Robyn Vining, Wisconsin State Representative for 13th District | Official Website
Robyn Vining, Wisconsin State Representative for 13th District | Official Website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "grants to hire school mental health professionals who are members of a racial minority group, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to establish and manage a grant program for school districts to hire school mental health professionals from racial minority groups. It defines a racial minority group to include individuals who are Black American, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Hispanic, or of Asian or Pacific Island origin, as well as those with multiracial ancestry. The bill allocates $5 million for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years for these grants. The department is granted rule-making authority to implement the program, and the act will take effect the day after publication or the second day after the publication of the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
The bill was co-authored by Senator LaTonya Johnson (Democrat-6th District), Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), Representative Brienne Brown (Democrat-43rd District), Representative Ryan M. Clancy (Democrat-19th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), and Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District), along 25 other co-sponsors.
Robyn Vining has co-authored or authored another 55 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
Vining graduated from James Madison University in 1999 with a BA and again in 1999 from James Madison University with a BS.
Vining, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 13th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Tom Michalski.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB342 | 07/08/2025 | Grants to hire school mental health professionals who are members of a racial minority group, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB341 | 07/08/2025 | Grants for prospective school social workers, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB340 | 07/08/2025 | Payment for school medical services. (FE) |
| AB339 | 07/08/2025 | Aid for comprehensive school mental health services and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB338 | 07/08/2025 | Coverage of treatment for mental health or substance use disorders under health insurance policies and plans |
| AB337 | 07/08/2025 | Training to address student mental health and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB336 | 07/08/2025 | Funding for University of Wisconsin System student health services and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB335 | 07/08/2025 | Stipend payments for school social worker interns and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB334 | 07/08/2025 | Requiring bicycle and pedestrian facilities in highway projects and granting rule-making authority. (FE) |
| AB316 | 07/08/2025 | Grants for LGBTQIA+ rights training for school counselors and school social workers and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB98 | 03/03/2025 | Pupils wearing traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event |
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