Rob Swearingen, Wisconsin State Representative of 34th District | Facebook
Rob Swearingen, Wisconsin State Representative of 34th District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "local grant writing and compliance assistance. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill requires the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to establish a program from 2026 through 2029 that provides grants of up to $5,000 to political subdivisions with populations under 7,500 for grant writing and compliance assistance. These grants are to support applications related to public works, transportation infrastructure, public safety, utility costs, and cybersecurity. The program mandates the use of a simple, accessible application process that considers factors like applicant identity, contact information, and project specifics. It prioritizes subdivisions that have not received previous grants under this initiative. The department must report on the program’s efficacy by Dec. 31, 2028.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Howard L. Marklein (Republican-17th District), Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), Representative Calvin T. Callahan (Republican-35th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Jesse L. James (Republican-23rd District), and Senator Brad Pfaff (Democrat-32nd District), along 14 other co-sponsors.
Rob Swearingen has authored or co-authored another 17 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
Swearingen, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2013 to represent the state's 34th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Dan Meyer.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB326 | 07/08/2025 | Local grant writing and compliance assistance. (FE) |
| AB308 | 06/06/2025 | Prohibiting funding for health services for unlawfully present individuals. (FE) |
| AB284 | 05/30/2025 | Enumeration of projects in the Authorized State Building Program, modifications to building program project budgets, selection of project architects and engineers, single prime contracting, agency cooperation with energy conservation contractors, timeline for claims before the Claims Board, and making a transfer to the state building trust fund. (FE) |
| AB190 | 04/15/2025 | Obtaining attorney fees and costs under the state’s public records law when an authority voluntarily or unilaterally releases a contested record after an action has been filed in court |
| AB131 | 03/13/2025 | Programs and requirements to address PFAS |
| AB130 | 03/13/2025 | Exempting certain persons from PFAS enforcement actions under the spills law. (FE) |
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