An Act to create 20.285 (1) (cm) of the statutes; Relating to: funding for University of Wisconsin System student health services and making an appropriation. (FE)
Summary
AB336 would appropriate $11 million in General Purpose Revenue in each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to the University of Wisconsin System for additional or improved student health services. The bill specifically directs the funding toward mental and behavioral health supports, including staffing, training, operations, assessment, and prevention activities.
In practical terms, the bill creates a new statutory appropriation under s. 20.285 (1) (cm) for “Additional student health services” within the University of Wisconsin System budget. It does not appear to change eligibility rules, student benefit requirements, or regulatory standards; instead, it adds state funding authority for UW System campuses to expand or enhance student mental health and behavioral health services.
Impact
AB336 would amend the state budget statutes to add a recurring appropriation line for UW System student health services, increasing state support for campus-based mental and behavioral health programming. The bill would affect the University of Wisconsin System and, indirectly, students who use campus health and counseling services. Because it creates a new appropriation in the statutes, it would alter state spending law rather than substantive health-care regulation.
Sentiment
The bill’s subject matter suggests a generally supportive policy goal focused on student mental health and behavioral health access, and its introduction by a broad bipartisan group of legislators indicates some cross-party interest in the issue. However, there is no committee transcript or recorded vote history provided here to show detailed debate, amendments, or formal support/opposition. The bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, indicating that it did not advance through the legislative process despite its funding purpose.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is fiscal: the bill would require $11 million in GPR annually for two fiscal years, which may raise questions about budget priorities, recurring state costs, and whether the appropriation should be targeted to UW System campuses or handled through other mental health initiatives. Another possible area of debate is program design—specifically, how the funds should be allocated among staffing, training, operations, assessment, and prevention—but no transcript is available to identify which legislators or stakeholders raised those concerns.
Crossfiled
An Act to create 20.285 (1) (cm) of the statutes; Relating to: funding for University of Wisconsin System student health services and making an appropriation. (FE)
Name, image, and likeness rights for University of Wisconsin System student athletes; maintenance costs for University of Wisconsin–Madison intercollegiate athletic facilities; and making an appropriation. (FE)
Name, image, and likeness rights for University of Wisconsin System student athletes; maintenance costs for University of Wisconsin–Madison intercollegiate athletic facilities; and making an appropriation. (FE)