summary
Introduced
04/14/2025
04/14/2025
In Committee
06/05/2025
06/05/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Under current law, the Department of Administration administers a service award program to provide length-of-service awards to volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical responders, and volunteer emergency medical services practitioners. This bill expands the program to provide grants to volunteer fire departments and volunteer fire companies to make training completion awards to volunteer firefighters. Under the bill, in order to receive a grant, the municipality in which a department or company is organized must have a municipal ordinance that provides a 100 percent match. The completion award for a volunteer firefighter who completes 60 hours of training is $500. The bill also requires that any money a volunteer fire department or fire company receives beyond what it expends on awards each calendar year must be returned to DOA for deposit in the general fund. Finally, under the bill, DOA is required to provide a report to the legislature in the sixth, seventh, and eighth years after the start of the program that includes the LRB-2625/1 MIM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 186 number of people who received the grant through the preceding year and the number of those people who are still firefighters in Wisconsin. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AI Summary
This bill expands an existing service award program administered by the Department of Administration (DOA) to provide grants for training completion awards to volunteer firefighters. Specifically, the bill creates a new grant program where volunteer fire departments can receive funding to provide a one-time $250 payment to volunteer firefighters who complete 60 hours of training. To be eligible for these grants, the municipality where the fire department is located must pass an ordinance providing a 100% matching payment. Any grant money a fire department receives beyond what it spends on awards in a calendar year must be returned to DOA for deposit in the general fund. The bill also requires DOA to submit reports to the legislature in the sixth, seventh, and eighth years after the program's start, detailing the number of individuals who received grants and how many are still active firefighters in Wisconsin. This legislation aims to support and incentivize volunteer firefighter training and retention by providing financial recognition for completing training requirements.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (17)
André Jacque (R)*,
Mark Spreitzer (D)*,
Cory Tomczyk (R)*,
Elijah Behnke (R),
Lindee Brill (R),
Robert Donovan (R),
Joy Goeben (R),
Russell Goodwin (D),
Brent Jacobson (R),
Dean Kaufert (R),
Dan Knodl (R),
Rob Kreibich (R),
Dave Maxey (R),
Jeff Mursau (R),
William Penterman (R),
Shae Sortwell (R),
Chuck Wichgers (R),
Last Action
Representatives Miresse, Emerson, Stroud and O'Connor added as cosponsors (on 06/24/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb186 |
| Analysis - LC Amendment Memo | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/lcamendmentmemos/2025/REG/SB186.pdf |
| SB186 ROCP for Committee on Transportation and Local Government On 6/5/2025 | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/senate/transportation_and_local_government/1923154.pdf |
| Senate Amendment 1 | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/SB186-SA1.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - SB186: Fiscal Estimate From DOA | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/fe/sb186/sb186_doa.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB186.pdf |
Loading...