Wisconsin Military Legislation & Policies

Latest Status

Occupational Licensure Interstate Compacts (Social Work Licensure Compact): Wisconsin Governor Signed Final Legislation

Demographic Data

State residents include:

3,391 active-duty service members
1,218 active-duty spouses
2,227 active-duty children
- 1,458 children in K-12
19,194 National Guard and reserve members
7,807 National Guard and reserve spouses
12,720 National Guard and reserve children
- 8,121 children in K-12

Data source: DMDC, Dec. 31, 2025

Shane Preston

Great Lakes Regional Liaison

Great Lakes Region

IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI

EMAIL

Mr. Preston became Great Lakes region liaison in 2022. Prior to joining the DSLO, he worked at the Michigan State Capitol. Mr. Preston is a U.S. Marine combat veteran and graduate from Michigan State University College of Law.

State-Specific Progress on State Policy Priorities and Sub-Priorities

See the latest status on legislation and policies being advanced in this state on state policy priorities important to military families. Find quick access to this state’s regional liaison, along with demographic data for the military community in this state.

Occupational Licensure Interstate Compacts11/19 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact

Athletic Trainer Compact

Audiology/Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact

04/20/2023AB 208

04/03/2023SB 197

02/12/2024

Audiology/Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Final Legislation

Ratification of the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Cosmetology Licensure Compact

Dental and Dental Hygienist Compact

11/13/2023AB 666

11/21/2023SB 692

02/12/2024

Dental and Dental Hygienist Compact Final Legislation

Ratification of the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Dietitian Licensure Compact

02/25/2025AB 45

07/03/2025SB 71

08/25/2025

Dietitian Licensure Compact Final Legislation

Wisconsin Act 20 ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Dietitian Licensure Compact, which allows a licensed dietitian in a compact member state to practice in another member state under a “compact privilege,” without obtaining a separate license to practice in the other state.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Emergency Medical Services Licensure Compact

Esthetics Licensure Compact

Interstate Compact for School Psychologists

Interstate Massage Therapy Compact

Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact

Licensed Professional Counseling Compact

04/20/2023AB 207

04/03/2023SB 196

02/12/2024

Licensed Professional Counseling Compact Final Legislation

Ratification of the Counseling Compact.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Nurse Licensure Compact

11/02/2017SB-417

10/31/2017SB-417

12/12/2017

Nurse Licensure Compact Final Legislation

Wisconsin Joins the nurse Licensing compact.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact

01/20/2022SB 412

09/28/2021SB 412

02/07/2022

Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Final Legislation

Governor Signs Occupational Therapy Compact Bill

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Physical Therapy Licensure Compact

01/21/2020SB 390

11/05/2019SB 390

02/06/2020

Physical Therapy Licensure Compact Final Legislation

Wisconsin joins the interstate Physical Therapy Licensure compact.\n

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Physician Associates Compact

10/06/2023AB 410

08/27/2023SB 400

02/12/2024

Physician Associates Compact Final Legislation

Ratification of the PA Licensure Compact.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Respiratory Care Interstate Compact

07/03/2025AB 193

04/15/2025SB 190

12/10/2025

Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Final Legislation

Wisconsin Act 76 ratifies and enters the state into the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact. The compact allows a respiratory care practitioner to obtain a compact privilege to practice in another compact member state without obtaining a separate license.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact

01/20/2022AB 537

01/25/2022AB 537

02/01/2022

Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Final Legislation

Wisconsin join the Psychology interjurisdictional compact

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Social Work Licensure Compact

03/07/2025AB 80

03/07/2025SB 74

04/09/2026

Social Work Licensure Compact Final Legislation

Ratification of the Social Work Licensure Compact.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Military Spouse Employment Preference0/3 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Employment Preference - Private Sector

Employment Preference - Public Sector

Employment Preference - Procurement

Military Clause in State Family Leave Laws0/2 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Military Exigency in Paid Family Leave

Military Exigency in Unpaid Family Leave

License Issuance and Reporting Uniformity

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Solutions for Military Homeschoolers1/3 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Streamline Requirements

Ensure Extracurricular Access

08/31/2025

Ensure Extracurricular Access Final Legislation

State law requires school boards to permit resident homeschool pupils to participate in interscholastic athletics and other school activities on the same basis as pupils enrolled in the district.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Clarify JROTC Eligibility

State Exemption for Military-Certified Family Child Care Homes

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

State Support of Military Families with Special Education Needs

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Education Policy Implementation Enhancements2/4 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Advance Enrollment Enhancements

Military Student Identifier Enhancements

02/01/2024

Military Student Identifier Enhancements Final Legislation

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) requires the collection of "Parent in Military" data through the WISEdata system for all public school students. This is a clear state policy fulfilling the ESSA requirement.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Education Compact Enhancements

Purple Star Schools Program Enhancements

08/31/2025

Purple Star Schools Program Enhancements Final Legislation

Established Program: Wisconsin offers a Purple Star School designation program via the DPI (Wis. Stat. § 14.91), providing resources and a formal process for schools to support military children.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Open Enrollment Flexibility

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

03/17/2025AB 122

03/17/2025SB 134

Concurrent Juvenile Jurisdiction

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

State Response to Military Interpersonal Violence0/2 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Enhance Information-Sharing

Allow Military Protective Orders as Evidence

Status and Demographic Content

State Details

Regional Liaison

Other Content

Map Legend

State Policy Priorities 2027

Status and Demographic Content

State Details

Regional Liaison

Other Content

Map Legend

State Policy Priorities 2027

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