Senators introduce bill to fund immigration-related civil legal services in Wisconsin

Senate Bill 446, introduced Sept. 29, 2025, would create a state grant program to fund immigration‑related civil legal services and authorize counties to make payments to organizations that provide civil legal services to individuals and families.

Under the bill, the Department of Administration would award grants to community‑based organizations and other Wisconsin‑based organizations, whether for profit or not, ‘‘for the provision of civil legal services to individuals and families in matters related to immigration.’’ The bill directs the department to establish an accessible and equitable application process and to determine, before awarding a grant, that an applicant has a record of providing immigration‑related civil legal services and provides those services without regard to a client’s immigration status.

The bill pairs the new program statute (proposed s. 16.195) with a continuing appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (ek). The printed appropriation schedule in the bill shows $300,000 GPR for 2025‑26 and $0 for 2026‑27 for the immigration‑related civil legal services grants.

Separately, the bill amends county authority under s. 59.53 by renumbering and amending the introductory paragraph of subsection (3) and adding s. 59.53 (3) (c). The new paragraph would explicitly allow counties to appropriate funds to community‑based organizations and other organizations, whether or not operated for profit, ‘‘for the provision of civil legal services to individuals and families.’’ The county provision does not limit payments to immigration‑related matters.

The bill text includes standard legislative drafting directions and a Legislative Reference Bureau analysis that summarizes the department’s responsibilities and the county authorization. The bill does not specify programmatic award amounts per grantee, selection criteria beyond the department’s required determinations, or an implementation schedule beyond the appropriation language.

Senate Bill 446 was introduced by Senators Carpenter, Drake, Habush Sinykin, Keyeski, Ratcliff and Spreitzer and was cosponsored by a list of representatives. The bill was referred to the Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs. No floor vote or committee action is recorded in the provided text.

If enacted as written, the immediate next steps would be committee consideration; the bill text directs the Department of Administration to implement an application process and to make grant determinations if funds are appropriated.