Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Senate Bill SB59 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
2	2	LRB-1653/1
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4	4	2025 SENATE BILL 59
5	5	February 21, 2025 - Introduced by Senators JACQUE and TOMCZYK, cosponsored by
6	6	Representatives MURPHY, MAXEY, ARMSTRONG, BRILL, GUNDRUM, KREIBICH,
7	7	MURSAU, O'CONNOR, SINICKI, WICHGERS and TUSLER. Referred to Committee
8	8	on Universities and Technical Colleges.
9	9	AN ACT to amend 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. a., 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. b., 36.27 (3n) (b)
10	10	(intro.), 36.27 (3n) (bd), 36.27 (3n) (bg), 36.27 (3n) (bm), 36.27 (3n) (c), 36.27
11	11	(3p) (a) 1r. (intro.), 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. a., 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. b., 38.24 (7) (a) 1p.,
12	12	38.24 (7) (b) (intro.), 38.24 (7) (bd), 38.24 (7) (bg), 38.24 (7) (bm) and 38.24 (8)
13	13	(a) 1r. (intro.); to create 36.27 (3n) (a) 1r. of the statutes; relating to: tuition
14	14	and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the
15	15	University of Wisconsin System or a technical college.
16	16	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
17	17	This bill modifies the residency requirement for the tuition and fee remission
18	18	program for certain veterans and their spouses and children enrolled in University
19	19	of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges.
20	20	Under current law, if certain criteria are met, veterans and their spouses and
21	21	17- to 25-year-old children are eligible for full remission of tuition and fees at UW
22	22	System schools and technical colleges for up to eight semesters or 128 credits,
23	23	whichever is longer. Under the veterans fee remission program, the veteran must
24	24	be a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or be a resident of
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32	32	SENATE BILL 59
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35	35	this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran registers
36	36	at a UW System school or technical college. Under the fee remission program for
37	37	the spouse or child of a veteran who suffered service-connected death or disability,
38	38	the veteran must have been a resident of this state when he or she entered military
39	39	service or one of the following must apply: 1) if the veteran, while a resident of this
40	40	state, died on active duty, died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died
41	41	in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes, the veteran
42	42	must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years while an adult, or
43	43	2) if the veteran received at least a 30 percent service-connected disability rating,
44	44	the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years
45	45	immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or
46	46	technical college. In addition, if a veteran was not a resident of this state when he
47	47	or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for tuition
48	48	and fee remission only if the spouse or child has resided in this state for at least five
49	49	consecutive years immediately before the spouse[s or child[s enrollment in a UW
50	50	System school or technical college.
51	51	This bill eliminates the five-year durational residency requirement for
52	52	veterans and their spouses and children under the tuition and fee remission
53	53	program under circumstances in which the veteran was not a resident of this state
54	54	when he or she entered military service. Under the bill, if the veteran was not a
55	55	resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran is still
56	56	eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the veteran is a resident of this
57	57	state immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical
58	58	college. Also under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he
59	59	or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse and children are still eligible
60	60	for the tuition and fee remission program if the spouse or child resided in this state
61	61	immediately before the spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical
62	62	college and if the veteran, as described in 1), above, resided in this state at any time
63	63	while an adult or the veteran, as described in 2), above, resided in this state
64	64	immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or
65	65	technical college. If the applicable requirements for fee remission are met, the
66	66	veteran or the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for fee remission regardless of
67	67	whether the veteran or veteran[s spouse or child would otherwise qualify as a
68	68	resident student for tuition or fee purposes.
69	69	For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
70	70	printed as an appendix to this bill.
71	71	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
72	72	enact as follows:
73	73	SECTION 1. 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
74	74	36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. a. A person who has served on active duty under honorable
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77	77	SENATE BILL 59
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80	80	SECTION 1
81	81	conditions in the U.S. armed forces, in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed
82	82	forces, in the national guard, or in a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces;
83	83	who was a resident of this state at the time of entry into that service or resided in
84	84	this state for at least 5 consecutive years after the person attained the age of 18; and
85	85	who, while a resident of this state, died on active duty, died as the result of a
86	86	service-connected disability, or died in the line of duty while on active or inactive
87	87	duty for training purposes.
