Francesca Hong, Wisconsin State Representative for 76th District | www.facebook.com
Francesca Hong, Wisconsin State Representative for 76th District | www.facebook.com
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "training to address student mental health 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 mandates the inclusion of social and emotional learning in the Department of Public Instruction's training for school districts and independent charter schools, adding it to the existing strategies of screening, brief intervention, referral to treatment, trauma-sensitive schools, and youth mental health first aid. It allocates an additional $500,000 for these trainings in each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. The effective date is set for the day following publication or two days after the 2025 biennial budget act publication, whichever is later.
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 Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), and Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District), along 31 other co-sponsors.
Francesca Hong has co-authored or authored another 33 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
Hong, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2021 to represent the state's 76th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Chris Taylor.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB337 | 07/08/2025 | Training to address student mental health and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB57 | 02/24/2025 | Requirements concerning assistance in the detention of individuals who are or are alleged to be not lawfully present in the United States |
| AB48 | 02/17/2025 | Providing state aid to reimburse public and private schools that provide free meals to all pupils for the costs of those meals and making an appropriation. (FE) |
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