Jeffrey E. Smith, Wisconsin State Senator 31st District | Official Website
Jeffrey E. Smith, Wisconsin State Senator 31st District | Official Website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "the veterans housing and recovery program 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, the bill allocates additional funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs to aid the veterans housing and recovery program. It provides $900,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $1.05 million for fiscal year 2026-27. The increased funds are intended for enhancing supplies and service costs across the program's three locations: Chippewa Falls, Green Bay, and Union Grove. Additionally, the funds will address costs associated with leasing a new facility for the Chippewa Falls-based program due to space and facility deficiencies at the current location.
The bill was co-authored by Rep. Jodi Emerson (Democrat-91st District), Sen. Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Sen. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Sen. Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), and Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District). It was co-sponsored by Rep. Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Rep. Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), and Rep. Brienne Brown (Democrat-43rd District), along with 32 other co-sponsors.
Jeff Smith has co-authored or authored another 54 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with one of them being enacted.
Smith, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2019 to represent the state's 31st Senate district, replacing previous state senator Kathleen Vinehout.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB385 | 08/11/2025 | The veterans housing and recovery program and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB294 | 05/30/2025 | Labeling plants as beneficial to pollinators. (FE) |
| SB293 | 05/30/2025 | Native prairie and forage plants |
| SB292 | 05/30/2025 | Local regulation of pesticides to protect pollinators |
| SB261 | 05/20/2025 | Certain limitations on claiming the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit. (FE) |
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