88	88	SECTION 2. 36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
89	89	36.27 (3n) (a) 1m. b. A person who was a resident of this state at the time of
90	90	entry into service described in subd. 1m. a. or resided in this state for at least 5
91	91	consecutive years immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session
92	92	for which the person[s spouse or child described in par. (b) 1., 2., or 3. registers at an
93	93	institution, and who the U.S. department of veteran affairs has awarded at least a
94	94	30 percent service-connected disability rating under 38 USC 1114 or 1134.
95	95	SECTION 3. 36.27 (3n) (a) 1r. of the statutes is created to read:
96	96	36.27 (3n) (a) 1r. XNonresident tuitionY has the meaning given in sub. (3p) (a)
97	97	1m.
98	98	SECTION 4. 36.27 (3n) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
99	99	36.27 (3n) (b) (intro.) Except as provided in pars. (bd) and (bg), the board shall
100	100	grant full remission of nonresident tuition, academic fees, and segregated fees for
101	101	128 credits or 8 semesters, whichever is longer, less the number of credits or
102	102	semesters for which the person received remission of fees under s. 38.24 (7) or
103	103	tuition offsets under grants under s. 39.49 (2) (a) 1. and less the amount of any
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127	127	SENATE BILL 59
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130	130	SECTION 4
131	131	nonresident tuition, academic fees, or segregated fees paid under 38 USC 3319, to
132	132	any resident student who maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0
133	133	and is also any of the following:
134	134	SECTION 5. 36.27 (3n) (bd) of the statutes is amended to read:
135	135	36.27 (3n) (bd) If an eligible veteran was not a resident of this state at the
136	136	time of entry into service described in par. (a) 1m. a., the board may grant a
137	137	remission of nonresident tuition, academic fees, and segregated fees under this
138	138	subsection only if the eligible veteran[s spouse or child described in par. (b) 1., 2., or
139	139	3. has resided in this state for at least 5 consecutive years immediately preceding
140	140	the spouse[s or child[s enrollment in an institution.
141	141	SECTION 6. 36.27 (3n) (bg) of the statutes is amended to read:
142	142	36.27 (3n) (bg) Before the Board of Regents may grant a remission of
143	143	nonresident tuition, academic fees, and segregated fees under par. (b), the Board of
144	144	Regents shall require the resident student to apply to the payment of those fees all
145	145	educational assistance to which the resident student is entitled under 38 USC 3319.
146	146	If that educational assistance covers 100 percent of those fees for a credit or
147	147	semester, that credit or semester shall not count against the 128 credit or 8
148	148	semester limit provided in par. (b). If that educational assistance covers less than
149	149	100 percent of those fees for a credit or semester and the remission under par. (b)
150	150	covers the remainder of those fees, the credit or semester shall count against that
151	151	limit in the proportion that the remission bears to the total nonresident tuition,
152	152	academic fees, and segregated fees charged for that credit or semester. This
153	153	requirement applies notwithstanding the fact that the resident student may be
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177	177	SENATE BILL 59
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180	180	SECTION 6
181	181	entitled to educational assistance under 10 USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38
182	182	USC 3500 to 3566 as well as under 38 USC 3319, unless the resident student has 12
183	183	months or less of eligibility remaining for educational assistance under 10 USC
184	184	16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566.
185	185	SECTION 7. 36.27 (3n) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:
186	186	36.27 (3n) (bm) 1. For a resident student who is entitled to educational
187	187	assistance under 10 USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566 and
188	188	under 38 USC 3319, if the amount of educational assistance, not including
189	189	educational assistance for tuition, to which the resident student is entitled under 10
190	190	USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566 is greater than the amount of
191	191	educational assistance, not including educational assistance for tuition, that the
192	192	resident student received under 38 USC 3319, as determined by the higher
193	193	educational aids board, in the academic year the higher educational aids board
194	194	shall reimburse the resident student for the difference in those amounts of
195	195	educational assistance, as calculated by the higher educational aids board, from the
196	196	appropriation account under s. 20.235 (1) (fz). The higher educational aids board
197	197	shall make that determination and calculation in consultation with the Board of
198	198	Regents.
199	199	2. If in any fiscal year there are insufficient moneys available in the
200	200	appropriation account under s. 20.235 (1) (fz) to provide full reimbursement under
201	201	subd. 1. to all resident students who are eligible for that reimbursement, the higher
202	202	educational aids board and the Board of Regents shall reimburse those resident
203	203	students as provided in s. 39.50 (4).
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226	226	23 2025 - 2026 Legislature
227	227	SENATE BILL 59
228	228	- 6 - LRB-1653/1
229	229	ARG:cdc
230	230	SECTION 8
231	231	SECTION 8. 36.27 (3n) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
232	232	36.27 (3n) (c) The higher educational aids board shall reimburse the board of
233	233	regents for all nonresident tuition, academic fees, and segregated fees remitted
234	234	under par. (b) as provided in s. 39.50 (1) and (3m).
235	235	SECTION 9. 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
236	236	36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. (intro.) XVeteranY means a person who is verified by the
237	237	department of veterans affairs as being a resident of this state for purposes of
238	238	receiving benefits under ch. 45; as being a resident of this state at the time of his or
239	239	her entry into the U.S. armed forces or forces incorporated in the U.S. armed forces
240	240	or as being a resident of this state for at least 5 consecutive years immediately
241	241	preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the person registers at
242	242	an institution; and as meeting any of the following conditions:
243	243	SECTION 10. 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
244	244	38.24 (7) (a) 1m. a. A person who has served on active duty under honorable
245	245	conditions in the U.S. armed forces, in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed
246	246	forces, in the national guard, or in a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces;
247	247	who was a resident of this state at the time of entry into that service or resided in
248	248	this state for at least 5 consecutive years after the person attained the age of 18; and
249	249	who, while a resident of this state, died on active duty, died as the result of a
250	250	service-connected disability, or died in the line of duty while on active or inactive
251	251	duty for training purposes.
252	252	SECTION 11. 38.24 (7) (a) 1m. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
253	253	38.24 (7) (a) 1m. b. A person who was a resident of this state at the time of
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277	277	SENATE BILL 59
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280	280	SECTION 11
281	281	entry into service described in subd. 1m. a. or resided in this state for at least 5
282	282	consecutive years immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session
283	283	for which the person[s spouse or child described in par. (b) 1., 2., or 3. registers at a
284	284	technical college, and who the U.S. department of veteran affairs has awarded at
285	285	least a 30 percent service-connected disability rating under 38 USC 1114 or 1134.
286	286	SECTION 12. 38.24 (7) (a) 1p. of the statutes is amended to read:
287	287	38.24 (7) (a) 1p. XFeesY means the amount charged to a resident student
288	288	under sub. (1m) (a) to (c) to enroll in a course leading to an associate degree,
289	289	collegiate transfer, or vocational diploma. In the case of a distance education,
290	290	online, or other course for which the amount charged to enroll in the course equals
291	291	at least 100 percent of the cost of offering the course, XfeesY includes the regular fees
292	292	charged to a resident student under sub. (1m) (a) to (c) to enroll in the course and
293	293	any additional fees charged to that student under sub. (1m) (a) to (c) to enroll in that
294	294	course.
