Governor Tony Evers delivered the second annual state of the state address on Wednesday, January 22 at 7:00 p.m. A full copy of the Governors speech is attached below. See Regent President Petersen’s statement on the state of the state address here.

The Senate was in session on Tuesday, January 21, and heard the following bills relating to UW System:

• SB-446 UW MIA Project: The University of Wisconsin Missing-in-Action Recovery and Identification Project and making an appropriation. Passed in a 33-0 vote.
• AB-531 ID Card Info: requiring that student identification cards include contact information for suicide prevention hotlines. Passed Amendment 1.
• AB-706 Bargaining Contract: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2018-19 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. Passed in a 33-0 vote.
• AB-707 Bargaining Contract: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2019-20 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. Passed in a 33-0 vote.
• AB-708 Bargaining Contract: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2018-19 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. Passed in a 33-0 vote.
• AB-709 Bargaining Contract: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2019-20 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. Passed in a 33-0 vote.
• AB-710 Bargaining Contract: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2018-19 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. Passed in a 33-0 vote.
• AB-711 Bargaining Contract: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2019-20 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. Passed in a 33-0 vote.

On Tuesday, January 21, Governor Tony Evers signed SB-334: Active Duty Service into law, Wisconsin Act 75. The bill expands protections and considerations for students who are called into active military service while they are enrolled in a university, technical, or private institution.

The Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, Children and Families held a public hearing on Wednesday, January 22, and heard the following bills relating to UW System:

• SB 343-Resident undergraduate tuition

President Ray Cross provided verbal testimony in opposition of SB 343, which can be found attached below.

• SB 403– Free expression: free expression within the University of Wisconsin System, providing an exemption from rule-making procedures, and granting rule-making authority

President Ray Cross provided written testimony for information only on SB 403, which can be found attached below.

The Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities held an executive session and public hearing on Thursday, January 23.

During the executive session, the committee considered the following bills relating to the UW System:

• AB 444– Free expression: free expression within the University of Wisconsin System, providing an exemption from rule-making procedures, and granting rule-making authority.

The Committee voted to pass the bill, including Amendment Substitute 1, in a 8-6 vote.

• AB 536– Career Advancement Scholarship: establishing a career advancement scholarship program and making an appropriation

The Committee voted to pass the bill, including Amendment 1, in a 14-0 vote.

Following the executive session, the committee held a public hearing and heard the following bills relating to the UW System:

• AB 230– Military Transcripts: transferring academic credits from military transcripts to University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges.

See below for written testimony provided by President Ray Cross for information only. 

• AB 556– Teaching Hours: recognizing teaching hours for providing certain extension services of the University of Wisconsin System.

Ben Van Pelt, UW-Madison Assistant Director for State Relations, and Heidi Zoerb, Associate Dean for External Relations for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, provided verbal testimony on AB 566 (see below).

• AB 663– Veteran Application Fees: exempting veterans and members of the armed forces from admissions application fees at University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges.