Senate Bill 491 aims to amend various statutes related to school funding in Wisconsin, particularly focusing on general equalization aids and per pupil revenue limits. The bill proposes to repeal certain sections of existing law while creating new provisions to enhance funding for school districts. Notably, it introduces a new per pupil adjustment mechanism that ties increases to the previous year's per pupil amount adjusted for the consumer price index, replacing the current fixed adjustment of $325 per pupil. Additionally, the bill allocates significant increases in funding for school districts, with an additional $493.8 million in the 2025-26 school year and $699.9 million in the 2026-27 school year.

Furthermore, the bill ensures that each school district receives at least the same amount of total state aid in the 2025-26 school year as it did in the 2024-25 school year, providing an additional $31 million for this purpose. The Department of Public Instruction is tasked with ensuring that any discrepancies in state aid calculations between the two years are addressed through supplemental payments. The bill also includes various amendments to existing statutes, such as the adjustment of revenue limits and the repeal of outdated provisions, to streamline the funding process for educational institutions in Wisconsin.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 20.255(2)(ac), 20.255, 121.905(3)(c)6, 121.905, 121.905(3)(c)9, 121.91(2m)(j)2, 121.91, 121.91(2m)(j)3, 121.91(2m)(r)1.b, 121.91(2m)(s)1.b