Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: Introduced Bipartisan · 2 R · 2 D cosponsors

SB 558 — Relating to: disaster assistance grants. (FE)

Last action — Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced October 22, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 13 sponsors

    1 primary, 12 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (2 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

An Act to create 323.32 of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

168 added · 253 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Senate Bill 558 has made several important changes regarding disaster assistance grants. It clarifies that individuals seeking aid must provide receipts for disaster-related expenses and specifies the type of contractors allowed for home repairs, including those certified by the Department of Safety and Professional Services. Additionally, it now prohibits individuals from receiving grants if a business associated with their residence has already received funds for the same repairs. These changes aim to streamline the application process and prevent duplication of aid, ensuring that support is fairly distributed.

→
Previous
Latest
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBs0265/1 MDE:wlj&cjs SENATE SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 558 January 15, 2026 - Offered by Senator H UTTON .
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-5154/1 JAM&MDE:cdc/wlj/skw SENATE BILL 558 October 22, 2025 - Introduced by Senators HUTTON , HABUSH SINYKIN , NASS and SPREITZER, cosponsored by Representatives K NODL , M ELOTIK , DONOVAN , TRANEL , PIWOWARCZYK , VINING, ANDRACA , JOHNSON and KREIBICH .
A N A CT to create 13.101 (18) and 323.32 of the statutes;
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs.
A N A CT to create 323.32 of the statutes;
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill requires the Department of Military Affairs to create a program to award grants to individuals and businesses that are adversely affected by a disaster that is the subject of a state of emergency declared by the governor on or after January 1, 2025.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau The bill requires the Department of Military Affairs to create a program to award grants to individuals and businesses that are adversely affected by a disaster that is the subject of a state of emergency declared by the governor on or after January 1, 2025.
Under the bill, a grant of not more than $25,000 may be awarded to an individual for the eligible disaster-related expenses incurred because of damage to the individual’s primary residence.
Under the bill, a grant of not more than $25,000 may be awarded to an individual for the eligible disaster-related expenses of fixing or replacing personal property damaged by a disaster, home repair conducted by a contractor approved by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development that is necessary due to damage from a disaster, and temporary housing assistance.
Such expenses include fixing or replacing personal property damaged by the disaster, home repair that is conducted by a dwelling contractor certified by the Department of Safety and Professional Services and that is necessary due to damage from the disaster, and temporary housing assistance.
Also under the bill, a grant of not more than $50,000 may be awarded to a business for the eligible disaster-related expenses of fixing or replacing the business’s property damaged by a disaster, repair to the business necessary due to damage from a disaster, payroll assistance, working capital, and other normal business operating expenses.
Also under the bill, a grant of not more than $50,000 may be awarded to a business for the eligible disaster-related expenses of fixing or replacing the business’s property damaged by the disaster, repair to the business necessary due to damage from the disaster, payroll assistance, working capital, and other normal business operating expenses.
“Business” is defined in the bill to mean business or financial institution authorized to conduct the activities of the business or financial institution in this state pursuant to a certificate of authority from the Department of Financial Institutions.
“Business” is defined in the bill to mean an - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRBs0265/1 MDE:wlj&cjs SECTION 1 organization conducting business in this state, including credit unions but not including other nonprofit organizations organized as nonstock corporations.
Under the bill, individuals and businesses must provide to DMA a receipt for any disaster-related eligible expenses for which they seek a grant;
Under the bill, an individual may not receive a grant if a business that operates at the individual’s residence or contiguously to the individual’s residence has been awarded a grant for repairs to the same residence.
apply for the - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-5154/1 JAM&MDE:cdc/wlj/skw SENATE BILL 558 S ECTION 1 grant in the manner determined by DMA within 90 days after the governor declares an emergency or within 90 days after the date on which the bill becomes law, whichever is later;
Conversely, a business that operates within an individual’s residence or contiguously to an individual’s residence may not receive a grant if the individual has been awarded a grant for repairs to the same residence.
and sign and provide to DMA an affidavit committing to return to DMA any part of a grant received that is duplicated by the receipt of insurance money or other source of disaster-related assistance that is not a loan awarded directly by the federal government.
Under the bill, individuals and businesses must provide to DMA a receipt or other documentation, as determined by DMA, for any disaster-related eligible expenses for which they seek a grant and sign and provide to DMA an affidavit committing to return to DMA any part of a grant received that is duplicated by the receipt of insurance money or other source of disaster-related assistance that is not a loan awarded directly by the federal government.
Additionally, no grants for individuals or businesses may be awarded if the president of the United States has declared a major disaster to exist in this state and federal aid is made available to individuals and businesses in a manner similar to the grant program under this section.
An individual must apply for the grant in the manner determined by DMA by the later of the following:
DMA must process applications for grants and award to qualified individuals and businesses a grant within 14 days of the individual’s or business’s application for the grant.
1) within days after a determination is made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to not provide aid to the individual for the disaster-related expenses, if applicable;
2) within 90 days after the governor declares an emergency if the disaster-related damages do not meet the minimum qualifications for individual federal aid;
or 3) within 90 days after the date on which the bill becomes law.
A business must apply for the grant in the manner determined by DMA within 90 days after the governor declares an emergency or within 90 days after the date on which the bill becomes law, whichever is later.
