Assembly Bill 644 proposes changes to the state aid structure for newly consolidated school districts in Wisconsin. Under current law, these districts receive consolidation aid for seven years, starting with $150 per pupil for the first five years, followed by reduced amounts in the sixth and seventh years. The bill introduces a significant increase in aid for consolidations that take effect in the years 2026, 2027, or 2028, raising the initial aid to $2,000 per pupil for the year of consolidation, while maintaining the existing aid structure for the subsequent six years.

The bill includes specific amendments to the statutes, renumbering and amending sections 117.08 (6) (a) and 117.09 (6) (a), and creating new subsections that outline the updated aid amounts. The new language clarifies that for consolidations occurring in the specified years, the increased aid will apply only in the year of consolidation, with the original aid amounts resuming in the following years. This change aims to provide greater financial support to newly consolidated districts during their transition period.