Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: To Executive Bipartisan · 17 R · 4 D cosponsors

AB 659 — Relating to: 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)

Last action — Published 4-3-2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced November 19, 2025. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 90% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 22 sponsors

    1 primary, 21 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (17 R · 4 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 4 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

An Act to amend 36.27 (2) (b) 4., 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. a., 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. b., 36.27 (3n) (bd), 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. (intro.), 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. a., 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. b., 38.24 (7) (bd), 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. (intro.) and 39.49 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes;

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

11 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill reduces the residency requirement for certain veterans and their dependents to qualify for tuition and fee remission and modifies the nonresident tuition exemption for veterans.

  • 36.27 (2) (b) 4.

    A person who was a resident of this state at the time of entry into active duty, who is a resident of and living in this state at the time of registering at an institution, and who is a veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12), is entitled to the exemption under par. (a). → A person who was a resident of this state at the time of entry into active duty, who is a resident of and living in this state at the time of registering at an institution, and who is a veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12), is entitled to the exemption under par. (a).

    No change to the existing text, maintained eligibility criteria for veterans.

  • 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. a.

    5 → 3

    Reduces the residency requirement from five years to three years for veterans' eligibility under certain circumstances.

  • 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. b.

    5 → 3

    Reduces the residency requirement from five years to three years for veterans' spouses and children in similar eligibility situations.

  • 36.27 (3n) (bd)

    5 → 3

    Reduces the residency requirement from five years to three years for veteran's spouse or child regarding fee remission.

  • 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. (intro.)

    5 → 3

    Modifies residency requirement for veterans to qualify for benefits from five years to three years.

  • 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. a.

    5 → 3

    Reduces the residency requirement from five years to three years for veterans' eligibility under the tuition and fee remission program in technical colleges.

  • 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. b.

    5 → 3

    Reduces the residency requirement from five years to three years for veterans' spouses and children in the technical college tuition remission.

  • 38.24 (7) (bd)

    5 → 3

    Reduces the residency requirement from five years to three years for veteran's spouse or child regarding fee remission in technical colleges.

  • 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. (intro.)

    5 → 3

    Modifies residency requirement for veterans in technical college from five years to three years.

  • 39.49 (2) (a) 2.

    5 → 3

    Reduces the residency requirement from five years to three years for dependents of deceased veterans to qualify for grants.

  • 36.27 (2) (b) 4.

    who was a resident of this state at the time of entry into active duty

    Eliminates the requirement that veterans be residents of Wisconsin at the time of entry into active duty to qualify for nonresident tuition exemption.

Action History

  1. Published 4-3-2026

  2. Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 155

  3. Presented to the Governor on 4-1-2026

  4. Report correctly enrolled on 3-24-2026

  5. Received from Senate concurred in

  6. Ordered immediately messaged

  7. Read a third time and concurred in

  8. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  9. Ordered to a third reading

  10. Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  11. Read a second time

  12. Senators Hesselbein and Smith added as cosponsors

  13. 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

  14. Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  15. Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  16. Available for scheduling

  17. Report concurrence recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 16, Noes 0

  18. Executive action taken

  19. Withdrawn from committee on Senate Organization and rereferred to joint committee on Finance pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)

  20. Available for scheduling

  21. Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  22. Received from Assembly

  23. Ordered immediately messaged

  24. Read a third time and passed, Ayes 94, Noes 2

  25. Rules suspended

  26. Ordered to a third reading

  27. Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 55, Noes 41

  28. Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Emerson

  29. Read a second time

  30. Made a special order of business at 11:27 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14

  31. Representative J. Jacobson added as a coauthor

  32. Referred to committee on Rules

  33. Report passage recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 11, Noes 0

  34. Executive action taken

  35. Public hearing held

  36. Fiscal estimate received

  37. Representative Ortiz-Velez added as a coauthor

  38. Fiscal estimate received

  39. Representative Subeck added as a coauthor

  40. Fiscal estimate received

  41. Read first time and referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities

  42. 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

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 21 co-sponsors · 110 not signed on · 47 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (21)

Not signed on (110)

110 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 110 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Senate Amendment 1 rejected

Passed 18 Yea · 15 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 18000
Democrat 01200
Unaffiliated 0300
Total 181500
% of votes cast 55%45%0%0%
How each member voted (33)
Member Party Vote
JOHNSON — Nay
DASSLER-ALFHEI — Nay
HABUSH SINYKIN — Nay
Carpenter, Tim Democrat Nay
Drake, Dora Democrat Nay
Hesselbein, Dianne Democrat Nay
Keyeski, Sarah Democrat Nay
Larson, Chris Democrat Nay
Pfaff, Brad Democrat Nay
Ratcliff, Melissa Democrat Nay
Roys, Kelda Democrat Nay
Smith, Jeff Democrat Nay
Spreitzer, Mark Democrat Nay
Wall, Jamie Democrat Nay
Wirch, Robert Democrat Nay
Bradley, Julian Republican Yea
Cabral-Guevara, Rachael Republican Yea
Felzkowski, Mary Republican Yea
Feyen, Dan Republican Yea
Hutton, Rob Republican Yea
Jacque, André Republican Yea
Jagler, John Republican Yea
James, Jesse Republican Yea
Kapenga, Chris Republican Yea
LeMahieu, Devin Republican Yea
Marklein, Howard Republican Yea
Nass, Steve Republican Yea
Quinn, Romaine Republican Yea
Stafsholt, Rob Republican Yea
Testin, Patrick Republican Yea
Tomczyk, Cory Republican Yea
Wanggaard, Van Republican Yea
Wimberger, Eric Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table

