Assembly Bill 579 establishes a new tuition promise grant program within the University of Wisconsin System, aimed at providing financial assistance to eligible students. The program will offer last-dollar grants to cover the gap between any external scholarships or grants and the total cost of tuition and segregated fees for students enrolled in on-campus programs at institutions other than UW-Madison. To qualify, students must be new incoming students pursuing their first bachelor's degree, with a household federal adjusted gross income of $71,000 or less. The grants will be available for up to eight consecutive semesters for incoming freshmen and four consecutive semesters for transfer students, excluding summer terms.

The bill also grants the Board of Regents the authority to create rules for the implementation and administration of the grant program. It specifies eligibility criteria, including residency requirements and academic standards, and outlines conditions under which grants may not be awarded, such as failure to register for selective service or being listed on the statewide support lien docket without an approved payment agreement. The funding for the program will be appropriated under a new section of the statutes, ensuring financial resources are allocated for this initiative.