Patrick Testin, Wisconsin State Senator for 24th District | www.facebook.com
Patrick Testin, Wisconsin State Senator for 24th District | www.facebook.com
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "a pilot school-centered mental health program. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes a pilot school-centered mental health program in Wisconsin for the 2025-27 biennium, requiring the Department of Health Services (DHS) to allocate funds to a provider to implement the program in two schools—one in a rural district and another in a suburban or urban district. The program aims to support at-risk pupils and families with full-time therapist and family coach positions, offering services year-round at school, home, and in the community. It includes evidence-based therapy, family coaching aligned with therapeutic goals, classroom observations for behavior interventions, and school staff training. The provider must submit a report on the program's impact on pupils and families within six months after the two-year period, and DHS is required to forward the report to the legislature. The program is designed to enhance behavioral health resources at participating schools and measure improvement in social determinants of health and mental health symptoms.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Calvin T. Callahan (Republican-35th District), and Representative Bob G. Donovan (Republican-61st District), along four other co-sponsors.
Patrick Testin has authored or co-authored another 37 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with one of them being enacted.
Testin graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point in 2011 with a BS.
Testin, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2017 to represent the state's 24th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Howard Marklein.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB245 | 05/09/2025 | A pilot school-centered mental health program. (FE) |
| SB231 | 04/29/2025 | Creating a tax credit for expenses related to film production services and for capital investments made by a film production company, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB229 | 04/29/2025 | Transferring adjudicatory functions for worker’s compensation from the Division of Hearings and Appeals in the Department of Administration to the Department of Workforce Development. (FE) |
| SB204 | 04/16/2025 | Creating a video game production tax credit and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB190 | 04/14/2025 | Ratification of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact. (FE) |
| SB173 | 04/03/2025 | Creating a rural creative economy development grant program. (FE) |
| SB164 | 03/27/2025 | Use of certified seed potatoes in planting potatoes and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB156 | 03/26/2025 | Requiring first responders to be trained to administer epinephrine delivery systems. (FE) |
| SB152 | 03/21/2025 | Financial eligibility for the Alzheimer’s family and caregiver support program. (FE) |
| SB113 | 03/07/2025 | A transition to grazing pilot program and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB96 | 03/07/2025 | Exempting certain electric vehicle charging stations located at a residence from the electric vehicle charging tax. (FE) |
| SB71 | 02/26/2025 | Ratification of the Dietitian Licensure Compact. (FE) |
| SB68 | 02/24/2025 | The prescription drug monitoring program. (FE) |
| SB24 | 02/05/2025 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in, and the lifespan of, a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Middleton. (FE) |
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