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Bill > SB587

WI SB587

WI SB587
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 LRB-4388/1 JAM:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 587 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, which provides tuition and fee remission for eligible veterans and their dependents attending University of Wisconsin System institutions or 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 fully fund the tuition remissions without the previous constraint of a predetermined budget amount. The bill removes provisions that previously required prorating reimbursements if the allocated funds were insufficient, effectively guaranteeing full funding for eligible students' tuition and fees. Specifically, the legislation eliminates language about potential partial reimbursements and ensures that the Higher Educational Aids Board will fully reimburse the Board of Regents and technical college district boards for all remitted fees. The changes will first take effect for students enrolled in the fall 2026 semester, providing more financial certainty for veterans and their dependents pursuing higher education in Wisconsin's public educational institutions.

Committee Categories

Military Affairs and Security

Sponsors (36)

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)*,  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), 

Last Action

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

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