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Wisconsin · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

AB 501: Relating to: free speech and academic freedom at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, due process in disciplinary proceedings at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, and causes of action against the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and technical college district boards. (FE)

Did not advance Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted
  6. Did not advance

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

AB 501 is a bill introduced in the Wisconsin House on October 9, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Relating to: free speech and academic freedom at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, due process in disciplinary proceedings at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, and causes of action against the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and technical college district boards. (FE). Primary sponsor: Amanda Nedweski (Republican), Dave Murphy (Republican), Gus Gustafson (Republican), Scott Allen (Republican), Dave Armstrong (Republican), Elijah Behnke (Republican), Lindee Brill (Republican), Alex Dallman (Republican), Barbara Dittrich (Republican), Bob Donovan (Republican), Cindi Duchow (Republican), Rick Gundrum (Republican), Dan Knodl (Republican), Rob Kreibich (Republican), Scott Krug (Republican), Dave Maxey (Republican), Paul Melotik (Republican), Clint Moses (Republican), Jeff Mursau (Republican), Jerry O'Connor (Republican), Will Penterman (Republican), Jim Piwowarczyk (Republican), Shae Sortwell (Republican), David Steffen (Republican), Rob Summerfield (Republican), Rob Swearingen (Republican), Ron Tusler (Republican), Chuck Wichgers (Republican). It lists 4 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (March 23, 2026): Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 32

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Amanda NedweskiPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse32
Dave MurphyPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse56
Gus GustafsonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse55
Scott AllenPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse82
Dave ArmstrongPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse67
Elijah BehnkePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse6
Lindee BrillPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse27
Alex DallmanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse39
Barbara DittrichPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse99
Bob DonovanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse61
Cindi DuchowPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse97
Rick GundrumPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse58
Dan KnodlPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse24
Rob KreibichPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse28
Scott KrugPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse72
Dave MaxeyPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse83
Paul MelotikPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse22
Clint MosesPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse92
Jeff MursauPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse36
Jerry O'ConnorPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse60
Will PentermanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse38
Jim PiwowarczykPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse98
Shae SortwellPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse2
David SteffenPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse4
Rob SummerfieldPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse68
Rob SwearingenPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse34
Ron TuslerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse3
Chuck WichgersPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse84
Rachael Cabral-GuevaraCo-sponsorRepublicanSenate19
Chris KapengaCo-sponsorRepublicanSenate33
Cory TomczykCo-sponsorRepublicanSenate29
Van WanggaardCo-sponsorRepublicanSenate21

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
  2. Laid on the table
  3. Placed on calendar 2-12-2026 by Committee on Rules
  4. Referred to committee on Rules
  5. Report passage recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 7, Noes 4
  6. Executive action taken
  7. Public hearing held
  8. Fiscal estimate received
  9. Fiscal estimate received
  10. Read first time and referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities
  11. Introduced by Representatives Nedweski, Murphy, Gustafson, Allen, Armstrong, Behnke, Brill, Dallman, Dittrich, Donovan, Duchow, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Krug, Maxey, Melotik, Moses, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Sortwell, Steffen, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tusler and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Cabral-Guevara, Kapenga, Tomczyk and Wanggaard

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source