Wisconsin University Appointment and Faculty Governance Bill Vetoed

Wisconsin Legislative Events

Published April 3rd, 2026

Detected April 4th, 2026

Summary

Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB757 was vetoed by Governor Tony Evers on April 3, 2026. The bill would have modified Wisconsin statutes governing appointment of certain University of Wisconsin System employees and faculty governance under sections 36.09 and 36.17. Despite passing both chambers (Assembly 53-45, Senate rejected substitute amendment 18-15), the veto prevents any changes to university personnel appointment authority.

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What changed

Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB757, which would have amended sections 36.09 and 36.17 of Wisconsin state statutes, was vetoed by Governor Tony Evers on April 3, 2026. The bill had passed the Assembly on February 12, 2026 (53-45) and the Senate rejected a substitute amendment on March 17, 2026 (18-15). The legislation would have created new provisions regarding appointment of certain UW System employees and modified faculty governance structures.

Since the bill was vetoed, no regulatory changes will take effect. The University of Wisconsin System and its employees will continue operating under existing statutes 36.09 and 36.17. No compliance actions are required as the legislation did not become law. Educational institutions and employers within the UW System are not subject to any new obligations as a result of this veto.

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Wisconsin / AB757 Vetoed AB757 Assembly Bill Vetoed 2026-04-03

The appointment of certain employees of the University of Wisconsin System and faculty governance.

An Act to renumber and amend 36.09 (4); to amend 36.09 (1) (e), 36.09 (1) (em), 36.09 (4m), 36.17 (1) and 36.17 (2); to create 36.09 (3) (c), 36.09 (4) (a) and (c) 2. and 36.17 (3) and (4) of the statutes; Relating to: the appointment of certain employees of the University of Wisconsin System and faculty governance.

Bill Details

State Wisconsin

Session 2025-2026 Regular Session

Chamber House

Official Source docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/re...

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Action History

2026-04-03 A Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-3-2026 2026-04-02 A Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026 2026-03-26 A Report correctly enrolled on 3-26-2026 2026-03-18 A Received from Senate concurred in 2026-03-17 S Ordered immediately messaged 2026-03-17 S Read a third time and concurred in 2026-03-17 S Rules suspended to give bill its third reading 2026-03-17 S Ordered to a third reading 2026-03-17 S Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15 2026-03-17 S Read a second time 2026-03-17 S Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senators Larson, Hesselbein, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Habush Sinykin, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Roys, Smith, Spreitzer, Wall and Wirch 2026-03-16 S Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1) 2026-03-09 S Available for scheduling 2026-03-09 S Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2 2026-03-09 S Executive action taken 2026-03-04 S Public hearing held 2026-02-16 S Read first time and referred to committee on Universities and Technical Colleges 2026-02-13 S Received from Assembly 2026-02-12 A Ordered immediately messaged 2026-02-12 A Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 45 2026-02-12 A Rules suspended 2026-02-12 A Ordered to a third reading 2026-02-12 A Assembly Substitute Amendment 4 adopted 2026-02-12 A Assembly Substitute Amendment 4 offered by Representative Piwowarczyk 2026-02-12 A Read a second time 2026-02-12 A Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Bare 2026-02-12 A Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Snodgrass 2026-02-12 A Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Johnson 2026-02-10 A Placed on calendar 2-12-2026 by Committee on Rules 2026-02-10 A Referred to committee on Rules 2026-02-10 A Report passage recommended by Committee on Colleges and Universities, Ayes 7, Noes 4 2026-02-10 A Executive action taken 2026-01-29 A Representatives Murphy and Brill added as coauthors 2026-01-28 A Public hearing held 2025-12-22 A Representative Knodl added as a coauthor 2025-12-17 A Read first time and referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities 2025-12-17 A Introduced

Votes

2026-02-12 Assembly: Read a third time and passed Yea: 53 Nay: 45 2026-03-17 Senate: Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected Yea: 18 Nay: 15

Committee Referrals

2025-12-17 A Colleges and Universities 2026-02-10 A Rules 2026-02-16 S Universities and Technical Colleges

Amendments

2026-02-12 Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 2026-02-12 Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 2026-02-12 Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 2026-02-12 Assembly Substitute Amendment 4 2026-03-17 Senate Substitute Amendment 1