WI Legislature Passes GOP-Led Measures Protecting Campus Speech
Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin have advanced two measures designed to strengthen First Amendment protections on public college campuses and rein in additional fees tied to online coursework, sending the legislation to Democrat Gov. Tony Evers for his decision.
The first proposal, Senate Bill 498 and its Assembly companion AB 501, would prohibit institutions within the University of Wisconsin System and the state’s technical colleges from restricting lawful speech through so-called time, place, or manner rules that effectively curb expression. The Assembly approved the measure in a 53-45 vote.
Under the legislation, universities would be barred from establishing designated “free speech zones” or imposing security fees that function as financial barriers to constitutionally protected speech. The bill also carries consequences for repeat violations: if an institution is found to have infringed on protected speech multiple times within a five-year span, it could face a freeze on tuition increases for two academic years.
Supporters argue the measure simply codifies existing First Amendment obligations and ensures consistent enforcement. Critics, meanwhile, have questioned how the provisions would be implemented and whether legal challenges could follow.
A second proposal, Senate Bill 532, cleared the Assembly 53-45 and previously passed the Senate 18-15. That bill would prevent the University of Wisconsin from charging additional fees for online or hybrid courses unless administrators can demonstrate that those formats generate legitimate added costs. Backers say the change is meant to eliminate hidden expenses and reduce the financial strain on students and families.
Both measures advanced by narrow margins, reflecting a broader and intensifying debate in Wisconsin over higher education governance, student rights, and administrative accountability.
The push for stronger campus speech protections follows troubling findings from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which reported that one in three college students believe violence is an acceptable response to speech they oppose.
“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.
Concerns about campus radicalization intensified after conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated on a Utah college campus on Sept. 10. Authorities allege that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, described by relatives as having embraced radical leftist views, carried out the attack.
Robinson now faces seven charges, including six felonies: aggravated murder, multiple counts of witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. If convicted, he could face life in prison or even the death penalty. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray has formally filed notice of intent to seek capital punishment if Robinson is found guilty of the murder charge.
Last month, FBI Director Kash Patel provided an update on the ongoing investigation.
“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 in-person court appearance in mid-December after previously attending hearings via video or audio from jail. Since then, much of the case has unfolded under seal, prompting a coalition of media organizations — including Fox News — to push for greater transparency.
The group has requested advance notice whenever prosecutors or defense attorneys seek to seal filings or restrict public access, arguing that such notice would allow interested parties to challenge secrecy before it takes effect.
Roger Bonakdar, a California-based trial lawyer and legal analyst, noted that the shift toward closed proceedings has been evident since the early stages of the case, raising fresh questions about transparency in a prosecution that has captured national attention.
As debates over campus speech, rising tuition, and political violence converge, Wisconsin’s legislative action signals a broader effort by Republican lawmakers to restore constitutional guardrails in higher education — and to confront a culture that too often treats free expression as optional rather than foundational.