Senate Bill 656 proposes amendments to the existing laws regarding state aid for newly consolidated school districts in Wisconsin. The bill renumbers and amends sections 117.08 (6) (a) and 117.09 (6) (a) of the statutes, creating new subsections that specifically address the aid structure for consolidations taking effect in the years 2026, 2027, or 2028. Under the current law, consolidated school districts receive $150 per pupil for the first five years following consolidation, with reduced amounts in the sixth and seventh years. The bill introduces a significant increase in the initial aid amount for the year of consolidation, raising it to $2,000 per pupil for those specific years, while maintaining the existing aid structure for the subsequent years.

The bill's new provisions include the insertion of language that specifies the increased aid amount for the school year in which the consolidation takes effect, while also renumbering the existing aid provisions to accommodate these changes. Specifically, the new language states that for consolidations in 2026, 2027, or 2028, the aid will be $2,000 per pupil in the first year, followed by the previously established $150 per pupil for the next four years. This adjustment aims to provide greater financial support to newly consolidated districts during their transition period.