Assembly Bill 501 is designed to bolster free speech and academic freedom within the University of Wisconsin System and technical colleges while establishing due process standards for disciplinary actions. The bill prohibits institutions from limiting First Amendment-protected speech unless it is unlawful or disrupts the institution's operations. It eliminates the use of free speech zones, content-based security fees, and the requirement for permits for expressive activities, except under certain conditions. Additionally, the bill mandates that institutions uphold academic freedom principles, allowing faculty and students to engage in research and discourse without institutional interference. It also requires biennial surveys of students and employees regarding their First Amendment rights and annual instruction on these rights.

The bill further outlines due process protections for students and employees facing disciplinary actions that could result in expulsion or suspension, ensuring rights to legal representation and access to evidence before hearings. Institutions that violate these due process provisions more than once within five years will be required to freeze tuition for two academic years. Furthermore, individuals can pursue civil actions against the Board of Regents or technical college district boards for violations of free speech or academic freedom, with recoverable damages and costs. The bill also introduces new provisions to protect expressive activities on campus, defining actions that materially and substantially disrupt such activities and clarifying acceptable behavior in designated campus spaces.