Robert G. Donovan, Wisconsin State Representative for 81st District | Official Website
Robert G. Donovan, Wisconsin State Representative for 81st District | Official Website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "small law enforcement agency grant pilot program. (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 Department of Administration to implement a pilot program offering grants to small law enforcement agencies, defined as those employing 25 or fewer full-time equivalent nonsupervisory officers, to cover training costs for new officers. Agencies can apply if facing a 20% vacancy rate or when an officer is set to leave within six months. Grants fund both pre-service training and on-the-job costs for up to six months. Trainees must commit to one-year service post-training, with a prorated repayment required if they leave prematurely. The program ends 18 months after exhausting its funding.
The bill was co-authored by Sen. Jesse L. James (Republican-23rd District), Rep. Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), Rep. Brienne Brown (Democrat-43rd District), Rep. Calvin T. Callahan (Republican-35th District), and Rep. Ben DeSmidt (Democrat-65th District). It was co-sponsored by Sen. Brad Pfaff (Democrat-32nd District), Sen. Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District), and Sen. Mark Spreitzer (Democrat-15th District), along with 23 other co-sponsors.
Bob G. Donovan has co-authored or authored another 75 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Donovan graduated from St. Francis De Sales Seminary and again from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee.
Donovan, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 61st Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Amanda Nedweski.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB360 | 07/17/2025 | Small law enforcement agency grant pilot program. (FE) |
| AB353 | 07/08/2025 | Price transparency in hospitals, restricting certain debt collection actions against patients, and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| AB300 | 06/06/2025 | A grant program for the purchase of automated registration plate reader systems. (FE) |
| AB278 | 05/30/2025 | Grants to law enforcement agencies for data-sharing platforms |
| AB250 | 05/08/2025 | Funding for the War Memorial Center and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB175 | 04/15/2025 | Requiring periodic inspections of parking structures |
| AB143 | 03/17/2025 | Allowing an unlicensed person to use a motor vehicle and providing a penalty |
| AB138 | 03/17/2025 | Jailers and protective occupation annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) |
| AB91 | 02/28/2025 | The requirement that first class cities and first class city school districts place school resource officers in schools. (FE) |
| AB85 | 02/28/2025 | Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) |
| AB78 | 02/28/2025 | Impoundment of vehicles used in certain reckless driving offenses. (FE) |
| AB77 | 02/28/2025 | Registration plate concealment devices and providing a penalty |
| AB75 | 02/28/2025 | Department of Justice collection and reporting of certain criminal case data. (FE) |
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