The new bill authored by State Rep. Nate L. Gustafson in the Wisconsin Assembly seeks to balance the distribution of school aid payments throughout the academic year, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “the timing of equalization aid payments to school districts. (FE)”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill modifies the distribution timetable of equalization aid payments to school districts in Wisconsin. Currently, aid is provided over four installments throughout the school year: 15% in September, 25% in December and March, and 35% in June. The bill proposes increasing the September payment by 2 percentage points annually and decreasing the June payment by the same until the 2029-30 school year, by which point the payments will be equal at 25% each in September, December, March, and June. This adjustment intends to create a more balanced financial distribution throughout the academic year. The changes will take effect gradually starting in the 2025-26 school year and will be fully implemented by July 1, 2030.
The bill was co-authored by Senator André Jacque (Republican-1st District), Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District), and Senator Romaine Robert Quinn (Republican-25th District), along 10 other co-sponsors.
Nate L. Gustafson has co-authored or authored another 51 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
Gustafson graduated from Fox Valley Technical College in 2018 with an AS.
Gustafson, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2023 to represent the state’s 55th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Rachael Cabral-Guevara.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| AB354 | 07/08/2025 | The timing of equalization aid payments to school districts. (FE) |
| AB277 | 05/30/2025 | Requirements for proposed administrative rules that impose any costs |
| AB245 | 05/02/2025 | Modifying the sales and use tax exemption for qualified data centers. (FE) |
| AB212 | 04/23/2025 | Registration of out-of-state health care providers to provide telehealth services. (FE) |
| AB211 | 04/23/2025 | Exempting tobacco bars from the public smoking ban |
| AB197 | 04/15/2025 | A levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE) |
| AB160 | 04/02/2025 | Eliminating daylight saving time in Wisconsin |
| AB56 | 02/24/2025 | Requiring the display of the national motto in public schools and on public buildings. (FE) |