Additionally, no grants for individuals or businesses may be awarded if the president of the United States has declared a major disaster to exist in this state and federal aid is made available to individuals and businesses in a manner similar to the grant program under the bill.
DMA must process applications for grants and award to qualified individuals and businesses a grant within 30 days of the individual’s or business’s application for the grant.
The bill creates 2.0 project positions to establish the program under the bill and 1.0 FTE position to administer the program under the bill.
The bill allows DMA to request supplemental funding from the Joint Committee on Finance in any year in which DMA estimates or concludes that it needs additional funding in order to award grants relating to all eligible requests it receives.
The bill allows DMA to request supplemental funding and additional temporary FTE positions from the Joint Committee on Finance in any year in which DMA estimates or concludes that it needs additional funding in order to award grants relating to all eligible requests it receives.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
If JCF receives such a request, it must hold a meeting as soon as practical after receiving the request to consider the request.
Additionally, under the bill, DMA may submit a request for approval to JCF under passive review to transfer any amount appropriated for a grant program under the bill for use for another grant program under the bill.
13.101 (18) of the statutes is created to read:
- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRBs0265/1 MDE:wlj&cjs SECTION 1 13.101 (18) If the department of military affairs requests that the joint committee on finance supplement an appropriation account under s.
323.32 (5) (c) 1.
or create, on a temporary basis, a portion of a position, as defined in s.
230.03 (11), under s.
323.32 (5) (c) 2., the joint committee on finance shall hold a meeting as soon as practicable after receiving the request to consider the request.
SECTION 2.
(1) D EFINITION.
(1) D EFINITIONS .
(a) “Business” means an organization conducting business in this state.
(a) “Business” means a business or financial institution authorized to conduct the activities of the business or financial institution in this state pursuant to a certificate of authority from the department of financial institutions.
“Business” includes a credit union, as defined in s.
186.01 (2).
“Business” does not include a nonstock corporation organized under subchs.
I to XIV of ch.
181 or a foreign nonstock corporation authorized to transact business in this state under subch.
XV of ch.
181, except for a foreign credit union.
(b) The department of military affairs shall create a program to award grants to businesses that are adversely affected by a disaster-related state of emergency declared by the governor under s.
- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-5154/1 JAM&MDE:cdc/wlj/skw SENATE BILL 558 SECTION 1 (b) The department of military affairs shall create a program to award grants to businesses that are adversely affected by a disaster-related state of emergency declared by the governor under s.
2., the - 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRBs0265/1 MDE:wlj&cjs S ECTION 2 department of military affairs shall award grants to individuals eligible under par.
2., the department of military affairs shall award grants to individuals eligible under par.
Show all 110 changed rows (70 more)
Previous
Latest
323.10 on or after January 1, 2025, for the purpose of meeting the individuals’ disaster-related expenses incurred because of damage to the individual’s primary residence.
323.10 on or after January 1, 2025, for the purpose of meeting the individuals’ disaster-related expenses.
An individual eligible under par.
(c) may not receive a grant under subd.
1.
if a business that operates at the individual’s residence or contiguously to the individual’s residence has been awarded a grant under sub.
(4) (a) for repairs to the same residence.
3.
Expenses eligible to be met by a grant under this subsection shall be limited to, as determined by the department of military affairs, the expenses of fixing or replacing personal property damaged by the disaster, home repair conducted by a contractor that has obtained a certificate under s.
Expenses eligible to be met by a grant under this subsection shall be limited to the expenses of fixing or replacing personal property damaged by the disaster, home repair conducted by a contractor approved by the federal department of housing and urban development that is necessary due to damage from the disaster, and temporary housing assistance.
101.654 (1) (a) and that is necessary due to damage from the disaster, and temporary housing assistance.
The individual applies for the grant in a manner as determined by the department of military affairs and within 90 days after a determination is made by the federal emergency management agency to not provide aid to the individual for the disaster-related expenses, if applicable, or within 90 days after a disaster- related state of emergency is declared by the governor under s.
The individual applies for the grant in a manner as determined by the department of military affairs and within 90 days after a disaster-related state of emergency declared by the governor under s.
323.10 if the - 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRBs0265/1 MDE:wlj&cjs SECTION 2 disaster-related damages do not meet the minimum qualifications for individual federal aid, or within 90 days after the effective date of this subdivision ....
323.10 or within 90 days after the effective date of this subdivision ....
The individual provides to the department of military affairs a receipt or other documentation, as determined by the department of military affairs, for any disaster-related eligible expenses for which the individual seeks a grant.
The individual provides to the department of military affairs a receipt for any disaster-related eligible expenses for which the individual seeks a grant.
3.
- 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRB-5154/1 JAM&MDE:cdc/wlj/skw SENATE BILL 558 S ECTION 1 3.
The individual signs and provides to the department of military affairs a signed affidavit committing to return to the department of military affairs any part of the grant that is or becomes duplicated by the individual’s receipt of insurance money or other source of disaster-related assistance that is not a loan awarded directly by the federal government.
The individual signs and provides to the department of military affairs an affidavit committing to return to the department of military affairs any part of the grant that is or becomes duplicated by the individual’s receipt of insurance money or other source of disaster-related assistance that is not a loan awarded directly by the federal government.
4.
The individual is lawfully present in the United States.
- 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRBs0265/1 MDE:wlj&cjs SECTION 2 (4) GRANTS TO BUSINESSES .
(4) G RANTS TOB USINESSES.
323.10 on or after January 1, 2025, for the purpose of meeting the businesses’ disaster-related expenses for a single location in this state.
323.10 on or after January 1, 2025, for the purpose of meeting the businesses’ disaster-related expenses.
If a business eligible under par.
(c) has multiple locations in this state that may qualify for a grant under subd.
1., the business may receive a grant for each location.
3.
A business eligible under par.
(c) that operates within an individual’s residence or contiguously to an individual’s residence may not receive a grant under subd.
1.
if the individual has been awarded a grant under sub.
(3) (a) for repairs to the same residence.
4.
(b) Eligible expenses.
- 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRB-5154/1 JAM&MDE:cdc/wlj/skw SENATE BILL 558 SECTION 1 (b) Eligible expenses.
Expenses eligible to be met by a grant under this subsection shall be limited to, as determined by the department of military affairs, the expenses of fixing or replacing a business’s property damaged by the disaster, repair to the business necessary due to damage from the disaster, payroll assistance, working capital, and other normal business operating expenses.
Expenses eligible to be met by a grant under this subsection shall be limited to the expenses of fixing or replacing a business’s property damaged by the disaster, repair to the business necessary due to damage from the disaster, payroll assistance, working capital, and other normal business operating expenses.
The business is not liable for any delinquent federal, state, or local taxes.
The business has been damaged as a result of the business’s operation in a portion of the state included in the governor’s disaster-related state of emergency declaration made under s.
3.
The business has been damaged as a result of the business’s operation in a - 2026 Legislature - 7 - LRBs0265/1 MDE:wlj&cjs S ECTION 2 portion of the state included in the governor’s disaster-related state of emergency declaration made under s.
4.
2.
5.
3.
The business provides to the department of military affairs a receipt or other documentation, as determined by the department of military affairs, for any disaster-related eligible expenses for which the business seeks a grant and for which the business has incurred as a result of the disaster underlying the governor’s state of emergency declaration made under s.
The business provides to the department of military affairs a receipt for any disaster-related eligible expenses for which the business seeks a grant and for which the business has incurred as a result of the disaster underlying the governor’s state of emergency declaration made under s.
6.
4.
The business provides to the department of military affairs a signed affidavit committing to return to the department of military affairs any part of the grant that is or becomes duplicated by the business’s receipt of insurance money or other source of disaster-related assistance that is not a loan awarded directly by the federal government.
A person with a controlling interest in the business signs and provides to the department of military affairs an affidavit committing to return to the department of military affairs any part of the grant that is or becomes duplicated by the business’s receipt of insurance money or other source of disaster-related assistance that is not a loan awarded directly by the federal government.
(d) Grant limits.
- 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRB-5154/1 JAM&MDE:cdc/wlj/skw SENATE BILL 558 S ECTION 1 (d) Grant limits.
The president of the United States has declared a major disaster to exist in - 2026 Legislature - 8 - LRBs0265/1 MDE:wlj&cjs S ECTION 2 this state, and the major disaster is the same disaster that forms the basis of the disaster-related state of emergency declared by the governor under s.
The president of the United States has declared a major disaster to exist in this state, and the major disaster is the same disaster that forms the basis of the disaster-related state of emergency declared by the governor under s.
(3) (b) or (4) (b), as applicable, within 30 days after the individual’s or the business’s application for the grant or within 30 days after the completion of any necessary inspections, whichever is later.
(3) (b) or (4) (b), as applicable, within 14 days of the individual’s or the business’s application for the grant.
(b) Administration.
(b) Additional funding.
The department of military affairs may use up to 6 percent of any amount appropriated for this section for administrative costs, including funding the positions created under 2025 Wisconsin Act ....
(this act), section 3, and for information technology development, data privacy, and security.
(c) Transfer of funds.
The department of military affairs may use amounts appropriated for one grant program under this section for another grant program under this section upon approval of a request submitted to the joint committee on finance.
If, within 14 days after the date of the request, the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the department of military affairs that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the request, the request is considered approved.
If the cochairpersons notify the department of military affairs within 14 days after - 2026 Legislature - 9 - LRBs0265/1 MDE:wlj&cjs SECTION 2 the date of the department’s request that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the request, the moneys may not be used as requested unless authorized by approval of the committee.
(d) Additional funding and positions.
1.
13.101 (3) that the joint committee on finance supplement a department of military affairs appropriation account with additional funds for the purpose of making grants.
13.101 (3) that the joint committee on finance supplement a department of - 2026 Legislature - 7 - LRB-5154/1 JAM&MDE:cdc/wlj/skw SENATE BILL 558 S ECTION 1 military affairs appropriation account with additional funds for the purpose of making grants.
2.
END )
In any fiscal year in which the department of military affairs determines that it does not have sufficient position authority to administer this section, the department of military affairs may request under s.
13.101 (2) that the joint committee on finance create, on a temporary basis, a portion of a position, as defined in s.
230.03 (11), to administer this section.
S ECTION 3.
Nonstatutory provisions.
(1) P ROJECT POSITION AUTHORITY.
The authorized FTE positions for the department of military affairs are increased by 2.0 project positions to establish the grant program under s.
323.32.
The project positions authorized under this subsection shall terminate 2 years from the effective date of this subsection.
(2) FTE POSITION AUTHORITY.
The authorized FTE positions for the department of military affairs are increased by 1.0 position to administer the grant program under s.
323.32.
S ECTION 4.
Effective dates.
This act takes effect on the 30th day after publication, except as follows:
- 2026 Legislature - 10 - LRBs0265/1 MDE:wlj&cjs S ECTION 4 (1) The treatment of s.
323.32 (5) (b) and ECTION 3 of this act take effect on the day after publication.
(END )
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. Representative Palmeri added as a cosponsor

  3. Representative J. Jacobson added as a cosponsor

  4. Available for scheduling

  5. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  6. Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  7. Executive action taken

  8. Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Hutton

  9. Representative Kitchens added as a cosponsor

  10. Representative Anderson added as a cosponsor

  11. Fiscal estimate received

  12. Senator Keyeski added as a coauthor

  13. Representative Krug added as a cosponsor

  14. Public hearing held

  15. Senator Jacque added as a coauthor

  16. LRB correction

  17. Senator Wirch added as a coauthor

  18. Read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs

  19. Introduced by Senators Hutton, Habush Sinykin, Nass and Spreitzer; cosponsored by Representatives Knodl, Melotik, Donovan, Tranel, Piwowarczyk, Vining, Andraca, Johnson and Kreibich

Sponsors

  • Habush Sinykin · Cosponsor
  • Knodl · Cosponsor
  • Melotik · Cosponsor
  • Donovan · Cosponsor
  • Tranel · Cosponsor
  • Piwowarczyk · Cosponsor
  • Vining · Cosponsor
  • Andraca · Cosponsor
  • Kreibich · Cosponsor
  • Rob Hutton · Primary
  • Steve Nass · Cosponsor
  • Mark Spreitzer · Cosponsor
  • LaTonya Johnson · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 119 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (12)

Not signed on (119)

119 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 119 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

public-safety finance veterans
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 558 do?
An Act to create 323.32 of the statutes;
Who sponsors SB 558?
SB 558 is sponsored by Habush Sinykin, Knodl, Melotik, Donovan, Tranel, Piwowarczyk, Vining, Andraca, Kreibich, Hutton, Rob (Republican), Nass, Steve (Republican), Spreitzer, Mark (Democrat), and Johnson, LaTonya (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 558?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced October 22, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 558?
Track SB 558 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 558

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 558

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →