Identity of Speakers
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Wisconsin State Legislature
Unaffiliated
OtherBicameral legislative branch of the state government of Wisconsin, responsible for making state laws.
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
State Campus Free Speech Act
Other
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
On February 12, 2026, the Wisconsin Legislature passed Senate Bill 498, the campus free speech bill, along party lines, and sent it to Governor Tony Evers for his signature. The bill required University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges to uphold students’ and faculty members’ First Amendment rights, prohibited “free speech zones,” and barred permit or security fee requirements that would limit lawful expression. It mandated that campuses establish clear due process procedures for disciplinary actions related to speech, protect students or faculty who objected to curricular content on religious or political grounds, and publicly post free speech policies and procedures. Campuses that repeatedly violated the standards could face tuition freezes or reductions in state funding. The bill also prohibited race-based criteria for certain state scholarships and admissions programs.
SB 498 had been introduced on October 21, 2025, alongside its companion Assembly bill, AB 501, which carried the same provisions in the Assembly. Supporters said the legislation ensured students could freely express their views without fear of administrative retaliation and reinforced constitutional rights on campuses. Critics, including faculty and civil liberties advocates, argued that existing policies already protected academic freedom and that the additional statutory requirements and penalties could create administrative and legal complications for universities.
During the legislative process, on January 6, 2026, Governor Evers indicated he would veto the campus free speech bills if they reached his desk, describing the legislation as a solution that did not address underlying issues.
