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WI AB428
WI AB428The University of Wisconsin Missing-in-Action Recovery and Identification Project, funding for the veterans housing and recovery program, eligibility changes for the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit, and making an appropriation. (FE)
summary
Introduced
09/15/2025
09/15/2025
In Committee
09/15/2025
09/15/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to provide funding in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium to the UW Missing-in-Action Recovery and Identification Project (MIA Recovery Project) for missions to recover and identify Wisconsin veterans who are missing in action. At the conclusion of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, the MIA Recovery Project must submit to the Board of Regents, the Joint Committee on Finance, each legislative standing committee dealing with veterans matters, the governor, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Military Affairs a report on findings and the accounting of expenditures related to the MIA Recovery Project[s missions. The bill also provides to DVA $900,000 in 2025-26 and $1,050,000 in 2026-27 to increase funding for supplies and services costs in the veterans housing and recovery program and for costs associated with leasing a different facility for the Chippewa Falls-based veterans housing and recovery program. In addition, the bill reduces the eligibility threshold for an eligible veteran, the spouse of an eligible veteran, and the unremarried surviving spouse of an eligible veteran to claim the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit under the individual income tax system. Under the bill, a claimant may claim the credit if the claimant[s service-connected disability rating is at least 80 percent. Currently, that rating must be 100 percent. Under the bill, the maximum credit that a claimant may claim is multiplied by the percentage of the claimant[s service-connected disability rating. Also, for an individual whose service-connected disability is less than 100 percent, the amount of the credit claimed may not exceed the amount of property taxes paid on the first $350,000 of the property[s assessed value for the tax year the credit is claimed. The bill does not affect a claimant who claims the credit based on his or her individual unemployability rating. Under current law, an individual with a 100 percent disability rating based on individual unemployability may also claim the credit. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AI Summary
This bill makes several important changes related to veterans' benefits and support in Wisconsin. First, it establishes funding for the University of Wisconsin Missing-in-Action (MIA) Recovery and Identification Project, providing $180,000 annually during the 2025-27 fiscal biennium to support missions aimed at recovering and identifying Wisconsin veterans who are missing in action. The project will be required to submit a comprehensive report at the end of the biennium, detailing their findings, expenditures, identified cases, and future plans. Additionally, the bill increases funding for the veterans housing and recovery program by $900,000 in 2025-26 and $1,050,000 in 2026-27, which will help cover supplies, services, and facility leasing costs. Most significantly, the bill modifies the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit by lowering the service-connected disability rating requirement from 100% to 80%, allowing more veterans to qualify. For veterans with disability ratings less than 100%, the credit amount will be proportional to their disability rating and limited to property taxes paid on the first $350,000 of the property's assessed value. This change aims to provide broader tax relief to veterans with significant service-connected disabilities while maintaining existing benefits for those with 100% disability ratings.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (8)
Elijah Behnke (R)*,
Barbara Dittrich (R)*,
Benjamin Franklin (R)*,
Joy Goeben (R)*,
Rob Kreibich (R)*,
Chuck Wichgers (R)*,
André Jacque (R),
Romaine Quinn (R),
Last Action
Representative Tucker added as a coauthor (on 10/30/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab428 |
| Fiscal Note - AB428: Fiscal Estimate From DVA | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/fe/ab428/ab428_dva.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - AB428: Fiscal Estimate From DOR | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/fe/ab428/ab428_dor.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - AB428: Fiscal Estimate From DMA | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/fe/ab428/ab428_dma.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - AB428: Fiscal Estimate From UWS | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/fe/ab428/ab428_uws.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB428.pdf |
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