Assembly Bill 659
Tuition and fee remission or grants for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college, or a private nonprofit institution of higher education; and the University of Wisconsin System nonresident tuition exemption for certain veterans. (FE)
Topics: Colleges and universities, Higher Educational Aids Board, Technical college, University of Wisconsin: Tuition, Veteran: Education
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 2, 2026. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Nov 19, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed 94 to 2
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Mar 17, 2026
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2025 Wisconsin Act 155
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 2, 2026: “Published 4-3-2026”
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The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 640. That version died when the session ended.
Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. 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 does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill modifies the residency requirement for the tuition and fee remission program for certain veterans and their spouses and children enrolled in University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges. The bill makes a similar change with respect to grant eligibility for certain veterans and their spouses and children enrolled in private nonprofit colleges. The bill also modifies the UW System nonresident tuition exemption for certain veterans.
Under current law, if certain criteria are met, veterans and their spouses and 17- to 25-year-old children are eligible for full remission of tuition and fees at UW System schools and technical colleges for up to eight semesters or 128 credits, whichever is longer. Under the veterans fee remission program, the veteran must be a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or be a resident of this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Under the fee remission program for the spouse or child of a veteran who suffered service-connected death or disability, the veteran must have been a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or one of the following must apply: 1) if the veteran, while a resident of this state, died on active duty, died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years while an adult, or 2) if the veteran received at least a 30 percent service-connected disability rating, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran’s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. In addition, if a veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran’s spouse or child is eligible for tuition and fee remission only if the spouse or child has resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the spouse’s or child’s enrollment in a UW System school or technical college.
Read the full summary Show less
The bill lowers from five years to three years the durational residency requirement for veterans and their spouses and children under the tuition and fee remission program under circumstances in which the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service.
Under current law, the Higher Educational Aids Board administers a grant program under which HEAB makes grants to private nonprofit colleges to offset tuition charged to enrolled veterans and their spouses and children who, if they had been enrolled in a UW System institution or technical college, would qualify for tuition remission as described above.
The bill also lowers from five years to three years the durational residency requirement for veterans and their spouses and children for purposes of this HEAB grant program.
Under current law, a person generally must be a Wisconsin resident for at least 12 months prior to registering at a UW System institution in order to be exempt from paying nonresident tuition. Current law also includes nonresident tuition exemptions, under which certain nonresident students pay resident tuition rates. Under one exemption, a student is eligible for resident tuition if the student is a veteran, is a resident of and living in Wisconsin at the time of registering at a UW institution, and was a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry into active duty.
The bill eliminates the requirement that the student had been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry into active duty as a condition of eligibility for the nonresident tuition exemption for veterans.
Who's behind it
21 representatives are its . 17 are Republicans and 4 are Democrats.
5 more lawmakers .
See all 26 names Hide the names
Authors (21)
- Elijah Behnke · Republican, Assembly
- Jill Billings · Democrat, Assembly
- Rob Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Donovan · Republican, Assembly
- Ben Franklin · Republican, Assembly
- Alex Joers · Democrat, Assembly
- Joel Kitchens · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Kreibich · Republican, Assembly
- Tony Kurtz · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Melotik · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Todd Novak · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Lori Palmeri · Democrat, Assembly
- Jim Piwowarczyk · Republican, Assembly
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Randy Udell · Democrat, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (5)
- Hesselbein and Smith
- Jenna Jacobson · Democrat, Assembly
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez · Democrat, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
- Eric Wimberger · 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 were 6 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities vote to recommend it
Passed, 11 to 0 · 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 11, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote on an amendment
Passed, 55 to 41 · Feb 19, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 55, Noes 41”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 94 to 2 · Feb 19, 2026 · 3 didn't vote
See how each of the 99 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (94)
- Adam Neylon (R, 15)
- Alex Dallman (R, 39)
- Alex Joers (D, 81)
- Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D, 90)
- Amanda Nedweski (R, 32)
- Andrew Hysell (D, 48)
- Angela Stroud (D, 73)
- Angelito Tenorio (D, 14)
- Ann Roe (D, 44)
- Barbara Dittrich (R, 99)
- Ben DeSmidt (D, 65)
- Ben Franklin (R, 88)
- Bob Donovan (R, 61)
- Bob Wittke (R, 63)
- Brent Jacobson (R, 87)
- Brienne Brown (D, 43)
- Calvin Callahan (R, 35)
- Chanz Green (R, 74)
- Christian Phelps (D, 93)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Chuck Wichgers (R, 84)
- Cindi Duchow (R, 97)
- Clint Anderson (D, 45)
- Clint Moses (R, 92)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Darrin Madison (D, 10)
- Dave Armstrong (R, 67)
- Dave Maxey (R, 83)
