Colleges And Universities Committee Wrap Up
With the 2025-2026 Assembly Session winding down, I wanted to give you an update on what was accomplished this session in the Colleges and Universities Committee of which I am the Chairman. This session we held 14 hearings and passed 13 bills out of our committee. Below are some of the highlights.
- Assembly Bill 102. This important legislation protects women in college sports and in locker rooms. Women and girls deserve the opportunity to compete on an even playing field, and to be safe in their private spaces. I am proud to not only vote for this important bill, I also co-sponsored AB 102 as well. It went on to pass the full Assembly.
- Assembly Bill 501 relating to free speech on UW campuses and Wisconsin technical college campuses. Universities are meant to foster open dialogue and free exchange of ideas, but many Wisconsin students feel scared to openly express their ideas due to fear of hostility or academic downgrade from peers or professors. A 2023 UW systemwide free speech survey found that more than half of students admitted to self-censoring their viewpoints in class for fear of being downgraded for their views on controversial issues. This is not the environment that universities are supposed to foster. AB 501 passed the full Assembly in January.
- Assembly Bill 663 which would protect national security by restricting universities’ collaboration with certain foreign adversaries. Two national security experts testified on some of the tactics that hostile nations such as China have employed to infiltrate our universities and gain access to sensitive information. You can watch the entire hearing here. Coverage of AB 663 starts around 2hrs 28 minutes. AB 663 passed the full Assembly as well.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Tuesday is St. Patrick’s Day, and I want to wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick’s Day! The picture above is a photo features the Assembly members of the Wisconsin Irish Caucus from earlier this session.
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State Capitol Tours
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The best way to experience the beauty and grandeur of Wisconsin’s Capitol building (located at 2 East Main Street, Madison, WI 53702) is to see it for yourself. It is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free tours are offered daily, year round except on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Tours start at the information desk Monday through Saturday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m. A 4:00 p.m. tour is offered weekdays (Monday – Friday), excluding holidays, during Memorial Day through Labor Day. Plan on spending 45-55 minutes for a tour. The sixth floor museum and observation deck are open during the summer months. Groups of ten or more can make an on-line reservation for a tour of the State Capitol or call (608)266-0382.
