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Bill > AB591

WI AB591

WI AB591
Remission of fees for veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or in a technical college and making an appropriation. (FE)

summary

Introduced
10/24/2025
In Committee
10/24/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Under current law, eligible veterans and their eligible dependents may receive full tuition and fee remission from UW System institutions and technical college districts, minus tuition relief offsets under other state or federal programs, for up to 128 credits or eight semesters, whichever is longer. This tuition remission program is commonly referred to as the Wisconsin GI Bill. Also under current law, a sum certain of general program revenue is appropriated to the Higher Educational Aids Board to reimburse the Board of Regents and technical college district boards for the amount of tuition and fees remitted under the program. HEAB is required to prorate the reimbursements if the moneys appropriated are not sufficient to fully reimburse the Board of Regents and each district board. This bill converts the sum certain appropriation supporting this veteran tuition remission program into a sum sufficient appropriation and repeals provisions of law that refer to insufficient funds available in the sum certain appropriation. The bill first applies to eligible students enrolled in the fall 2026 semester. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AI Summary

This bill modifies the Wisconsin GI Bill, a program that provides tuition and fee remission for eligible veterans and their dependents at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges. The key change is converting the current fixed (sum certain) appropriation for the program into a sum sufficient appropriation, which means the state will now guarantee full reimbursement to educational institutions for veteran tuition waivers, regardless of the total cost. The bill eliminates previous provisions that would have required prorating reimbursements if funding was insufficient, ensuring that veterans and their dependents will receive full tuition coverage without potential reductions. The changes will first apply to students enrolled in the fall 2026 semester, giving educational institutions and the state time to adjust to the new funding mechanism. By making this change, the bill provides more financial certainty for veterans seeking higher education and removes potential barriers to their educational access by guaranteeing complete tuition and fee coverage under the Wisconsin GI Bill program.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (36)

Deb Andraca (D)*,  Margaret Arney (D)*,  Mike Bare (D)*,  Jill Billings (D)*,  Ben DeSmidt (D)*,  Joan Fitzgerald (D)*,  Russell Goodwin (D)*,  Alex Joers (D)*,  Tara Johnson (D)*,  Vincent Miresse (D)*,  Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D)*,  Lori Palmeri (D)*,  Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D)*,  Ann Roe (D)*,  Joe Sheehan (D)*,  Christine Sinicki (D)*,  Lee Snodgrass (D)*,  Angela Stroud (D)*,  Shelia Stubbs (D)*,  Lisa Subeck (D)*,  Angelito Tenorio (D)*,  Duke Tucker (R)*,  Tim Carpenter (D),  Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D),  Dora Drake (D),  Jodi Habush Sinykin (D),  Dianne Hesselbein (D),  LaTonya Johnson (D),  Sarah Keyeski (D),  Chris Larson (D),  Brad Pfaff (D),  Melissa Ratcliff (D),  Kelda Roys (D),  Jeff Smith (D),  Mark Spreitzer (D),  Bob Wirch (D), 

Last Action

Fiscal estimate received (on 11/11/2025)
(1 Companion Bills)

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