The Wisconsin State Assembly has approved a bill that would eliminate race-based criteria from certain higher education programs, advancing a Republican-backed effort to reshape financial aid and related initiatives at public colleges and universities across the state.
The proposal, which passed largely along party lines, would remove race-based eligibility requirements from programs such as the minority teacher loan program and minority undergraduate grants. In their place, the bill would require that assistance be directed to students considered “disadvantaged,” defined as those who have “experienced any unfavorable economic, familial, geographic, physical or other personal hardship.” The measure now heads to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is widely expected to veto it.
Supporters framed the legislation as an update to existing aid structures in response to shifting legal and political landscapes. The bill’s author, Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk, R-Hubertus, said the measure is “the exact opposite of racist.” He argued that “This bill updates Wisconsin’s higher education programs by focusing resources on students who face genuine barriers to success. This bill preserves these (grant and loan) programs while modernizing their focus so that they reach students who are most at risk of being left behind.”
Republicans have characterized the change as part of a broader push to make the state’s higher education system more merit-based and inclusive of conservative viewpoints. The legislation follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that significantly curtailed race-conscious admissions policies nationwide and comes one day after the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could further affect how race is considered in academic-adjacent matters.
Democrats, however, contend that the proposal disregards the persistent role race plays in shaping educational access and opportunity. Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde, D-Milwaukee, called the measure “racist.” He said, “You’re trying to change these programs to ‘serve the disadvantaged,’ and in defining ‘disadvantaged,’ you’re either ignorant or mean as hell to suggest that all of these elements, including race and sex, are not interconnected in our society.”
Critics argue that while economic disadvantage is a critical factor, eliminating explicit racial criteria risks undermining programs designed to address longstanding inequities in teacher representation and degree attainment. Wisconsin’s minority teacher loan and undergraduate grant programs were created to increase participation from historically underrepresented groups in higher education and in the state’s workforce. Opponents of the bill warn that shifting to a race-neutral standard could dilute the original intent of those initiatives.
The Assembly also passed a related free speech bill that would bar University of Wisconsin institutions from restricting invited speakers, creating designated “free speech” zones, or charging security fees as part of permit applications. The measure would allow students or employees to pursue legal action if they believe their First Amendment rights have been violated.
Together, the bills reflect a broader legislative agenda aimed at redefining how public institutions approach equity, expression, and administrative authority. While supporters describe the changes as restoring fairness and accountability, opponents view them as part of a sustained effort to limit targeted support programs and recalibrate campus policy in line with conservative priorities.
With the measures now advancing to the governor’s desk or awaiting further legislative action, the debate over race, equity, and the role of public universities in addressing historical disparities is likely to continue.