- Dave Murphy (R, 56)
- David Steffen (R, 4)
- Dean Kaufert (R, 53)
- Deb Andraca (D, 23)
- Duke Tucker (R, 75)
- Elijah Behnke (R, 6)
- Francesca Hong (D, 76)
- Greta Neubauer (D, 66)
- Gus Gustafson (R, 55)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jenna Jacobson (D, 50)
- Jerry O'Connor (R, 60)
- Jessie Rodriguez (R, 21)
- Jill Billings (D, 95)
- Jim Piwowarczyk (R, 98)
- Joan Fitzgerald (D, 46)
- Joe Sheehan (D, 26)
- Joel Kitchens (R, 1)
- John Spiros (R, 86)
- Joy Goeben (R, 5)
- Kalan Haywood (D, 16)
- Karen DeSanto (D, 40)
- Karen Hurd (R, 69)
- Karen Kirsch (D, 7)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lee Snodgrass (D, 52)
- Lindee Brill (R, 27)
- Lisa Subeck (D, 79)
- Margaret Arney (D, 18)
- Mark Born (R, 37)
- Maureen McCarville (D, 42)
- Mike Bare (D, 80)
- Nancy VanderMeer (R, 70)
- Pat Snyder (R, 85)
- Paul Melotik (R, 22)
- Paul Tittl (R, 25)
- Randy Udell (D, 47)
- Renuka Mayadev (D, 77)
- Rick Gundrum (R, 58)
- Rob Brooks (R, 59)
- Rob Kreibich (R, 28)
- Rob Summerfield (R, 68)
- Rob Swearingen (R, 34)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Robyn Vining (D, 13)
- Ron Tusler (R, 3)
- Russell Goodwin (D, 12)
- Ryan Clancy (D, 19)
- Ryan Spaude (D, 89)
- Scott Allen (R, 82)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Sequanna Taylor (D, 11)
- Shae Sortwell (R, 2)
- Shannon Zimmerman (R, 30)
- Shelia Stubbs (D, 78)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Supreme Moore Omokunde (D, 17)
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D, 8)
- Tip McGuire (D, 64)
- Todd Novak (R, 51)
- Tony Kurtz (R, 41)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Treig Pronschinske (R, 29)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Vinnie Miresse (D, 71)
- Will Penterman (R, 38)
No (2)
- Angelina Cruz (D, 62)
- Lori Palmeri (D, 54)
Didn't vote (3)
- Jodi Emerson (D, 91)
- Priscilla Prado (D, 9)
- Tara Johnson (D, 96)
Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Joint Committee on Finance vote to recommend it
Passed, 16 to 0 · Mar 3, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report concurrence recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 16, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 3 to 2 · Mar 16, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote on an amendment
Passed, 18 to 15 · Mar 17, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 2, 2026
The new law was published.
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Apr 2, 2026
The governor signed it. It became 2025 Wisconsin Act 155.
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Apr 1, 2026
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 17, 2026
The Senate passed it too.
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Mar 17, 2026
2 more senators signed on in support.
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Mar 16, 2026
“Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)
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Mar 3, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 16 to 0.
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Feb 27, 2026
Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.
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Feb 25, 2026
Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.
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Feb 23, 2026
The Senate received it.
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Feb 19, 2026
The Assembly passed it, 94 to 2.
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Feb 9, 2026
1 more representative signed on in support.
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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, 11 to 0.
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Jan 8, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Nov 24, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Nov 24, 2025
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Nov 21, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Nov 21, 2025
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Nov 21, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Nov 19, 2025
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.
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Nov 19, 2025
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Kitchens, Franklin, Kurtz, Steffen, Behnke, Billings, Brooks, Dittrich, Donovan, Joers, Knodl, Kreibich, Melotik, Murphy, Mursau, Novak, O'Connor, Piwowarczyk, Udell, Wichgers and Palmeri; cosponsored by Senator Wimberger
- Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities
- Nov 21, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Nov 21, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Subeck added as a coauthor
- Nov 21, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Nov 24, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Ortiz-Velez added as a coauthor
- Nov 24, 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 11, Noes 0
- Jan 22, 2026 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 9, 2026 · Assembly
Representative J. Jacobson added as a coauthor
- Feb 18, 2026 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 11:27 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Emerson
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 55, Noes 41
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 94, Noes 2
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 23, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Feb 25, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization
- Feb 25, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 27, 2026 · Senate
Withdrawn from committee on Senate Organization and rereferred to joint committee on Finance pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)
- Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
Report concurrence recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 16, Noes 0
- Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 16, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 16, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Dassler-Alfheim, Larson, Carpenter, Drake, Habush Sinykin, Hesselbein, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Roys, Smith, Spreitzer, Wall and Wirch
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Senators Hesselbein and Smith added as cosponsors
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 18, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Mar 24, 2026 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 3-24-2026
- Apr 1, 2026 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 4-1-2026
- Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 155
- Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly
Published 4-3-2026
Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. 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
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act
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