An Act to create 20.255 (2) (bj) and 115.374 of the statutes; Relating to: grants for emergency notification systems that are accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing pupils and making an appropriation. (FE)
Summary
SB1142 creates a new state grant program within the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to help school districts install or upgrade emergency notification systems so they are accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing pupils. The bill directs DPI to award grants from a new appropriation for this purpose, and it limits each grant to no more than the amount a district actually spent on the installation or upgrade.
The bill also adds a new statutory section, 115.374, to establish the program and amends the state budget schedule to provide $1,000,000 in general purpose revenue in each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. In practical terms, the measure would support school districts in improving accessibility of alarms, alerts, and other emergency communications for students with hearing disabilities.
Impact
SB1142 would change Wisconsin law by creating a dedicated DPI-administered grant program for accessible emergency notification systems in schools and by adding a corresponding appropriation in the state budget. It affects school districts that choose to install or retrofit emergency alert systems and the Department of Public Instruction, which would be responsible for administering the grants and ensuring awards do not exceed district expenditures.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript, vote tally, or recorded floor debate, so there is no direct evidence of partisan or stakeholder sentiment. Based on the bill’s purpose, the measure appears to be a targeted school safety and accessibility proposal with an equity-focused rationale, and nothing in the provided materials indicates organized opposition or controversy.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential issues that could arise from the bill’s structure include the adequacy of the $1 million annual appropriation, whether reimbursement-only grants are sufficient to encourage upgrades, and how DPI would define and verify that a notification system is truly accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing pupils. However, these concerns are not attributed to any named legislators, districts, or advocacy groups in the record.
Crossfiled
An Act to create 20.255 (2) (bj) and 115.374 of the statutes; Relating to: grants for emergency notification systems that are accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing pupils and making an appropriation. (FE)
An Act Making Appropriations For Certain Grants-in-aid For The Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2026; Specifying Certain Procedures, Conditions And Limitations For The Expenditure Of Such Funds; Amending The Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Act; Amending The Fiscal Year 2026 One-time Supplemental Appropriations Act; And Amending Certain Statutory Provisions.
The amount and distribution of the real estate transfer fee, grants under the land information program, real property recording notification systems, and making an appropriation. (FE)