295	295	SECTION 13. 38.24 (7) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
296	296	38.24 (7) (b) (intro.) Except as provided in pars. (bd) and (bg), the district
297	297	board shall grant full remission of fees for 128 credits or 8 semesters, whichever is
298	298	longer, less the number of credits or semesters for which the person received
299	299	remission of fees from any other district board under this subsection and from the
300	300	Board of Regents under s. 36.27 (3n) (b) and for which the person received tuition
301	301	offsets under grants under s. 39.49 (2) (a) 1. and less the amount of any fees paid
302	302	under 38 USC 3319, to any resident student who maintains a cumulative grade
303	303	point average of at least 2.0 and is also any of the following:
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327	327	SENATE BILL 59
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330	330	SECTION 14
331	331	SECTION 14. 38.24 (7) (bd) of the statutes is amended to read:
332	332	38.24 (7) (bd) If an eligible veteran was not a resident of this state at the time
333	333	of entry into service described in par. (a) 1m. a., the district board may grant a
334	334	remission of academic fees and segregated fees under this subsection only if the
335	335	eligible veteran[s spouse or child described in par. (b) 1., 2., or 3. has resided in this
336	336	state for at least 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the spouse[s or child[s
337	337	enrollment in a technical college.
338	338	SECTION 15. 38.24 (7) (bg) of the statutes is amended to read:
339	339	38.24 (7) (bg) Before the district board may grant a remission of fees under
340	340	par. (b), the district board shall require the resident student to apply to the
341	341	payment of those fees all educational assistance to which the resident student is
342	342	entitled under 38 USC 3319. If that educational assistance covers 100 percent of
343	343	those fees for a credit or semester, that credit or semester shall not count against
344	344	the 128 credit or 8 semester limit provided in par. (b). If that educational assistance
345	345	covers less than 100 percent of those fees for a credit or semester and the remission
346	346	under par. (b) covers the remainder of those fees, the credit or semester shall count
347	347	against that limit in the proportion that the remission bears to the total fees
348	348	charged for that credit or semester. This requirement applies notwithstanding the
349	349	fact that the resident student may be entitled to educational assistance under 10
350	350	USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566 as well as under 38 USC
351	351	3319, unless the resident student has 12 months or less of eligibility remaining for
352	352	educational assistance under 10 USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to
353	353	3566.
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377	377	SENATE BILL 59
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380	380	SECTION 16
381	381	SECTION 16. 38.24 (7) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:
382	382	38.24 (7) (bm) 1. For a resident student who is entitled to educational
383	383	assistance under 10 USC 16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566 and
384	384	under 38 USC 3319, if the amount of educational assistance, other than educational
385	385	assistance for tuition, to which the resident student is entitled under 10 USC
386	386	16132a, 10 USC 16163a, or 38 USC 3500 to 3566 is greater than the amount of
387	387	educational assistance, other than educational assistance for tuition, that the
388	388	resident student received under 38 USC 3319, as determined by the higher
389	389	educational aids board, in the academic year the higher educational aids board
390	390	shall reimburse the resident student for the difference in those amounts of
391	391	educational assistance, as calculated by the higher educational aids board, from the
392	392	appropriation account under s. 20.235 (1) (fz). The higher educational aids board
393	393	shall make that determination and calculation in consultation with the board and
394	394	district board.
395	395	2. If in any fiscal year there are insufficient moneys available in the
396	396	appropriation account under s. 20.235 (1) (fz) to provide full reimbursement under
397	397	subd. 1. to all resident students who are eligible for that reimbursement, the higher
398	398	educational aids board and the district board shall reimburse those resident
399	399	students as provided in s. 39.50 (4).
400	400	SECTION 17. 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
401	401	38.24 (8) (a) 1r. (intro.) XVeteranY means a person who is verified by the
402	402	department of veterans affairs as being a resident of this state for purposes of
403	403	receiving benefits under ch. 45; as being a resident of this state at the time of his or
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427	427	SENATE BILL 59
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430	430	SECTION 17
431	431	her entry into the U.S. armed forces or forces incorporated in the U.S. armed forces
432	432	or as being a resident of this state for at least 5 consecutive years immediately
433	433	preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the person registers at
434	434	a technical college; and as meeting any of the following conditions:
435	435	SECTION 18. Initial applicability.
436	436	(1) This act first applies to the first semester or session beginning after the
437	437	effective date of this subsection.
438	438	(END)
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