The Wisconsin Legislature has approved two bills aimed at reinforcing free speech protections at public university campuses and limiting certain fees charged for online coursework, sending the measures to Gov. Tony Evers (D) for consideration.
One of the measures, Senate Bill 498 (alongside its Assembly companion, AB 501), would prohibit University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges from imposing time, place, or manner restrictions on lawful free speech activities. It passed the Assembly 53-45.
The legislation would also bar universities from designating “free speech zones” or from requiring security fees that effectively limit expression. If an institution is found to violate the bill’s protections multiple times within five years, it could trigger a freeze on tuition increases for two academic years.
Supporters say the bill is designed to ensure First Amendment rights on campus and prevent restrictions that can chill lawful expression, while opponents have raised questions about enforcement mechanisms and potential legal challenges.
The second bill, Senate Bill 532, passed in the Assembly on a vote of 53-45 and in the Senate by 18-15. It would restrict the University of Wisconsin from charging extra fees for online or hybrid courses unless the institution can demonstrate actual additional costs associated with offering those formats. Sponsors argue the changes are intended to prevent hidden fees and reduce financial burdens on students.
Both bills passed the Assembly by narrow margins after earlier approval in the Senate. The legislation reflects ongoing debate in the state over higher education policy, student rights, and campus administration practices.
The legislation stems from a survey by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which found that one-in-three college students believe violence is an acceptable response to speech they don’t like or agree with.
“When more than one out of every three students at UW–Madison believes violence is an acceptable way to suppress speech, it’s clear we have a serious civility problem on campus. AB 501 simply puts the UW’s own free speech policy into law and ensures it is enforced. We cannot allow violence or intimidation to become a normalized substitute for free debate,” the organization said in a statement.
The Wisconsin legislation comes months after conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated on a Utah college campus Sept. 10, allegedly by Tyler Robinson, 22, who, according to his relatives and parents, had become a radicalized leftist driven to violence.
Robinson faces seven charges, including six felonies: aggravated murder, multiple counts of witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. If found guilty, he could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray has filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty should Robinson be convicted of the murder charge.
During a briefing last month, FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau was still following leads in the case.
“We are running out absolutely every single lead, and the best thing we can do to honor my friend Charlie Kirk’s life is to make sure that everyone involved is prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and that’s what we are focused on: investigating the facts, not trading in conspiracy theories,” he said.
Robinson made his first court appearance in mid-December. He had appeared in previous court hearings via video or audio from jail. Since then, a lot of the case has happened behind closed doors, which has led a group of media organizations, including Fox News, to call for more openness.
That group asked that prosecutors and defense attorneys give notice ahead of time whenever they want to seal filings or limit public access. This way, people can challenge those limits before they go into effect.
Roger Bonakdar, a legal analyst and trial lawyer in California, said that the big change in openness has been clear from the start.