Assembly plans to hold floor session on January 13

by David Martin | Jan 7, 2026 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue

The Assembly has noticed that they are planning to hold a floor session on Tuesday, January 13 at 2:00 p.m. This will mark the first floor action of the new year and the first since November. The day will see bills of many topics come before the body including some affecting school boards and school operations. Three bills surrounding school bus safety have been noticed for floor action as well as a bill to require school boards to adopt cardiac emergency response plans for cardiac emergencies on school grounds/at school athletic events. See more on these bills below.

AB-126 / SB-136 — School bus back-up lamps.

2025 Assembly Bill 126 allows a school bus to be equipped with one back-up lamp mounted to each side of the vehicle and directed to project a white or amber light illuminating the rear wheels of the vehicle when backing.

This bill was amended in a variety of ways to further regulate the installation of these lights as well as allowing illuminated signage in the front and back of the bus. The Senate version of the bill previously passed the Senate on October 14th.

AB-394 / SB-392  — Driver education instruction related to school bus safety.

Under current law, courses of instruction for driver education must meet minimum standards to be approved by the Department of Public Instruction, in the case of school district courses; the Technical College System Board, in the case of technical college district school courses; and the Department of Transportation, in the case of courses offered by private driver schools licensed by DOT. Under this bill, all approved driver education courses must include instruction relating to student crossing, school bus lights, and when stops are required for a stopped school bus, including how requirements are affected by highway configuration.

The Senate version of the bill previously passed the Senate on November 18th.

AB-395 / SB-391 — Equipment of school buses with audiovisual recording devices.

2025 Assembly Bill 395 authorizes the use of recording devices on a school bus if the school board adopts a policy authorizing audiovisual recording, notifies students and parents, and posts a sign inside the bus. The recordings are confidential, and law enforcement and school officials may only use the recordings for school discipline, investigations, and criminal prosecutions.

An amendment to the bill allows a tribal school or private school to adopt similar policies. The Senate version of the bill previously passed the Senate on November 18th.

AB-362 — Requiring cardiac emergency response plans for cardiac emergencies that occur on school property or at school-sponsored athletic events.

Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, this bill requires each school board and operator of a charter school to have in effect a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) for cardiac emergencies that occur on school property and a CERP for cardiac emergencies that occur at school-sponsored athletic practices and competitions. Under the bill, a CERP is a written document that contains specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in a specific setting. The bill also defines the core elements of a CERP, which include 1) a cardiac emergency response team, 2) a plan for activating the team in the event of a cardiac arrest, 3) distribution of the plan, 4) the incorporation of local emergency medical services into the plan, and 5) annual requirements to practice, review, and evaluate the plan. Under the bill, a CERP for a cardiac emergency that occurs on school property must address the use of school personnel to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest event that occurs on school property. This type of CERP must 1) include the core elements, 2) provide requirements for automated external defibrillator (AED) placement and maintenance, and 3) require training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and AED usage for certain school personnel.

Under the bill, a CERP for athletic events is required only if the school board or operator of a charter school operates the high school grades. A CERP for athletic events must address the use of coaches, athletic trainers, and other school personnel to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest event that occurs while an individual is attending or participating in a school-sponsored athletic practice or competition. This type of CERP must 1) include the core elements, 2) require that an AED is clearly marked and accessible in an unlocked location at each athletic venue during practices and competitions, and 3) require that each athletic coach employed by the school be certified in CPR and how to use an AED.

The bill also requires a school board or operator of a charter school, when developing a CERP, to consider recommendations by the American Heart Association, Project ADAM, or another nationally recognized organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care. Finally, in the 2026-27 school year, the Office of School Safety in the Department of Justice may award grants for the purpose of assisting school boards and operators of charter schools to implement the CERPs required under the bill. The amount of a grant is based on the grade levels offered by the schools served by the CERPs. Under the bill, a school board or charter school is not required to comply with requirements in a CERP to place AEDs unless the OSS awards these grants.

The bill was amended in a variety of ways:

• Under the substitute amendment, a CERP does not include any requirements for AED placement.

• The substitute amendment does not require that a CERP address the placement, marking, and accessibility of AEDs at each athletic venue during practice and competition.

• The substitute amendment omits the bill’s provisions creating a DOJ grant program and further specifies that its provisions do not require a school board or charter school operator to purchase an AED.

• If the school board or charter school operator that operates high school grades places an AED in or at an athletic venue, the AED placement must be clearly marked and in an unlocked location during practice and competitions.

• Additionally, the training requirements for each athletic coach employed by the school must be created in consultation with a licensed athletic trainer or considering recommendations by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association.

• The amendment also specifies that the bill’s provisions do not prohibit a health care professional from acting within the scope of practice of that professional’s license, certificate, permit, or registration.

EXECUTIVE ACTION BY SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

AB-103 School Policies (Dittrich, Barbara)School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns. Passage recommended, 3-2 (Larson, Keyeski).  

SB-120 School Policies (Jacque, Andre)School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns. Am.1 adopted, 3-2 (Larson, Keyeski).   Passage as amended recommended, 3-2 (Larson, Keyeski).  

SB-371 Instructional Program (Felzkowski, Mary)Explaining pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth as part of a human growth and development instructional program. Passage recommended, 3-2 (Larson, Keyeski).  

AB-518 Substitute Teaching (Penterman, William)Allowing individuals who hold a substitute teaching permit to substitute teach at private schools participating in a parental choice program. Passage recommended, 3-2 (Larson, Keyeski).  

SB-526 Substitute Teaching (Jagler, John)Allowing individuals who hold a substitute teaching permit to substitute teach at private schools participating in a parental choice program. Passage recommended, 3-2 (Larson, Keyeski).  

AB-592 Teacher Development (Franklin, Benjamin)Professional development for science teachers. Passage recommended, 5-0.  

AB-602 Tax Credit Program (Rodriguez, Jessie)Participating in the federal tax credit program for contributions to scholarship granting organizations. Passage recommended, 3-2 (Larson, Keyeski).  

SB-588 Teacher Development (Jagler, John)Professional development for science teachers. Passage as amended recommended, 5-0.   Am.1 adopted, 5-0.  

SB-600 Tax Credit Program (Felzkowski, Mary)Participating in the federal tax credit program for contributions to scholarship granting organizations. Passage recommended, 3-2 (Larson, Keyeski).  

THE CAP TIMES

• Student pronoun rules face Wisconsin Senate hearing, debate