Assembly Bill 545
Course fees at University of Wisconsin System institutions. (FE)
Topics: University of Wisconsin: Courses, University of Wisconsin: Tuition
Stopped before the full Assembly voted
The recommended passing it, but the full Assembly never voted on it. The last day for votes this session was Mar 19, 2026. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Oct 15, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, stopped here
Stopped here. The full Assembly never voted on it.
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Senate vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 23, 2026: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
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The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 532. That version was vetoed.
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Current law authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to establish tuition and fees for educational programs, including special course fees.
This bill prohibits a UW System institution from charging a student an online course fee for enrolling in a course offered exclusively online unless the fee is charged to cover the institution’s actual costs in offering the course online that would not be incurred if students attended the course in person.
Who's behind it
10 representatives are its . All 10 are Republicans.
2 more lawmakers .
See all 12 names Hide the names
Authors (10)
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Rick Gundrum · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Kreibich · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Melotik · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Piwowarczyk · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (2)
- Rob Hutton · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
Versions and amendments
Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities vote to recommend it
Passed, 7 to 4 · Jan 22, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 7, Noes 4”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 23, 2026
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Jan 22, 2026
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jan 22, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 4.
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Jan 8, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Nov 10, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 15, 2025
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.
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Oct 15, 2025
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Oct 15, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Melotik, Murphy, Behnke, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, O'Connor, Piwowarczyk, Dittrich and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Hutton and Nass
- Oct 15, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities
- Nov 10, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Jan 8, 2026 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 7, Noes 4
- Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 5, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Melotik
- Feb 10, 2026 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 2-12-2026 by Committee on Rules
- Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly
Laid on the table
- Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote