Wisconsin Senate passes UW research bill

MADISON (AP) — University of Wisconsin institutions could conduct classified national security research under a bill that has passed the state Senate.

Current UW System and UW-Madison policies bar researchers from performing research on campus that can't be published, prohibiting them from doing classified government work on campus.

The bill passed Tuesday would allow such work on campus as long as students' educational needs are protected and the institutions make an annual report to the Legislature's budget committee on how many classified contracts were considered.

The Assembly approved the bill in February. The Senate passed it on a voice vote Tuesday, sending the measure to Gov. Scott Walker.