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- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-1378/1 ARG:cdc&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 663 November 19, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives DALLMAN , BEHNKE , BRILL, CALLAHAN , DITTRICH, GOEBEN , GREEN , KNODL , KURTZ , MELOTIK, M OSES, MURPHY , M URSAU , O'CONNOR and W ICHGERS , cosponsored by Senators TOMCZYK , ACQUE , NASSand T ESTIN.
Date of enactment:
Referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities.
Assembly Bill 663 Date of publication*:
A N A CT to create 36.46 of the statutes;
WISCONSIN ACT A N A CT to create 36.46 of the statutes;
imposing certain prohibitions on foreign influence at University of Wisconsin System institutions.
imposing certain prohibitions on foreign influence at Univer- sity of Wisconsin System institutions.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill prohibits, with an exception, University of Wisconsin System institutions from participating in a collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership with a college or university based in China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, or Qatar or with the government or regime of any of these countries (foreign adversary) or certain persons or entities associated with these countries (foreign principals)A “collaboration agreement” is a written statement of mutual interest in academic or research collaboration.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in sen- (d) “Foreign principal” means any of the following:
An “academic partnership” is a faculty or student exchange program, study abroad program, articulation program, recruiting program, or dual degree program.
ate and assembly, do enact as follows:
A “research partnership” is an agreement, memorandum of understanding, joint project, consortium, or other collaborative arrangement for the purpose of jointly conducting, funding, or facilitating scientific, technological, engineering, medical, social science, or other scholarly research.
This bill also prohibits, without exception, UW System institutions from accepting any grant from a college or university based in any of these countries or from a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
The bill provides an exception allowing a UW System institution, upon - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-1378/1 ARG:cdc&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 663 approval by the Board of Regents of the UW System, to enter into a collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership with a college or university based in any of these countries or with a foreign adversary or foreign principal if 1) the Board of Regents determines that the collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership is valuable to students and to the UW System institution and is not detrimental to the safety or security of the United States or its residents, and 2) the Board of Regents first requests and receives a national security risk assessment of the proposed collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership by a federal law enforcement agency.
Also, the Board of Regents may not approve such an agreement or partnership if the agreement or partnership would constrain the institution’s freedom of contract or allow the institution’s curriculum or values to be directed or controlled by a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
However, in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, the exception does not apply to, and a UW System institution may not enter into such an agreement or partnership with, Russia.
In addition, a UW System institution or researcher may not approve, continue, or enter into a collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership with a college or university based in any of these countries or with a foreign adversary or foreign principal if any project under the agreement or partnership is funded in full or in part by the U.S.
Department of Defense.
The bill also requires the Board of Regents to adopt a policy prohibiting each institution from procuring or using educational software from a prohibited business entity.
A “prohibited business entity" is defined to include a company domiciled, incorporated, or headquartered in, or having its principal place of business in, a country controlled by a foreign adversary, as well as a Chinese-controlled company.
The bill also prohibits UW System institutions, and their employees and representatives, from soliciting or accepting gifts in an official capacity, including favors and promises of future employment, from a college or university based in any of these countries or from a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
UW System institutions also may not accept anything of value conditioned upon participation in a program to promote the language or culture of any of these countries.
The bill requires the Board of Regents to submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature relating to collaboration agreements, academic partnerships, and research partnerships of UW System institutions, including detailed information on each request by the Board of Regents for a national security risk assessment.
Under the bill, if a UW System institution violates any provision of the bill, the Joint Committee on Finance may determine the monetary value to the UW System institution of a violating collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership or otherwise resulting from the violation.
An amount that is twice the monetary value determined by JCF is published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register and, upon publication, the secretary of administration must transfer the published amount from the UW System’s general program operations appropriation to the JCF supplemental appropriation.
- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-1378/1 ARG:cdc&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 663 SECTION 1 For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
S ECTION 1.
36.46 of the statutes is created to read:
36.46 Prohibitions on foreign influence.
(1) D EFINITIONS.
In this section:
(a) “Academic partnership” means a faculty or student exchange program, study abroad program, articulation program, recruiting program, or dual degree program.
(b) “Collaboration agreement” means a written statement of mutual interest in academic or research collaboration.
(c) “Foreign adversary” means a foreign government or foreign non- government person listed as a foreign adversary in 15 CFR 791.4 (a) and also includes the State of Qatar.
(d) “Foreign principal” means any of the following:
A political party or member of a political party associated with a foreign adversary.
A political party or member of a political party SECTION 1.
