State Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk, R-Town of Erin, had four bills passed by the State Assembly, on Thursday, which aim to make government more accountable and transparent. The four bills included Assembly Bill (AB) 669, AB 757, AB 907 and AB 908.
A piece about the four bills appeared in the West Bend Daily News on Feb. 14, 2026. According to the story:
According to a release from Piwowarczyk’s office, AB 669 would update the state’s higher education programs to focus resources on students who “face genuine barriers to success.”
“By shifting eligibility from race-based criteria to a definition of ‘disadvantaged’ that includes economic, familial, geographic, physical, and personal hardship, this bill ensures that assistance is directed to students based on individual need rather than group identity,” said the release.
AB 757, which focuses on the Universities of Wisconsin System, would make the system more responsive to student and workforce needs by changing the law related to appointment of certain UW System employees and to faculty eligibility to serve on or lead a faculty committee, center, department or program, according to the bill.
“The instructors who teach the most in the Universities of Wisconsin System are currently blocked from having power,” the release said. “That means they have no say over how budgets are distributed, which classes are offered, which skills are taught, and who is hired or fired. Also, they can’t be deans.”AB 907 would automate the system used to keep records of and video every lottery drawing.
“This actually makes things more transparent and reliable center, department or program, than just having someone watch in person,” the release reads. “The new rules would still make sure drawings are random, open to the public, and recorded on video and audio.”
“The instructors who teach the most in the Universities of Wisconsin System are currently blocked from having power,” the release reads. “That means they have no say over how budgets are distributed, which classes are offered, which skills are taught, and who is hired or fired. Also, they can’t be deans.”
AB 907 would automate the system used to keep records of and video every lottery drawing.
“This actually makes things more transparent and reliable than just having someone watch in person,” said the release. “The new rules would still make sure drawings are random, open to the public, and recorded on video and audio.”
AB 908 focuses on state agency accountability by establishing criteria to measure what’s working and what can be improved. According to the release, no new staff would be hired under this bill, and the workload would be handled by current employees.
“I’m proud to see my bills pass the Assembly yesterday because they’re focused on strengthening trust in our institutions and making government more accountable to the people of Wisconsin. Whether it’s making sure higher education resources go to students who truly need the help, giving more of a voice to the instructors who are actually in the classroom, modernizing how we oversee lottery drawings to increase transparency, or setting clear standards so state agencies know what’s working and what needs improvement. These reforms reflect a common-sense approach to accountability,” Piwowarczyk said on Friday in the release. “None of this is flashy, but it matters. It’s about fairness, transparency, and making sure taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly.”
