Wisconsin bill would curb foreign influence at UW campuses

Governor Tony Evers vetoed a Republican-backed bill on March 27 that aimed to restrict University of Wisconsin System partnerships with universities in countries like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and Qatar. The measure, Assembly Bill 663, passed the Assembly in January and would have barred study abroad programs, dual degrees, and research collaborations unless the UW Board of Regents proved their value and obtained federal security assessments. Evers objected to legislative overreach into university operations, calling it an undue burden on academic decisions.[2][11]

The bill emerged from a broader "SafeGuard Wisconsin" package pushed by GOP lawmakers to counter foreign adversaries' influence on state institutions, amid national security worries over intellectual property and espionage. UW officials testified that existing federal safeguards already address these risks, warning the new rules could delay research opportunities and add costly reporting requirements, including potential fines double a program's value for noncompliance. It followed UW-Madison's loss of $12 million in research funding under prior federal cuts.[1][7]

For Milwaukee residents, this veto preserves UW-Milwaukee's global research ties, vital for jobs in biotech, engineering, and health sciences that drive the local economy. Restrictions could have hampered collaborations fueling innovations at the Water Street corridor and medical research hubs, slowing growth in a city reliant on university-driven development.[1]

Lawmakers may attempt an override, though it requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers, or refile similar measures next session via the Wisconsin State Legislature.[2]