Senate Bill 855 mandates the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to allocate funding for two full-time equivalent research positions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specifically focused on agriculture and climate change. These positions are to be filled using currently vacant, authorized full-time equivalent positions and must contribute to an overall increase in the total number of research positions at the university. Additionally, the bill stipulates that the Chancellor of UW-Madison cannot abolish these positions.

To support this initiative, the bill includes a fiscal provision that increases the appropriation for the Board of Regents by $200,000 for both the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years. This funding is designated for the newly created climate science research positions, ensuring that the university has the necessary resources to enhance its research capabilities in the critical area of agriculture and climate change.