Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: Introduced 2 R cosponsors

SB 59 — Relating to: tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college. (FE)

Last action — Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

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

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced February 21, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 13 sponsors

    1 primary, 12 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 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 (3n) (a) 1m. a., 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. b., 36.27 (3n) (b) (intro.), 36.27 (3n) (bd), 36.27 (3n) (bg), 36.27 (3n) (bm), 36.27 (3n) (c), 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. (intro.), 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. a., 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. b., 38.24 (7) (a) 1p., 38.24 (7) (b) (intro.), 38.24 (7) (bd), 38.24 (7) (bg), 38.24 (7) (bm) and 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. (intro.); to create 36.27 (3n) (a) 1r. of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

249 added · 23 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to SB 59 expand the tuition and fee remission program for certain veterans and their families, allowing them to access these benefits not only at University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges but also at eligible private colleges. This change is significant because it increases educational opportunities for veterans and their dependents, providing them with more options for attending college and potentially easing their financial burden. Overall, this effort aims to support veterans in furthering their education and integration into civilian life.

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- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBa0105/1 ARG:cdc SENATE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 59 April 8, 2025 - Offered by SenaACQUE.
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc SENATE BILL 59 February 21, 2025 - Introduced by Senators ACQUE and TOMCZYK , cosponsored by Representatives M URPHY , MAXEY, ARMSTRONG , BRILL, GUNDRUM , KREIBICH, M URSAU , O'CONNOR , INICKI, WICHGERS and TUSLER .
At the locations indicated, amend the bill as follows:
Referred to Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges.
1.
A N A CT to amend 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m.
Page 1, line 7:
a., 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m.
after XcollegeY insert Xand grants for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in private collegesY.
b., 36.27 (3n) (b) (intro.), 36.27 (3n) (bd), 36.27 (3n) (bg), 36.27 (3n) (bm), 36.27 (3n) (c), 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r.
2.
(intro.), 38.24 (7) (a) 1m.
Page 10, line 4:
a., 38.24 (7) (a) 1m.
after that line insert:
b., 38.24 (7) (a) 1p., 38.24 (7) (b) (intro.), 38.24 (7) (bd), 38.24 (7) (bg), 38.24 (7) (bm) and 38.24 (8) (a) 1r.
XSECTION 17g.
(intro.);
39.49 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
to create 36.27 (3n) (a) 1r.
39.49 (1) (e) XPrivate institutionY means a private nonprofit institution that is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of higher education headquartered in this state.
of the statutes;
S ECTION 17j.
relating to:
tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau 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 schools and technical colleges.
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 - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc SENATE BILL 59 SECTION 1 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.
This bill eliminates the five-year 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 the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran is still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the veteran is a resident of this state immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college.
Also under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran’s spouse and children are still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the spouse or child resided in this state immediately before the spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college and if the veteran, as described in 1), above, resided in this state at any time while an adult or the veteran, as described in 2), above, resided in this state immediately before the veteran’s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college.
If the applicable requirements for fee remission are met, the veteran or the veteran’s spouse or child is eligible for fee remission regardless of whether the veteran or veteran’s spouse or child would otherwise qualify as a resident student for tuition or fee purposes.
For further information see the state and local 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.
36.27 (3n) (a) 1m.
a.
of the statutes is amended to read:
36.27 (3n) (a) 1m.
a.
A person who has served on active duty under honorable - 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc SENATE BILL 59 SECTION 1 conditions in the U.S.
armed forces, in forces incorporated as part of the U.S.
armed forces, in the national guard, or in a reserve component of the U.S.
armed forces;
who was a resident of this state at the time of entry into that service or resided in this state for at least 5 consecutive years after the person attained the age of 18;
and who, 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.
S ECTION 2.
36.27 (3n) (a) 1m.
b.
Show all 184 changed rows (144 more)
Previous
Latest
of the statutes is amended to read:
36.27 (3n) (a) 1m.
b.
A person who was a resident of this state at the time of entry into service described in subd.
1m.
a.
or resided in this state for at least 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the person’s spouse or child described in par.
(b) 1., 2., or 3.
registers at an institution, and who the U.S.
department of veteran affairs has awarded at least a 30 percent service-connected disability rating under 38 USC 1114 or 1134.
S ECTION 3.
36.27 (3n) (a) 1r.
of the statutes is created to read:
36.27 (3n) (a) 1r.
“Nonresident tuition” has the meaning given in sub.
(3p) (a) 1m.
S ECTION 4.
