Chippewa Valley Times

The new bill authored by Sen. Stafsholt seeks to enable social workers licensed in Wisconsin to practice across member states through a coordinated multistate licensing system, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "ratification of the Social Work Licensure Compact. (FE)".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill ratifies Wisconsin's entry into the Social Work Licensure Compact, enabling social workers to practice in other member states under a multistate license. The bill outlines the creation of a Social Work Licensure Compact Commission with authority over various facets of the compact, such as establishing bylaws and promulgating rules. The compact facilitates social work practice across state lines by establishing criteria for a multistate license, which include holding a home state license, meeting education and examination requirements, and satisfying any state-specific conditions. It mandates a coordinated data system for licensure and disciplinary actions and outlines procedures for resolving disputes among member states. The bill becomes effective upon enactment and provides terms for amending the compact and handling state withdrawals.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Nancy VanderMeer (Republican-70th District), Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), and Representative Jill Billings (Democrat-95th District), along 33 other co-sponsors.

Rob Stafsholt has co-authored one other bill since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Stafsholt, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2021 to represent the state's 10th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Patty Schachtner.

In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB74	02/26/2025	Ratification of the Social Work Licensure Compact. (FE)