Senate Bill 1085 proposes the establishment of a longevity bonus program for teachers in Wisconsin school districts. Under this bill, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will provide a $7,000 bonus to teachers who have been continuously licensed and employed by a school board for five consecutive school years, starting from the 2026-27 school year. The first payments will be made in the 2031-32 school year, and teachers can receive additional bonuses for each subsequent five-year period of continuous employment, provided that these periods do not overlap. Importantly, these bonuses will not be counted as earnings for the purposes of the Wisconsin Retirement System.

The bill includes several new provisions, specifically the creation of sections 20.255 (3) (bt), 40.02 (22) (b) 15., and 115.418 in the statutes, which outline the funding and eligibility criteria for the bonuses. Additionally, it amends section 119.04 (1) to include the new section 115.418. School boards will be required to report annually to the DPI the names of teachers eligible for these bonuses, ensuring proper administration of the program.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 119.04(1), 119.04