Assembly Bill 853 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 positions, ensuring that the total number of research positions at the university increases. Additionally, the bill stipulates that the Chancellor of UW-Madison cannot abolish these positions.

To support this initiative, the bill increases the appropriation for the Board of Regents by $200,000 for both the fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. This funding is designated for the newly created climate science research positions within the Division of Extension at UW-Madison, thereby enhancing the university's capacity to address critical issues related to agriculture and climate change.