Passed 55 Yea · 41 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 53000
Unaffiliated 1201
Democrat 13902
Total 554103
% of votes cast 56%41%0%3%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
ANDERSON — Nay
JOHNSON — Not Voting
MOORE OMOKUNDE — Nay
SPEAKER — Yea
Andraca, Deb Democrat Nay
Arney, Margaret Democrat Nay
Bare, Mike Democrat Nay
Billings, Jill Democrat Nay
Brown, Brienne Democrat Nay
Clancy, Ryan Democrat Nay
Cruz, Angelina Democrat Nay
DeSanto, Karen Democrat Nay
DeSmidt, Ben Democrat Nay
Doyle, Steve Democrat Nay
Emerson, Jodi Democrat Not Voting
Fitzgerald, Joan Democrat Nay
Goodwin, Russell Democrat Nay
Haywood, Kalan Democrat Nay
Hong, Francesca Democrat Nay
Hysell, Andrew Democrat Nay
Jacobson, Jenna Democrat Nay
Joers, Alex Democrat Nay
Kirsch, Karen Democrat Nay
Madison, Darrin Democrat Nay
Mayadev, Renuka Democrat Nay
McCarville, Maureen Democrat Nay
McGuire, Tip Democrat Nay
Miresse, Vincent Democrat Nay
Neubauer, Greta Democrat Nay
Ortiz-Velez, Sylvia Democrat Nay
Palmeri, Lori Democrat Nay
Phelps, Christian Democrat Nay
Prado, Priscilla Democrat Not Voting
Rivera-Wagner, Amaad Democrat Nay
Roe, Ann Democrat Nay
Sheehan, Joe Democrat Nay
Sinicki, Christine Democrat Nay
Snodgrass, Lee Democrat Yea
Spaude, Ryan Democrat Nay
Stroud, Angela Democrat Nay
Stubbs, Shelia Democrat Nay
Subeck, Lisa Democrat Nay
Taylor, Sequanna Democrat Nay
Tenorio, Angelito Democrat Nay
Udell, Randy Democrat Nay
Vining, Robyn Democrat Nay
Allen, Scott Republican Yea
Armstrong, David Republican Yea
August, Tyler Republican Yea
Behnke, Elijah Republican Yea
Born, Mark Republican Yea
Brill, Lindee Republican Yea
Brooks, Robert Republican Yea
Callahan, Calvin Republican Yea
Dallman, Alex Republican Yea
Dittrich, Barbara Republican Yea
Donovan, Bob Republican Yea
Duchow, Cindi Republican Yea
Franklin, Benjamin Republican Yea
Goeben, Joy Republican Yea
Green, Chanz Republican Yea
Gundrum, Rick Republican Yea
Gustafson, Nate Republican Yea
Hurd, Karen Republican Yea
Jacobson, Brent Republican Yea
Kaufert, Dean Republican Yea
Kitchens, Joel Republican Yea
Knodl, Daniel Republican Yea
Kreibich, Rob Republican Yea
Krug, Scott Republican Yea
Kurtz, Tony Republican Yea
Maxey, Dave Republican Yea
Melotik, Paul Republican Yea
Moses, Clint Republican Yea
Murphy, David Republican Yea
Mursau, Jeffrey Republican Yea
Nedweski, Amanda Republican Yea
Neylon, Adam Republican Yea
Novak, Todd Republican Yea
O'Connor, Jerry Republican Yea
Penterman, William Republican Yea
Petersen, Kevin Republican Yea
Piwowarczyk, Jim Republican Yea
Pronschinske, Treig Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Jessie Republican Yea
Snyder, Patrick Republican Yea
Sortwell, Shae Republican Yea
Spiros, John Republican Yea
Steffen, David Republican Yea
Summerfield, Rob Republican Yea
Swearingen, Rob Republican Yea
Tittl, Paul Republican Yea
Tranel, Travis Republican Yea
Tucker, Duke Republican Yea
Tusler, Ron Republican Yea
VanderMeer, Nancy Republican Yea
Wichgers, Chuck Republican Yea
Wittke, Robert Republican Yea
Zimmerman, Shannon Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

veterans education
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 659 do?
An Act to amend 36.27 (2) (b) 4., 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. a., 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. b., 36.27 (3n) (bd), 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. (intro.), 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. a., 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. b., 38.24 (7) (bd), 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. (intro.) and 39.49 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes;
Who sponsors AB 659?
AB 659 is sponsored by Wimberger, Kitchens, Joel (Republican), Franklin, Benjamin (Republican), Kurtz, Tony (Republican), Steffen, David (Republican), Behnke, Elijah (Republican), Billings, Jill (Democrat), Brooks, Robert (Republican), Dittrich, Barbara (Republican), Donovan, Bob (Republican), Joers, Alex (Democrat), Knodl, Daniel (Republican), Kreibich, Rob (Republican), Melotik, Paul (Republican), Murphy, David (Republican), Mursau, Jeffrey (Republican), Novak, Todd (Republican), O'Connor, Jerry (Republican), Piwowarczyk, Jim (Republican), Udell, Randy (Democrat), Wichgers, Chuck (Republican), and Palmeri, Lori (Democrat).
What is the current status of AB 659?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced November 19, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track AB 659?
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