An Act to create 20.235 (1) (cs) and 39.396 of the statutes; Relating to: a tuition program for higher education students seeking careers in teaching, firefighting, or law enforcement, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)
Summary
AB1223 creates a new tuition loan program administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) for Wisconsin residents enrolled in University of Wisconsin System institutions or technical colleges who commit to working full time in Wisconsin for 10 years after finishing their education or training in one of three fields: teaching, firefighting, or law enforcement. The program covers a student’s tuition and required fees for eligible semesters, with up to eight semesters for a baccalaureate program and up to four semesters for a technical college program or firefighting training component. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress, apply each academic year, and generally must not already hold an undergraduate degree, with a limited exception for technical college firefighting training.
Impact
The bill creates new statutory section 39.396 and a related appropriation in s. 20.235 (1) (cs), authorizing $1.5 million in each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 for the program. It requires HEAB to administer the loans, split funding evenly among the three career tracks, pay tuition directly to institutions, defer repayment while recipients remain enrolled or are working in the qualifying Wisconsin occupation, and forgive 50 percent of the debt after seven years and 100 percent after 10 years of qualifying service. It also sets a 5 percent interest rate for loans that are not forgiven and authorizes HEAB to adopt implementing rules.
Sentiment
The available bill text and context suggest generally positive support for the measure, with multiple legislative sponsors and a later-added cosponsor indicating continued backing. The bill appears designed as a workforce recruitment and retention incentive for high-need public service professions, which typically draws favorable attention from supporters of education, public safety, and rural or local staffing needs. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or amendment debate in the supplied materials.
Contention
The main policy questions raised by the bill are likely to be how the program’s limited appropriation is divided among teaching, firefighting, and law enforcement, and whether the 10-year service commitment and repayment terms are workable for students. The bill also excludes students who already have an undergraduate degree in most cases, which could be seen as limiting access, and it requires recipients to remain in Wisconsin and work in one of the designated fields to receive deferrals and forgiveness. Because no committee discussion or vote history was provided, no specific member or stakeholder objections can be identified from the record supplied.
Grants to encourage individuals to pursue a career in teaching or to facilitate teacher licensure, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)