36.46 of the statutes is created to read:
36.46 Prohibitions on foreign influence.
(1) D EF- associated with a foreign adversary.
INITIONS .
In this section:
An entity or organization organized under the laws of, or having its principal place of business in, a country controlled by a foreign adversary, including a subsidiary of such an entity or organization.
An entity or organization organized under the (a) “Academic partnership” means a faculty or stu- laws of, or having its principal place of business in, a dent exchange program, study abroad program, articula- country controlled by a foreign adversary, including a tion program, recruiting program, or dual degree subsidiary of such an entity or organization.
program.
An individual who is domiciled in a country controlled by a foreign - 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRB-1378/1 ARG:cdc&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 663 SECTION 1 adversary and who is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
An individual who is domiciled in a country con- (b) “Collaboration agreement” means a written trolled by a foreign adversary and who is not a citizen or statement of mutual interest in academic or research lawful permanent resident of the United States.
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(e) “Political party” means an organization or association of individuals whose aim or purpose is, or that is engaged in any activity devoted in whole or in part to, any of the following:
collaboration.
1.
(e) “Political party” means an organization or asso- (c) 1.
The establishment, administration, control, or acquisition of administration or control of a foreign adversary.
Except as provided under subd.
2., “foreign adversary” means any of the following:
ciation of individuals whose aim or purpose is, or that is engaged in any activity devoted in whole or in part to, a.
The People’s Republic of China, including the any of the following:
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the 1.
The establishment, administration, control, or ac- Macau Special Administrative Region.
b.
The Republic of Cuba.
quisition of administration or control of a foreign c.
The Islamic Republic of Iran.
adversary.
d.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The furtherance or influencing of the political or public interest, policies, or relations of a foreign adversary.
The furtherance or influencing of the political or public interest, policies, or relations of a foreign e.
(f) “Prohibited business entity” means any company, other than a U.S.
The Russian Federation.
person, as defined in 15 CFR 772.1, or a U.S.
adversary.
subsidiary, as defined in 15 CFR 772.1, to which any of the following applies:
f.
1.
The Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro.
The company is primarily domiciled, incorporated, or headquartered in, or listed on a securities exchange in, a country controlled by a foreign adversary.
The company has its principal place of business in a country controlled by a foreign adversary.
“Foreign adversary” does not include any coun- (f) “Prohibited business entity” means any com- try, government, regime, or person specified under subd.
pany, other than a U.S.
person, as defined in 15 CFR 1.
if the country, government, regime, or person is not 772.1, or a U.S.
subsidiary, as defined in 15 CFR 772.1, included in the list of foreign adversaries under 15 CFR to which any of the following applies:
791.4, as amended from time to time.
1.
The company is primarily domiciled, incorpo- ernor's partial veto which does not expressly prescribe the time when it takes effect shall take effect on the day after its date of publication.” Wisconsin Act - 2 - 2025 Assembly Bill 663 rated, or headquartered in, or listed on a securities ex- institution’s freedom of contract or allow the institu- change in, a country controlled by a foreign adversary.
tion’s curriculum or values to be directed or controlled 2.
The company has its principal place of business by a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
in a country controlled by a foreign adversary.
The company is controlled by, or a majority of the ownership interest in the company is held by an entity that is controlled by, the government of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, the Chinese military, or any instrumentality of the Chinese government, including the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of the National Social Security Fund.
The board may not approve a collaboration agree- 3.
4.
The company is controlled by, or a majority of the ment, academic partnership, or research partnership un- ownership interest in the company is held by an entity der subd.
The company is a subsidiary of a company described in subds.
to 3.
until the board requests and receives a na- that is controlled by, the government of the People’s Re- tional security risk assessment of the proposed collabo- public of China, the Chinese Communist Party, the Chi- ration agreement, academic partnership, or research nese military, or any instrumentality of the Chinese gov- partnership by a federal law enforcement agency.
(g) “Research partnership” means a formal or informal agreement, contract, - 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRB-1378/1 ARG:cdc&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 663 SECTION 1 memorandum of understanding, joint project, consortium, or other collaborative arrangement with any college or university, including its research centers and laboratories, based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary, or with any foreign adversary or foreign principal, for the purpose of jointly conducting, funding, or facilitating scientific, technological, engineering, medical, social science, or other scholarly research.
ernment, including the State-owned Assets Supervision 4.
(2) FOREIGN GRANTS ,COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS ,ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS , RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS ,OR EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE .
In the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, neither the board and Administration Commission of the State Council of nor an institution may enter into any collaboration the National Social Security Fund.
