Wisconsin Senate Bill SB352

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/27/25
• Refer: 6/27/25
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to create 20.255 (2) (dv) and 115.369 of the statutes; Relating to: grants to hire school mental health professionals who are members of a racial minority group, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

Summary

SB352 would create a new state grant program administered by the Department of Public Instruction to help school districts hire school mental health professionals who are members of a racial minority group. The bill defines “member of a racial minority group” to include Black Americans, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Hispanics, Asian or Pacific Island individuals, and people whose ancestry includes two or more races. The bill also appropriates $5 million in general purpose revenue in each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 for these grants. It authorizes DPI to promulgate rules to implement the program and adds the new grant funding to the state aid schedule for public instruction. The act would take effect after publication, or after the 2025 biennial budget act is published, whichever is later.

Impact

SB352 would amend Wisconsin statutes by creating s. 115.369 and a corresponding appropriation line in s. 20.255 (2) (dv). In practical terms, it would direct state education funds to school districts for hiring school mental health professionals from specified racial minority groups, while giving DPI rulemaking authority to administer the program. The bill would affect school districts seeking grant funding, the Department of Public Instruction, and the hiring pipeline for school-based mental health staff.

Sentiment

The available context shows the bill was introduced with a sizable group of Democratic senators and representatives as cosponsors, suggesting support among its sponsors for targeted investment in school mental health staffing and workforce diversity. However, there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided material, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the record here. The bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, indicating it did not advance to enactment.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the bill’s race-conscious hiring and grant design, which limits eligibility to mental health professionals who are members of specified racial minority groups. Supporters would likely view the measure as a way to improve student mental health services and increase representation in school staffing, while critics could question whether the program is the best use of state funds or whether the racial eligibility criteria are appropriate. Because no committee discussion or vote record is provided, the specific arguments for or against the bill are not documented in the supplied materials.