The new bill authored by State Rep. Jodi Emerson seeks to enhance mental and behavioral health services for students across the University of Wisconsin System, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “funding for University of Wisconsin System student health services and making an appropriation. (FE)”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill allocates $11 million annually for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to the University of Wisconsin System. The funding is designated for the enhancement of student health services focused on mental and behavioral health. This includes improvements in staffing, training, operations, assessment, and prevention measures. The bill aims to strengthen the mental and behavioral health services available to students across the university system, ensuring better health support and resources for the student body.
The bill was co-authored by Senator LaTonya Johnson (Democrat-6th District), Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), Representative Brienne Brown (Democrat-43rd District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), and Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), along 34 other co-sponsors.
Jodi Emerson has co-authored another 48 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
Emerson, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2019 to represent the state’s 91st Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Dana Wachs.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| AB336 | 07/08/2025 | Funding for University of Wisconsin System student health services and making an appropriation. (FE) |