(a) Neither the board nor an institution may do any of the following:
agreement or academic partnership with the Russian 4.
The company is a subsidiary of a company de- Federation.
scribed in subds.
Accept any grant from a college or university based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary, or from a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
to 3.
2.
(c) Neither the board nor an institution, nor a re- (g) “Research partnership” means a formal or infor- searcher employed by the system, may approve, con- mal agreement, contract, memorandum of understand- tinue, or enter into any collaboration agreement, aca- ing, joint project, consortium, or other collaborative ar- demic partnership, or research partnership with a col- rangement with any college or university, including its lege or university based in a country controlled by a for- research centers and laboratories, based in a country eign adversary, or with a foreign adversary or foreign controlled by a foreign adversary, or with any foreign principal, if any project under the collaboration agree- adversary or foreign principal, for the purpose of jointly ment, academic partnership, or research partnership is conducting, funding, or facilitating scientific, techno- funded in full or in part by the U.S.
department of de- logical, engineering, medical, social science, or other fense or any successor organization to the U.S.
depart- scholarly research.
ment of defense.
(2) FOREIGN GRANTS , COLLABORATION AGREE- (d) The board shall adopt a policy prohibiting each MENTS , ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS , RESEARCH PART- institution from procuring or using educational software NERSHIPS ,OR EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE .
(a) Neither from a prohibited business entity.
the board nor an institution may do any of the following:
(3) FOREIGN GIFTS AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE PAY- 1.
Accept any grant from a college or university MENTS .
(a) Neither the board nor an institution, nor any based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary, or employee or representative of the system, may solicit or from a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
accept any gift in an official capacity, including any 2.
(b), participate in any collaboration agreement with a college or university based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary, or with a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
(b), participate in any physical object, loan, reward, promise of future employ- collaboration agreement with a college or university ment, favor, or service, from a college or university based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary, or based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary or with a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
from a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
(b), participate in any academic partnership or research partnership with a college or university, or an academic or other research partner, based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary, or with a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
(b), participate in any (b) Neither the board nor an institution may accept academic partnership or research partnership with a col- anything of value conditioned upon participation in a lege or university, or an academic or other research part- program or other endeavor to promote the language or ner, based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary, culture of a country controlled by a foreign adversary.
(b) 1.
or with a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
(4) A NNUAL REPORT .
(a) No later than December (b) 1.
to 4., upon approval by the board, an institution may enter into a collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership with a college or university based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary, or with a foreign adversary or foreign principal, if the board determines the collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership is - 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRB-1378/1 ARG:cdc&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 663 S ECTION 1 valuable to students and to the institution and is not detrimental to the safety or security of the United States or its residents.
to 4., upon approval by the 1, 2026, and by December 1 of each year thereafter, the board, an institution may enter into a collaboration board shall submit a report to the governor and the chief agreement, academic partnership, or research partner- clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to ship with a college or university based in a country con- the legislature under s.
2.
13.172 (2), relating to collabora- trolled by a foreign adversary, or with a foreign adver- tion agreements, academic partnerships, and research sary or foreign principal, if the board determines the partnerships of the board or any institution with colleges collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or re- and universities based in a country controlled by a for- search partnership is valuable to students and to the in- eign adversary or with a foreign adversary or foreign stitution and is not detrimental to the safety or security principal.
The board may not approve a collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership under subd.
of the United States or its residents.
1.
if the collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership would constrain the institution’s freedom of contract or allow the institution’s curriculum or values to be directed or controlled by a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
3.
The board may not approve a collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership under subd.
1.
until the board requests and receives a national security risk assessment of the proposed collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership by a federal law enforcement agency.
4.
In the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, neither the board nor an institution may enter into any collaboration agreement or academic partnership with the Russian Federation.
(c) Neither the board nor an institution, nor a researcher employed by the system, may approve, continue, or enter into any collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership with a college or university based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary, or with a foreign adversary or foreign principal, if any project under the collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership is funded in full or in part by the U.S.
department of defense or any successor organization to the U.S.
department of defense.
(d) The board shall adopt a policy prohibiting each institution from procuring or using educational software from a prohibited business entity.
- 2026 Legislature - 7 - LRB-1378/1 ARG:cdc&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 663 SECTION 1 (3) F OREIGN GIFTS AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE PAYMENTS .
