LOPPW Testifies in Support of DACA Workforce Licensure Bill
March 3, 2026
Today the Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin testified in support of Assembly Bill 759, which would make it possible for participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to obtain the professional licenses needed to work in fields such as nursing, plumbing, teaching, and other essential professions.
Although 19 other states allow qualified DACA recipients to obtain these licenses, current law in Wisconsin prevents them from doing so.
Speaking at a hearing in the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Labor, and Economic Development, LOPPW Director Kacy Kostiuk noted that the ELCA recognizes DACA recipients to be incredible contributors to our congregations and communities and that this legislation would help address shortages in critical services in Wisconsin.
“Across our state, employers in multiple sectors are facing workforce shortages. Providing licensure pathways for DACA recipients would help address these shortages by allowing trained and motivated individuals who grew up here and consider the U.S. their home the opportunity to fill critical roles in healthcare, the trades, education, and other fields,” she said.
LOPPW thanks the authors of this bill for their bipartisan collaboration on this important issue.
The bill has passed in the Wisconsin Assembly, and we hope it will be voted on and pass in the Wisconsin Senate this month.
Watch the hearing on WisconsinEye here (skip ahead to around 2:33:00 on the video to hear the testimony and discussion about AB 759).