Counterparts to two climate change bills previously introduced in the Wisconsin Senate have been introduced in the Assembly as well.
Assembly Bill 833, identical to Senate Bill 794, would, if enacted, "authorize the state superintendent of public instruction to adopt model academic standards related to climate change." Such standards would be required to "incorporate a) an understanding of climate, b) the interconnected nature of climate change, c) the potential local and global impacts of climate change, and d) the individual and societal actions that may mitigate the harmful effects of climate change." Assembly Bill 833 was introduced on December 22, 2023, by Sue Conley (D-District 44) along with nineteen of her colleagues in the Assembly and seven in the House, and referred to the Assembly Committee on Education.
Assembly Bill 829, identical to Senate Bill 786, would, if enacted, create a program to award "scholarships to resident students who are enrolled in an institution of higher education [in Wisconsin] and who are engaged in studies directly related to programs preparing the students for careers in occupational areas addressing or responding to climate change." The bill would provide $5 million biennially to fund the scholarships. Assembly Bill 829 was introduced on December 22, 2023, by Jill Billings (D-District 95) along with nineteen of her colleagues in the Assembly and seven in the House, and referred to the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.
With these introduction of these bills, 29 measures intended to support climate change education have been introduced in state legislatures in 2023, by NCSE's count.