36.27 (3n) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
36.27 (3n) (b) (intro.) Except as provided in pars.
(bd) and (bg), the board shall grant full remission of nonresident tuition, academic fees, and segregated fees for 128 credits or 8 semesters, whichever is longer, less the number of credits or semesters for which the person received remission of fees under s.
38.24 (7) or tuition offsets under grants under s.
and less the amount of any - 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc SENATE BILL 59 SECTION 4 nonresident tuition, academic fees, or segregated fees paid under 38 USC 3319, to any resident student who maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and is also any of the following:
S ECTION 5.
36.27 (3n) (bd) of the statutes is amended to read:
36.27 (3n) (bd) If an eligible veteran was not a resident of this state at the time of entry into service described in par.
(a) 1m.
a., the board may grant a remission of nonresident tuition, academic fees, and segregated fees under this subsection only if the eligible veteran’s spouse or child described in par.
(b) 1., 2., or 3.
has resided in this state for at least 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the spouse’s or child’s enrollment in an institution.
S ECTION 6.
36.27 (3n) (bg) of the statutes is amended to read:
36.27 (3n) (bg) Before the Board of Regents may grant a remission of nonresident tuition, academic fees, and segregated fees under par.
(b), the Board of Regents shall require the resident student to apply to the payment of those fees all educational assistance to which the resident student is entitled under 38 USC 3319.
If that educational assistance covers 100 percent of those fees for a credit or semester, that credit or semester shall not count against the 128 credit or 8 semester limit provided in par.
(b).
If that educational assistance covers less than 100 percent of those fees for a credit or semester and the remission under par.
(b) covers the remainder of those fees, the credit or semester shall count against that limit in the proportion that the remission bears to the total nonresident tuition, academic fees, and segregated fees charged for that credit or semestThis requirement applies notwithstanding the fact that the resident student may be - 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc SENATE BILL 59 SECTION 6 entitled to educational assistance under 10 USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566 as well as under 38 USC 3319, unless the resident student has 12 months or less of eligibility remaining for educational assistance under 10 USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566.
S ECTION 7.
36.27 (3n) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:
36.27 (3n) (bm) 1.
For a resident student who is entitled to educational assistance under 10 USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566 and under 38 USC 3319, if the amount of educational assistance, not including educational assistance for tuition, to which the resident student is entitled under 10 USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566 is greater than the amount of educational assistance, not including educational assistance for tuition, that the resident student received under 38 USC 3319, as determined by the higher educational aids board, in the academic year the higher educational aids board shall reimburse the resident student for the difference in those amounts of educational assistance, as calculated by the higher educational aids board, from the appropriation account under s.
20.235 (1) (fz).
The higher educational aids board shall make that determination and calculation in consultation with the Board of Regents.
2.
If in any fiscal year there are insufficient moneys available in the appropriation account under s.
20.235 (1) (fz) to provide full reimbursement under subd.
1.
to all resident students who are eligible for that reimbursement, the higher educational aids board and the Board of Regents shall reimburse those resident students as provided in s.
39.50 (4).
- 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc SENATE BILL 59 SECTION 8 S ECTION 8.
36.27 (3n) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
36.27 (3n) (c) The higher educational aids board shall reimburse the board of regents for all nonresident tuition, academic fees, and segregated fees remitted under par.
(b) as provided in s.
39.50 (1) and (3m).
S ECTION 9.
36.27 (3p) (a) 1r.
(intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
36.27 (3p) (a) 1r.
(intro.) “Veteran” means a person who is verified by the department of veterans affairs as being a resident of this state for purposes of receiving benefits under ch.
45;
as being a resident of this state at the time of his or her entry into the U.S.
armed forces or forces incorporated in the U.S.
armed forces or as being a resident of this state for at least 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the person registers at an institution;
and as meeting any of the following conditions:
S ECTION 10.
38.24 (7) (a) 1m.
a.
38.24 (7) (a) 1m.
a.
A person who has served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S.
armed forces, in forces incorporated as part of the U.S.
armed forces, in the national guard, or in a reserve component of the U.S.
armed forces;
who was a resident of this state at the time of entry into that service or resided in this state for at least 5 consecutive years after the person attained the age of 18;
and who, 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.
S ECTION 11.
38.24 (7) (a) 1m.
b.
of the statutes is amended to read:
38.24 (7) (a) 1m.
b.
A person who was a resident of this state at the time of - 2026 Legislature - 7 - LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc SENATE BILL 59 S ECTION 11 entry into service described in subd.
1m.
a.
or resided in this state for at least 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the person’s spouse or child described in par.
(b) 1., 2., or 3.
registers at a technical college, and who the U.S.
department of veteran affairs has awarded at least a 30 percent service-connected disability rating under 38 USC 1114 or 1134.
S ECTION 12.
38.24 (7) (a) 1p.
of the statutes is amended to read:
38.24 (7) (a) 1p.
“Fees” means the amount charged to a resident student under sub.
(1m) (a) to (c) to enroll in a course leading to an associate degree, collegiate transfer, or vocational diploma.
In the case of a distance education, online, or other course for which the amount charged to enroll in the course equals at least 100 percent of the cost of offering the course, “fees” includes the regular fees charged to a resident student under sub.
(1m) (a) to (c) to enroll in the course and any additional fees charged to that student under sub.
(1m) (a) to (c) to enroll in that course.
S ECTION 13.
38.24 (7) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
38.24 (7) (b) (intro.) Except as provided in pars.
(bd) and (bg), the district board shall grant full remission of fees for 128 credits or 8 semesters, whichever is longer, less the number of credits or semesters for which the person received remission of fees from any other district board under this subsection and from the Board of Regents under s.
36.27 (3n) (b) and for which the person received tuition offsets under grants under s.
Except as provided in subds.
and less the amount of any fees paid under 38 USC 3319, to any resident student who maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and is also any of the following:
- 2026 Legislature - 8 - LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc SENATE BILL 59 S ECTION 14 S ECTION 14.
38.24 (7) (bd) of the statutes is amended to read:
38.24 (7) (bd) If an eligible veteran was not a resident of this state at the time of entry into service described in par.
(a) 1m.
a., the district board may grant a remission of academic fees and segregated fees under this subsection only if the eligible veteran’s spouse or child described in par.
(b) 1., 2., or 3.
has resided in this state for at least 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the spouse’s or child’s enrollment in a technical college.
S ECTION 15.
38.24 (7) (bg) of the statutes is amended to read:
38.24 (7) (bg) Before the district board may grant a remission of fees under par.
(b), the district board shall require the resident student to apply to the payment of those fees all educational assistance to which the resident student is entitled under 38 USC 3319.
If that educational assistance covers 100 percent of those fees for a credit or semester, that credit or semester shall not count against the 128 credit or 8 semester limit provided in par.
(b).
If that educational assistance covers less than 100 percent of those fees for a credit or semester and the remission under par.
(b) covers the remainder of those fees, the credit or semester shall count against that limit in the proportion that the remission bears to the total fees charged for that credit or semester.
This requirement applies notwithstanding the fact that the resident student may be entitled to educational assistance under 10 USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566 as well as under 38 USC 3319, unless the resident student has 12 months or less of eligibility remaining for educational assistance under 10 USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566.
- 2026 Legislature - 9 - LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc SENATE BILL 59 S ECTION 16 S ECTION 16.
38.24 (7) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:
38.24 (7) (bm) 1.
For a resident student who is entitled to educational assistance under 10 USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566 and under 38 USC 3319, if the amount of educational assistance, other than educational assistance for tuition, to which the resident student is entitled under 10 USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566 is greater than the amount of educational assistance, other than educational assistance for tuition, that the resident student received under 38 USC 3319, as determined by the higher educational aids board, in the academic year the higher educational aids board shall reimburse the resident student for the difference in those amounts of educational assistance, as calculated by the higher educational aids board, from the appropriation account under s.
20.235 (1) (fz).
The higher educational aids board shall make that determination and calculation in consultation with the board and district board.
and subd.
If in any fiscal year there are insufficient moneys available in the appropriation account under s.
3., the board shall make grants from the appropriation under s.
20.235 (1) (fz) to provide full reimbursement under subd.
20.235 (1) (a) for the period specified in par.
1.
(b) in the amount determined under par.
to all resident students who are eligible for that reimbursement, the higher educational aids board and the district board shall reimburse those resident students as provided in s.
(c) for an eligible student for each - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRBa0105/1 ARG:cdc semester or session he or she is enrolled in a bachelor[s or graduate degree program of a private institution and maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
39.50 (4).
The board shall make the grants to the private institution in which the eligible student is enrolled to offset the tuition charged by the private institution.
S ECTION 17.
SECTION 17m.
38.24 (8) (a) 1r.
39.49 (2) (a) 2.
(intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
of the statutes is repealed.Y.
38.24 (8) (a) 1r.
(END )
(intro.) “Veteran” means a person who is verified by the department of veterans affairs as being a resident of this state for purposes of receiving benefits under ch.
45;
as being a resident of this state at the time of his or - 2026 Legislature - 10 - LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc SENATE BILL 59 S ECTION 17 her entry into the U.S.
armed forces or forces incorporated in the U.S.
armed forces or as being a resident of this state for at least 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the person registers at a technical college;
and as meeting any of the following conditions:
SECTION 18.
Initial applicability.
(1) This act first applies to the first semester or session beginning after the effective date of this subsection.
END )
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Action History

  1. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. Representative Tucker added as a cosponsor

  3. Available for scheduling

  4. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  5. Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  6. Executive action taken

  7. Public hearing held

  8. Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Jacque

  9. Fiscal estimate received

  10. Fiscal estimate received

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

  12. Introduced by Senators Jacque and Tomczyk; cosponsored by Representatives Murphy, Maxey, Armstrong, Brill, Gundrum, Kreibich, Mursau, O'Connor, Sinicki, Wichgers and Tusler

Sponsors

  • Murphy · Cosponsor
  • Maxey · Cosponsor
  • Armstrong · Cosponsor
  • Brill · Cosponsor
  • Gundrum · Cosponsor
  • Kreibich · Cosponsor
  • Mursau · Cosponsor
  • O'Connor · Cosponsor
  • Sinicki · Cosponsor
  • Wichgers · Cosponsor
  • Tusler · Cosponsor
  • André Jacque · Primary
  • Cory Tomczyk · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 119 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (12)

  • Murphy
  • Maxey
  • Armstrong
  • Brill
  • Gundrum
  • Kreibich
  • Mursau
  • O'Connor
  • Sinicki
  • Wichgers
  • Tusler
  • Tomczyk, Cory Republican

Not signed on (119)

119 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 119 →

"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.

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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 59 do?
An Act to amend 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. a., 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. b., 36.27 (3n) (b) (intro.), 36.27 (3n) (bd), 36.27 (3n) (bg), 36.27 (3n) (bm), 36.27 (3n) (c), 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. (intro.), 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. a., 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. b., 38.24 (7) (a) 1p., 38.24 (7) (b) (intro.), 38.24 (7) (bd), 38.24 (7) (bg), 38.24 (7) (bm) and 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. (intro.); to create 36.27 (3n) (a) 1r. of the statutes;
Who sponsors SB 59?
SB 59 is sponsored by Murphy, Maxey, Armstrong, Brill, Gundrum, Kreibich, Mursau, O'Connor, Sinicki, Wichgers, Tusler, Jacque, André (Republican), and Tomczyk, Cory (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 59?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced February 21, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 59?
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