Dora Elizabeth Drake, Wisconsin State Senator for 4th District | Facebook
Dora Elizabeth Drake, Wisconsin State Senator for 4th District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "grants for prospective school social workers, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to implement a grant program for prospective school social workers, specifically targeting individuals from racial minority groups. Eligible candidates must be either employees of a school board or enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program leading to a school social worker license. The program aims to cover the educational costs necessary for licensure. An allocation of $5 million annually for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years will support the grants, and the department is permitted to create rules to administer the initiative. The bill takes effect the day after publication or on the second day following the publication of the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Robyn Vining (Democrat-13th District), Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District), Senator Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District), Senator Chris Larson (Democrat-7th District), Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), and Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), along 25 other co-sponsors.
Dora E. Drake has authored or co-authored another 50 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
Drake graduated from Marquette University in 2015 with a BA.
Drake, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2024 to represent the state's 4th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Lena Taylor.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB346 | 06/27/2025 | Grants for prospective school social workers, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB187 | 04/14/2025 | Study of guaranteed employment grant program and making an appropriation. (FE) |
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