into under s. 36.31 (2m) (b) and (c) and a summary of the board’s implementation of the agreements.

    This broadens the reporting requirements to include multiple agreements related to core general education credits.

  • 38.12 (14) (a) 1.

    Accept all American Council on Education credit recommendations included in the official joint services transcript and award academic credit to the student in accordance with these recommendations.

    This ensures uniform acceptance of military credits across technical colleges.

  • 38.12 (14) (a) 3.

    Accept all credits included in the Community College of the Air Force transcript and award academic credit to the student accordingly.

    This mandates that credits from the Community College of the Air Force be recognized.

Action History

  1. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. Available for scheduling

  3. Report passage recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  4. Executive action taken

  5. Public hearing held

  6. Fiscal estimate received

  7. Fiscal estimate received

  8. Fiscal estimate received

  9. Fiscal estimate received

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

  11. Introduced by Senators Cabral-Guevara and Jacque; cosponsored by Representatives Murphy, Kitchens, Behnke, Dittrich, Knodl, Melotik, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Rodriguez and Wichgers

Sponsors

  • Murphy · Cosponsor
  • Kitchens · Cosponsor
  • Behnke · Cosponsor
  • Dittrich · Cosponsor
  • Knodl · Cosponsor
  • Melotik · Cosponsor
  • Mursau · Cosponsor
  • O'Connor · Cosponsor
  • Penterman · Cosponsor
  • Rodriguez · Cosponsor
  • Wichgers · Cosponsor
  • Rachael Cabral-Guevara · Primary
  • André Jacque · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 119 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (12)

  • Murphy
  • Kitchens
  • Behnke
  • Dittrich
  • Knodl
  • Melotik
  • Mursau
  • O'Connor
  • Penterman
  • Rodriguez
  • Wichgers
  • Jacque, André Republican

Not signed on (119)

119 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 119 →

"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

labor education
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 SB 591 do?
An Act to amend 36.11 (3) (b), 36.11 (3) (cm) 5., 36.31 (2m) (b), 36.31 (2m) (c), 36.31 (2m) (d), 36.65 (3), 38.12 (14) (a) 1., 38.12 (14) (a) 3., 38.12 (14) (c), 38.12 (14) (d), subchapter I (title) of chapter 106 [precedes 106.001], 118.55 (3) (a), 118.55 (3) (b), 118.55 (5) (e) 1. and 118.55 (8) (a); to create 15.227 (16), 36.31 (2m) (bm) and 106.08 of the statutes;
Who sponsors SB 591?
SB 591 is sponsored by Murphy, Kitchens, Behnke, Dittrich, Knodl, Melotik, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Rodriguez, Wichgers, Cabral-Guevara, Rachael (Republican), and Jacque, André (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 591?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced October 24, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 591?
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