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WI AB495

WI AB495
General equalization aids, supplemental hold harmless aid, the per pupil adjustment for school district revenue limits, and making an appropriation. (FE)


summary

Introduced
10/09/2025
In Committee
10/09/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Current law generally limits the total amount of revenue per pupil that a school district may receive from general school aids and property taxes in a school year to the amount of revenue allowed per pupil in the previous school year plus a per pupil adjustment, if any, as provided by law. Current law, which was upheld in LeMieux v. Evers, 2025 WI 12, provides an annual $325 per pupil adjustment until 2425. Under this bill, beginning in the 2025-26 school year, the per pupil adjustment is the per pupil increase for the previous school year as adjusted for any increase in the consumer price index. The bill also increases the amount of funding distributed to school districts as state aid through the equalization formula by $493,800,000 in the 2025-26 school year and by $699,900,000 in the 2026-27 school year. Under current law, a school district is guaranteed an amount of general equalization aid equal to at least 85 percent of the amount it received in the previous school year. The bill also provides an additional $31 million for additional aid to ensure that each school district receives total state aid in the 2025-26 school year in an amount that is no less than what it received in the 2024-25 school year. Specifically, under the bill, if the estimated total amount of state aid for a school district in the 2024-25 school year, as calculated on October 15, 2024, is greater than the estimated total amount of state aid for a school district in the 2025-26 school year, as calculated on October 15, 2025, the Department of Public Instruction must pay the school district additional state aid in an amount necessary to ensure the school district receives an amount of total state aid in the 2025-26 school year that is equal to the amount calculated on October 15, 2024. The additional aid is considered state aid for purposes of school district revenue limits. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AI Summary

This bill modifies Wisconsin's school funding system by making several key changes to general equalization aids and school district revenue limits. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, the per pupil adjustment (an amount added to school districts' revenue per student each year) will be calculated based on the previous year's increase adjusted for the consumer price index, replacing the current fixed $325 per pupil adjustment. The bill increases state funding for school districts by $493.8 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year and $699.9 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year. To protect school districts from potential funding cuts, the bill includes a "supplemental hold harmless aid" provision that ensures each district receives at least as much total state aid in the 2025-26 school year as it received in the 2024-25 school year. If a district's calculated state aid for 2025-26 is less than its 2024-25 amount, the Department of Public Instruction will provide additional aid to make up the difference. These changes aim to provide more flexible and responsive school funding that can adjust with inflation while maintaining a baseline of financial stability for school districts across Wisconsin.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (50)

Clint Anderson (D)* Deb Andraca (D)* Margaret Arney (D)* Mike Bare (D)* Jill Billings (D)* Brienne Brown (D)* Karen DeSanto (D)* Ben DeSmidt (D)* Steve Doyle (D)* Jodene Emerson (D)* Joan Fitzgerald (D)* Russell Goodwin (D)* Kalan Haywood (D)* Andrew Hysell (D)* Alex Joers (D)* Tara Johnson (D)* Karen Kirsch (D)* Renuka Mayadev (D)* Maureen McCarville (D)* Tip McGuire (D)* Vincent Miresse (D)* Supreme Moore Omokunde (D)* Greta Neubauer (D)* Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D)* Lori Palmeri (D)* Pricilla Prado (D)* Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D)* Ann Roe (D)* Joe Sheehan (D)* Christine Sinicki (D)* Lee Snodgrass (D)* Ryan Spaude (D)* Angela Stroud (D)* Shelia Stubbs (D)* Lisa Subeck (D)* Sequanna Taylor (D)* Angelito Tenorio (D)* Randy Udell (D)* Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D),  Dora Drake (D),  Jodi Habush Sinykin (D),  Dianne Hesselbein (D),  LaTonya Johnson (D),  Sarah Keyeski (D),  Brad Pfaff (D),  Melissa Ratcliff (D),  Kelda Roys (D),  Jeff Smith (D),  Mark Spreitzer (D),  Jamie Wall (D), 

Last Action

Fiscal estimate received (on 10/27/2025)

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