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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)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Elijah Behnke and 20 co-sponsors

Expands and streamlines tuition relief for veterans and dependents across UW System, technical colleges, and participating private colleges, including a 3-year residency requiremen

Executive action taken
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Bill Summary · AB 659

Summary — AB 659 (2025 Session, Wisconsin)

Overview / Purpose

AB 659 would change eligibility and administrative rules for tuition remission/grants for certain veterans and their dependents, and would modify the University of Wisconsin System’s nonresident tuition exemption for certain veterans. The bill is intended to make tuition relief more accessible to veterans and their families who enroll in UW System schools, Wisconsin Technical Colleges, or private nonprofit institutions that participate in the state veterans grant program.

Note: The legislative record supplied includes an unrelated California bill text (also numbered AB 659). This summary focuses on the Wisconsin measure described in the fiscal estimate and legislative actions.

Key provisions

  • Expands or clarifies tuition/fee remission and grant coverage for:
    • Veterans, and
    • Their spouses and children, who are enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System, a Wisconsin technical college, or a participating private nonprofit institution of higher education.
  • Lowers the durational residency requirement for eligibility in the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) grant program from five years to three years for veterans and their spouses/children. HEAB administers grants to private nonprofit colleges to offset tuition charged to enrolled veterans and their spouses/children who would otherwise qualify for tuition remission at UW System institutions or technical colleges.
  • Modifies the University of Wisconsin System nonresident tuition exemption for certain veterans (the fiscal note and available materials do not provide the bill’s precise statutory language for this exemption — the change is described at a high level as relating to the UW nonresident tuition exemption for certain veterans).

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: veterans and their dependents (spouses and children) who enroll in:
    • UW System institutions,
    • Wisconsin technical colleges, or
    • Participating private nonprofit colleges that receive HEAB grants.
  • Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB): administrative role in grant program; may see increased grant activity.
  • UW System and technical colleges: potential changes in tuition-exemption administration and enrollment impacts.
  • Private nonprofit colleges that participate in the HEAB offset-grant program.

Fiscal impact

  • HEAB fiscal estimate (11/20/2025) indicates:
    • No clear state fiscal effect is identified in the prepared summary box, but the agency notes the bill may increase costs that could possibly be absorbed within existing budgets.
    • The principal fiscal change identified in committee materials is the reduction of the HEAB durational residency requirement from five to three years, which could increase the number of eligible students and therefore grant/tuition-offset activity.
  • Long‑range fiscal implications were not detailed in the provided materials.

Procedural status and timeline

  • Introduced: November 19, 2025 (read first time and referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities).
  • Fiscal estimates received: November 21 and November 24, 2025 (HEAB fiscal estimate prepared 11/20/2025).
  • Sponsors and cosponsors: Multiple primary sponsors listed (Rep. Franklin, Dittrich, Knodl, Joers, Murphy, Steffen, O’Connor, Mursau, Donovan, Kurtz, Piwowarczyk, Udell, Billings, Kreibich, Palmeri, Novak, Brooks, Melotik, Behnke, Kitchens, Wichgers and others); cosponsored by Senator Wimberger.
  • Current status (from provided record): Referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities; fiscal review completed.

Notes and caveats

  • The available materials do not include the bill’s full statutory text for the UW nonresident tuition exemption change; detailed operational effects will depend on that language.
  • The record supplied mixed content from an unrelated California bill language also labeled “AB 659.” This summary omits that California measure and is limited to the Wisconsin AB‑0659 materials (fiscal note, sponsors, and procedural entries) provided.

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

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