summary
Introduced
11/14/2025
11/14/2025
In Committee
11/14/2025
11/14/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill creates for students a statutory cause of action for fraud against private for-profit colleges. Under current law, before a private for-profit postsecondary institution (proprietary school) may operate in this state, it must obtain approval from the Department of Safety and Professional Services. A proprietary school that violates this requirement is subject to a forfeiture of $500 for each violating day of operation. In addition, a student who attends a violating proprietary school may bring a civil action to recover fees paid to the school along with costs and reasonable attorney fees. The bill allows a student to bring an action against a proprietary school on the basis that the proprietary school provided materially false, fraudulent, or misleading information to the student. A prevailing student may recover fees paid to the school along with costs and reasonable attorney fees.
AI Summary
This bill expands legal protections for students attending private for-profit postsecondary schools (also known as proprietary schools) in Wisconsin by creating a new statutory cause of action for fraud. Specifically, the bill allows students to bring a civil lawsuit against a proprietary school if the school has provided materially false, fraudulent, or misleading information. If a student prevails in such a lawsuit, they can recover the fees they paid to the school, along with court costs and reasonable attorney fees. The bill modifies existing law by broadening the circumstances under which a student can seek legal remedies, moving beyond the previous limitation that only allowed lawsuits for schools operating without proper approval from the Department of Safety and Professional Services. The new provision takes effect on the date specified in the bill and applies to conduct occurring on or after that date, giving students an additional legal avenue to seek compensation if they believe they have been misled by a private for-profit educational institution.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (12)
Dianne Hesselbein (D)*,
Chris Larson (D)*,
Kelda Roys (D)*,
Mark Spreitzer (D)*,
Ryan Clancy (D),
Ben DeSmidt (D),
Darrin Madison (D),
Vincent Miresse (D),
Christian Phelps (D),
Angela Stroud (D),
Shelia Stubbs (D),
Angelito Tenorio (D),
Last Action
Representative Vining added as a cosponsor (on 12/17/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb629 |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB629.pdf |
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