# Wisconsin AB501: An Act to create 36.41, 36.42, 38.44 and 38.45 of the statutes; Relating to: free speech and academic freedom at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, due process in disciplinary proceedings at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, and causes of action against the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and technical college district boards. (FE)

Wisconsin AB501, An Act to create 36.41, 36.42, 38.44 and 38.45 of the statutes; Relating to: free speech and academic freedom at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, due process in disciplinary proceedings at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, and causes of action against the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and technical college district boards. (FE), is a 2025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session) House bill sponsored by Scott Allen (Republican), David Armstrong (Republican), Elijah Behnke (Republican) and 25 others; status failed, last action 2026-03-23 (Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB501-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Wisconsin AB501
- State: Wisconsin
- Session: 2025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session)
- Title: An Act to create 36.41, 36.42, 38.44 and 38.45 of the statutes; Relating to: free speech and academic freedom at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, due process in disciplinary proceedings at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, and causes of action against the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and technical college district boards. (FE)
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-10-09
- Last action: 2026-03-23, Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
- Sponsors: Scott Allen (Republican), David Armstrong (Republican), Elijah Behnke (Republican), Lindee Brill (Republican), Alex Dallman (Republican), Barbara Dittrich (Republican), Bob Donovan (Republican), Cindi Duchow (Republican), Rick Gundrum (Republican), Nate Gustafson (Republican), Daniel Knodl (Republican), Rob Kreibich (Republican), Scott Krug (Republican), Dave Maxey (Republican), Paul Melotik (Republican), Clint Moses (Republican), David Murphy (Republican), Jeffrey Mursau (Republican), Amanda Nedweski (Republican), Jerry O'Connor (Republican), William Penterman (Republican), Jim Piwowarczyk (Republican), Shae Sortwell (Republican), David Steffen (Republican), Rob Summerfield (Republican), Rob Swearingen (Republican), Ron Tusler (Republican), Chuck Wichgers (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: Court -- Procedure, Freedom of speech and press, Technical college, University of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin -- Student life
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Scott Allen (Republican), House
- Sponsor: David Armstrong (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Elijah Behnke (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Lindee Brill (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Alex Dallman (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Barbara Dittrich (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Bob Donovan (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Cindi Duchow (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Rick Gundrum (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Nate Gustafson (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Daniel Knodl (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Rob Kreibich (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Scott Krug (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Dave Maxey (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Paul Melotik (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Clint Moses (Republican), House
- Sponsor: David Murphy (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Jeffrey Mursau (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Amanda Nedweski (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Jerry O'Connor (Republican), House
- Sponsor: William Penterman (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Jim Piwowarczyk (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Shae Sortwell (Republican), House
- Sponsor: David Steffen (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Rob Summerfield (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Rob Swearingen (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Ron Tusler (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Chuck Wichgers (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Chris Kapenga (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Cory Tomczyk (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Van Wanggaard (Republican), Senate

## Actions (11)

- 2026-03-23: Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 (House)
- 2026-02-12: Laid on the table (House)
- 2026-02-10: Placed on calendar 2-12-2026 by Committee on Rules (House)
- 2025-12-17: Referred to committee on Rules (House)
- 2025-12-17: Report passage recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 7, Noes 4 (House)
- 2025-12-10: Executive action taken (House)
- 2025-11-13: Public hearing held (House)
- 2025-11-03: Fiscal estimate received (House)
- 2025-10-22: Fiscal estimate received (House)
- 2025-10-09: Read first time and referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities (House)
- 2025-10-09: Introduced by Representatives Nedweski, Murphy, Gustafson, Allen, Armstrong, Behnke, Brill, Dallman, Dittrich, Donovan, Duchow, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Krug, Maxey, Melotik, Moses, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Sortwell, Steffen, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tusler and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Cabral-Guevara, Kapenga, Tomczyk and Wanggaard (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [HTML](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB501), [PDF](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB501.pdf)

## Related bills

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## Sources
- [Bill Text (HTML)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB501)
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB501.pdf)

## Related
- [AB913: An Act to create 71.05 (6) (b) 57. of the statutes; Relating to: subtraction fo…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB913-2025)
- [AB80: An Act to renumber 457.25 (1); to amend 46.90 (4) (ab) 4., 48.56 (2), 48.561 (2…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB80-2025)
- [AB1027: An Act Relating to: requiring information relating to the food stamp program to…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB1027-2025)
- [SB36: An Act to repeal 71.63 (6) (n) 1. and 71.63 (6) (n) 2.; to renumber and amend 7…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-SB36-2025)
- [AB674: An Act to create 157.06 (15m) of the statutes; Relating to: prohibiting knowing…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB674-2025)
- [SB176: An Act to create 71.05 (1) (j), 71.26 (1) (j), 71.34 (1k) (q) and 71.45 (1) (dp…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-SB176-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WI-AB501-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).