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2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 47
February 17, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives MURPHY, MAXEY, ARMSTRONG,
BRILL, GUNDRUM, KREIBICH, O'CONNOR, SINICKI and WICHGERS, cosponsored
by Senators JACQUE and TOMCZYK. Referred to Committee on Veterans and
Military Affairs.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
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; 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
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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:
SECTION 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
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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.
SECTION 2. 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. b. 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.
SECTION 3. 36.27 (3n) (a) 1r. of the statutes is created to read:
36.27 (3n) (a) 1r. XNonresident tuitionY has the meaning given in sub. (3p) (a)
1m.
SECTION 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. 39.49 (2) (a) 1. and less the amount of any
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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:
SECTION 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.
SECTION 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 semester. This
requirement applies notwithstanding the fact that the resident student may be
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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.
SECTION 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).
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SECTION 8
SECTION 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).
SECTION 9. 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. (intro.) XVeteranY 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:
SECTION 10. 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
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.
SECTION 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
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SECTION 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.
SECTION 12. 38.24 (7) (a) 1p. of the statutes is amended to read:
38.24 (7) (a) 1p. XFeesY 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, XfeesY 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.
SECTION 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. 39.49 (2) (a) 1. 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:
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SECTION 14
SECTION 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.
SECTION 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.
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SECTION 16
SECTION 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.
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 district board shall reimburse those resident
students as provided in s. 39.50 (4).
SECTION 17. 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
38.24 (8) (a) 1r. (intro.) XVeteranY 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
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SECTION 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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