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Wisconsin · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

AB 659: Relating to: tuition and fee remission or grants for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college, or a private nonprofit institution of higher education; and the University of Wisconsin System nonresident tuition exemption for certain veterans. (FE)

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

AB 659 is a bill introduced in the Wisconsin House on November 19, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Relating to: tuition and fee remission or grants for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college, or a private nonprofit institution of higher education; and the University of Wisconsin System nonresident tuition exemption for certain veterans. (FE). Primary sponsor: Joel Kitchens (Republican), Ben Franklin (Republican), Tony Kurtz (Republican), David Steffen (Republican), Elijah Behnke (Republican), Jill Billings (Democratic), Rob Brooks (Republican), Barbara Dittrich (Republican), Bob Donovan (Republican), Alex Joers (Democratic), Dan Knodl (Republican), Rob Kreibich (Republican), Paul Melotik (Republican), Dave Murphy (Republican), Jeff Mursau (Republican), Todd Novak (Republican), Jerry O'Connor (Republican), Jim Piwowarczyk (Republican), Randy Udell (Democratic), Chuck Wichgers (Republican), Lori Palmeri (Democratic). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (April 2, 2026): Published 4-3-2026.

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): Democratic 4 · Republican 18

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Joel KitchensPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse1
Ben FranklinPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse88
Tony KurtzPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse41
David SteffenPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse4
Elijah BehnkePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse6
Jill BillingsPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse95
Rob BrooksPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse59
Barbara DittrichPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse99
Bob DonovanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse61
Alex JoersPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse81
Dan KnodlPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse24
Rob KreibichPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse28
Paul MelotikPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse22
Dave MurphyPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse56
Jeff MursauPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse36
Todd NovakPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse51
Jerry O'ConnorPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse60
Jim PiwowarczykPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse98
Randy UdellPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse47
Chuck WichgersPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse84
Lori PalmeriPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse54
Eric WimbergerCo-sponsorRepublicanSenate2

“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. Published 4-3-2026
  2. Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 155
  3. Presented to the Governor on 4-1-2026
  4. Report correctly enrolled on 3-24-2026
  5. Received from Senate concurred in
  6. Ordered immediately messaged
  7. Read a third time and concurred in
  8. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
  9. Ordered to a third reading
  10. Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15
  11. Read a second time
  12. Senators Hesselbein and Smith added as cosponsors

Showing 12 most recent of 40 actions. Full history

Sources

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