Senate Bill 854 aims to enhance county conservation efforts in Wisconsin by focusing on climate change resiliency. The bill amends existing statutes to allow funding for county conservation staff specifically dedicated to climate change initiatives. It introduces a new section, 20.115 (7) (f), which allocates $1,800,000 in General Purpose Revenue (GPR) for this purpose. Counties seeking this funding must indicate their focus on climate change in their annual grant requests, as specified in the amended language of 92.14 (5r).

Additionally, the bill creates a new subsection, 92.14 (3) (am), which explicitly allows for the hiring of county land conservation personnel who primarily focus on climate change and resiliency efforts. The amendments to 92.14 (3) (intro.) and (5r) ensure that grant requests from land conservation committees include a clear statement regarding any funding requests for climate change personnel. This legislative effort reflects a commitment to addressing climate challenges at the county level through dedicated staffing and resources.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 92.14(3)(intro.), 92.14, 92.14(5r)