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Bill Summary · SB 640

SB 640 — Summary (Veterans tuition remission, UW System nonresident exemption)

Status: Introduced February 20, 2025. Fiscal estimate received.
Subject: Modifies residency requirements and eligibility for tuition-and-fee remission/grants for certain veterans, their spouses, and dependent children enrolled in University of Wisconsin System (UW System) institutions, technical colleges, or private nonprofit colleges; and changes an existing UW System nonresident tuition exemption for certain veterans.

Main purpose

Expand access to in‑state tuition relief for veterans and their families by shortening certain durational Wisconsin residency requirements and by broadening a nonresident‑tuition exemption for veterans.

Key provisions

  • Lowers a durational residency requirement from five (5) years to three (3) years in multiple statutory provisions that govern:
    • Tuition and fee remission at UW System institutions and Wisconsin technical colleges for eligible veterans and their spouses/children (current program: up to 8 semesters or 128 credits for certain 17–25 year‑old children and other eligible dependents).
    • Grants administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) to private nonprofit colleges that offset tuition for veterans and eligible spouses/children (mirrors remission eligibility rules).
  • Modifies the UW System nonresident tuition exemption for veterans by removing the prior condition that the veteran must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time they entered active duty. Under the bill, a veteran who is a Wisconsin resident and living in Wisconsin at the time of registration would qualify for the exemption without needing to show residency at entry into service.
  • Conforming edits to statutory veteran‑residency definitions and related eligibility language.

Who is affected

  • Eligible veterans who use state tuition remission or the UW nonresident exemption.
  • Spouses and dependent children of veterans who qualify for remission or HEAB grant support.
  • UW System campuses, Wisconsin technical colleges, and private nonprofit colleges participating in the HEAB grant program.
  • The Higher Educational Aids Board (administration of grant payments).
  • Potentially state budget and institutional tuition revenue (see fiscal impact).

Expected impacts and implementation

  • Likely increases the pool of students eligible for tuition remission/grants and for the UW nonresident exemption; could raise state and institutional costs or reduce nonresident tuition revenue.
  • HEAB and UW institutions will implement amended eligibility and verification processes.
  • A state/local fiscal estimate has been requested/received to quantify budgetary effects; final costs depend on uptake.
  • Next steps: bill proceeds through committee and legislative process (status: introduced; fiscal estimate received).

This summary focuses on the substance and likely operational effects; for precise statutory edits see the bill text amending statutes in ch. 36.27 and related provisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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