(a) Neither the board nor an institution, nor any employee or representative of the system, may solicit or accept any gift in an official capacity, including any physical object, loan, reward, promise of future employment, favor, or service, from a college or university based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary or from a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
(b) Neither the board nor an institution may accept anything of value conditioned upon participation in a program or other endeavor to promote the language or culture of a country controlled by a foreign adversary.
(4) ANNUAL REPORT .
(a) No later than December 1, 2026, and by December 1 of each year thereafter, the board shall submit a report to the governor and the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s.
13.172 (2), relating to collaboration agreements, academic partnerships, and research partnerships of the board or any institution with colleges and universities based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary or with a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
(a) shall include, at a minimum, detailed information, for the immediately preceding fiscal year, with respect to all of the following:
(a) shall include, at a min- 2.
The board may not approve a collaboration agree- imum, detailed information, for the immediately preced- ment, academic partnership, or research partnership un- ing fiscal year, with respect to all of the following:
der subd.
Each collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership involving an institution and any college or university based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary or a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
if the collaboration agreement, academic 1.
Each collaboration agreement, academic partner- partnership, or research partnership would constrain the ship, or research partnership involving an institution and Assembly Bill 663 - 3 - 2025 Wisconsin Act any college or university based in a country controlled partnership, or research partnership or otherwise result- by a foreign adversary or a foreign adversary or foreign ing from the violation.
principal.
Each office, campus, or other physical location used or maintained by an institution in a country controlled by a foreign adversary.
Provide notice to the legislative reference bureau 2.
- 2026 Legislature - 8 - LRB-1378/1 ARG:cdc&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 663 SECTION 1 3.
Each office, campus, or other physical location of its determination under subd.
The date on which any collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership reported under subd.
along with an used or maintained by an institution in a country con- amount that is twice the monetary value determined un- trolled by a foreign adversary.
der subd.
1.
3.
The date on which any collaboration agreement, (b) The legislative reference bureau shall publish academic partnership, or research partnership reported the notice under par.
(a) 2.
in the Wisconsin Administra- under subd.
1.
tive Register under s.
35.93 (2).
Each collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership reported under subd.
Each collaboration agreement, academic partner- (c) Upon publication of the notice under par.
(b), the ship, or research partnership reported under subd.
for which a requirement under sub.
for secretary of administration shall transfer the amount which a requirement under sub.
5.
specified in the notice from the appropriation account 5.
Each request by the board for a national security risk assessment as provided in sub.
Each request by the board for a national security under s.
20.285 (1) (a) to the appropriation account un- risk assessment as provided in sub.
and, for each, the determination made by the federal law enforcement agency in response to the request.
and, for der s.
6.
20.865 (4) (a) in the fiscal year in which the notice each, the determination made by the federal law en- is published.
Any other program or contract, not reported under subd.
forcement agency in response to the request.
1., between the board or an institution and any college or university based in a country controlled by a foreign adversary or a foreign adversary or foreign principal.
(5) PENALTY .
(a) If an institution violates this section, the joint committee on finance may do all of the following:
1.
Determine the monetary value to the institution of any violating collaboration agreement, academic partnership, or research partnership or otherwise resulting from the violation.
2.
Provide notice to the legislative reference bureau of its determination under subd.
1.
along with an amount that is twice the monetary value determined under subd.
1.
(b) The legislative reference bureau shall publish the notice under par.
(a) 2.
in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under s.
35.93 (2).
(c) Upon publication of the notice under par.
(b), the secretary of administration shall transfer the amount specified in the notice from the - 2026 Legislature - 9 - LRB-1378/1 ARG:cdc&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 663 SECTION 1 appropriation account under s.
20.285 (1) (a) to the appropriation account under s.
20.865 (4) (a) in the fiscal year in which the notice is published.
(1) The treatment of s.
6.
Any other program or contract, not reported un- (1) The treatment of s.
and (c) first applies to participation in collaboration agreements, academic partnerships, and research partnerships on the effective date of this subsection.
and (c) der subd.
1., between the board or an institution and any first applies to participation in collaboration agree- college or university based in a country controlled by a ments, academic partnerships, and research partner- foreign adversary or a foreign adversary or foreign ships on the effective date of this subsection.
principal.
and (3) first applies to the receipt of grants, gifts, or other things on the effective date of this subsection.
and (3) first (5) P ENALTY .
(a) If an institution violates this sec- applies to the receipt of grants, gifts, or other things on tion, the joint committee on finance may do all of the the effective date of this subsection.
following:
(1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.
1.
(END)
Determine the monetary value to the institution (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th of any violating collaboration agreement, academic month beginning after publication.
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