Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB1018

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/26
• Refer: 2/6/26
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to repeal 49.155 (1m) (c) 1d. b.; to renumber and amend 49.155 (1m) (c) 1d. a.; to amend 49.155 (1m) (c) 1. (intro.), 49.155 (1m) (c) 1h., 49.155 (1m) (c) 1m., 49.155 (1m) (c) 2. and 49.155 (1m) (c) 3.; to create 20.437 (2) (ct) of the statutes; Relating to: income eligibility for Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy and making an appropriation. (FE)

Summary

AB1018 would expand eligibility for Wisconsin Shares, the state child care subsidy program administered through Wisconsin Works and the Department of Children and Families. The bill changes the core income test for most applicants from a family gross income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line to at or below 85% of state median income. It also updates several related eligibility provisions so that families in certain continuing-eligibility categories are measured against the new state median income standard rather than the poverty-line standard. The bill also changes how families remain eligible after their income rises. Under current law, some recipients can keep the subsidy for a limited period while their copayment increases on a sliding scale as income rises above the threshold. AB1018 would extend continued eligibility up to 100% of state median income and eliminate the sliding-scale copayment increase described in current law. In addition, it creates a new appropriation for Wisconsin Works child care eligibility expansion and provides $1,250,000 in general purpose revenue for fiscal year 2026-27 to implement the change.

Impact

AB1018 would amend Wisconsin Statutes section 49.155, which governs Wisconsin Shares child care subsidies, and create a new appropriation in section 20.437 (2) (ct) to fund the expanded eligibility. The practical effect would be to broaden access to child care assistance for families with higher incomes than current law allows, while also changing the subsidy phase-out structure for families whose income increases after enrollment. The bill would affect applicants, current subsidy recipients, the Department of Children and Families, and county agencies that determine eligibility and administer the program.

Sentiment

The available record shows the bill was introduced with a large bipartisan-looking group of legislative sponsors, but there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided materials to show debate or amendments. The overall framing of the bill suggests support for increasing child care affordability and expanding access to working families. However, because the bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, the legislative outcome indicates it did not secure final approval despite its sponsorship.

Contention

The main policy tension in AB1018 is fiscal cost versus expanded access. Supporters would likely view the bill as a child care affordability measure that helps families maintain employment or training by making subsidies available at higher income levels and by reducing the burden of rising copayments. Potential opponents or skeptics would likely focus on the new state appropriation, the broader eligibility threshold, and the cost of extending continued eligibility up to 100% of state median income. No specific objections, amendments, or named opponents appear in the provided discussion record.