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Bills from the 2025–26 session

Senate Bill 532

Course fees at University of Wisconsin System institutions. (FE)

Topics: University of Wisconsin: Courses, University of Wisconsin: Tuition

Vetoed by the governor

Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Mar 20, 2026. Lawmakers did not ⁠, so it stands.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Oct 9, 2025

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 18 to 15

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 12, 2026

  5. Governor, stopped here

    Vetoed Mar 20, 2026.

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, May 13, 2026: “Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82”

Read the governor's veto message · All vetoes this session

Read the bill

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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 545. That version died when the session ended.

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

2 senators are its ⁠. All 2 are Republicans.

10 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 12 names

Authors (2)

Signed on in support (10)

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 3 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Oct 24, 2025

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 Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 18 to 15 · Nov 18, 2025

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 53 to 45 · Feb 12, 2026 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (53)

No (45)

Didn't vote (1)

Official motion: “CONCURRENCE AS AMENDED”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. May 13, 2026

    The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.

  2. Mar 20, 2026

    The governor vetoed it.

  3. Mar 18, 2026

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 18, 2026

    “Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)

  5. Feb 13, 2026

    The Senate adopted it.

  6. Feb 12, 2026

    The Assembly passed it too, 53 to 45.

  7. Feb 12, 2026

    The Assembly adopted it.

  8. Feb 10, 2026

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  9. Nov 19, 2025

    The Assembly received it.

  10. Nov 18, 2025

    The Senate passed it, 18 to 15.

  11. Nov 5, 2025

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  12. Oct 24, 2025

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  13. Oct 15, 2025

    The committee held a public hearing.

  14. Oct 9, 2025

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges.

  15. Oct 9, 2025

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Oct 9, 2025 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Hutton and Nass; cosponsored by Representatives Melotik, Murphy, Behnke, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, O'Connor, Piwowarczyk, Dittrich and Wichgers

  2. Oct 9, 2025 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges

  3. Oct 15, 2025 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Oct 24, 2025 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  5. Oct 24, 2025 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  6. Oct 24, 2025 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  7. Nov 5, 2025 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  8. Nov 14, 2025 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 11-18-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  9. Nov 18, 2025 · Senate

    Read a second time

  10. Nov 18, 2025 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  11. Nov 18, 2025 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  12. Nov 18, 2025 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  13. Nov 18, 2025 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  14. Nov 19, 2025 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  15. Feb 10, 2026 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  16. Feb 10, 2026 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 2-12-2026 by Committee on Rules

  17. Feb 10, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Melotik

  18. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up

  19. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  20. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  21. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  22. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  23. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 53, Noes 45

  24. Feb 12, 2026 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  25. Feb 13, 2026 · Senate

    Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  26. Feb 17, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-18-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  27. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Assembly Amendment 1 concurred in

  28. Feb 18, 2026 · Senate

    Action ordered immediately messaged

  29. Feb 24, 2026 · Senate

    LRB correction (Assembly Amendment 1)

  30. Feb 24, 2026 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  31. Mar 18, 2026 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 3-18-2026

  32. Mar 20, 2026 · Senate

    Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-20-2026

  33. May 12, 2026 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  34. May 13, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

Terms on this page

Veto override

Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.

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

Veto override

Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.

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

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

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