January 5, 2026

Legislators Return–And Bring Lots of New Bills

Legislators Return–And Bring Lots of New Bills Featured Image

Both education committees are meeting this week on a wide range of bills including everything from denying students the right to the name and pronouns they identify with, programs for recruiting more teachers, recess, dual enrollment and student safety. Hang on tight, these will be moving fast.

But first, here’s a bill we alerted you about in December.

Special Education: Bill Coming to Fix Broken Promises

A new special education bill is circulating for co-sponsorship, with a sign-on deadline of Friday, aimed at beginning to close Wisconsin’s estimated $140 million special education reimbursement shortfall. Educators have not forgotten the broken promise on special education reimbursement in the 2025-27 state budget and this new bill is one concrete way legislators can start to fix it.

  • Educators continue to raise alarms that districts are being forced into repeated referendums and cuts because state aid lags far behind what was promised.
  • Action Alert: Contact your elected officials this week. Ask them to co-sponsor and support meaningful increases in special education reimbursement.

Senate Education Committee to Meet

WEAC will be in the room Tuesday for hearings on several high-impact bills:

  • Professional Development for Science Teachers (SB 588 / AB 592). Would require school districts to partner with certain nonprofit groups to offer professional development for science teachers and provide new equipment for participating districts.
  • Human Growth & Development (SB 371). Would require schools to explain pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth as part of a human growth and development instructional program.
  • Federal Voucher Program (SB 600 / AB 602). Would direct the governor to participate in the Trump administration federal voucher program.
  • Voucher Substitute Permits (SB 526 / AB 518). Would allow individuals who hold a substitute teaching permit to substitute at voucher schools.
  • Targeting Trans Student Rights (SB 120 / AB 103). Would eliminate the right for trans students to use the name and pronouns they identify with in our schools. WEAC opposes the bill and is partnering with Fair Wisconsin and GSafe on turnout at the hearing.

Also on the Docket this Week

WEAC will provide more details after Tuesday’s hearings, along with updates on other bills moving at the Capitol. Some of the bills in the mix include bills expanding eligibility for DWD’s Wisconsin Fast Forward grants (AB 803) and creation of a council on dual enrollment (AB 582/SB 591).

Additionally, we’re watching a recess bill (AB 810 / SB 805) to require at least 60 minutes of recess and prohibit use of personal electronic devices during recess, while also prohibiting schools from withholding recess as punishment except where safety is at risk.

WEAC is closely monitoring a highly lobbied proposal to benefit Madison’s One City Schools, a privately run charter. The effort has generated concern in the public education community because of its unusually high payment level, potential cherry-picking of students and the precedent of directing more aid per pupil there than any other school in the state.

We’re also watching a bill to establish a specific felony offense and definition related to grooming (AB 676) and require DPI’s licensing portal to post more specific information about alleged misconduct related to license investigations (SB 785 / AB 795). DPI currently maintains a public revocation database, so WEAC is watching to ensure any new details protect student safety without eroding educator due process.

Additional bills address human trafficking prevention instruction in schools and new requirements for posting information for students on how to report sexual misconduct, following a new state law already requiring immediate parental notification when a student is an alleged victim.

Take Action This Week

In the spirit of a New Year, think about calling your legislators’ offices to introduce yourself as a public-school educator, ask where they stand on special education funding, teaching as a profession and other issues closest to you. If you’d like help inviting a lawmaker to visit your classroom this spring, email WEAC Communications.

When educators speak up together, we move this state. Keep watching, keep sharing your stories and keep leading for our students.