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Wisconsin Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 12,159 Active 1,478 In committee 1,471 Passed 998 Signed 1,132 Failed 8,245

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 706: Relating to: equalized value calculations, project costs, and local levy limits relating to tax incremental districts. (FE)

AB 706 modifies Wisconsin's tax increment district (TID) rules by reducing the local tax base limit from 18% to 12% of a city's total taxable value for certain districts. It restricts residential use in mixed-use TID projects to 35% of the district area and expands allowable TID spending to include park development costs. These changes directly affect cities and towns operating TIDs by altering how they calculate tax base limits and fund eligible projects. The bill aims to clarify TID management while controlling tax impacts on non-district areas.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 719: Relating to: replacing the expenditure restraint incentive program with a municipality payment program and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 719 replaces Wisconsin's existing "expenditure restraint incentive program" with a new "municipality payment program" that guarantees annual payments to eligible municipalities. The bill directly affects municipalities that received payments under the old program in 2024, 2025, or 2026, ensuring they receive each year a payment equal to their highest historical amount from those three years. Key provisions include creating a new payment account in the local government fund, setting payment schedules for July and November, and phasing out the old program after 2026 (effective July 2027). This change provides long-term budget certainty for municipalities while modifying the state's funding mechanism.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 696: Relating to: equalized value calculations, project costs, and local levy limits relating to tax incremental districts. (FE)

SB 696 amends Wisconsin's rules for tax incremental districts (TIDs), which local governments use to finance development projects through future property tax revenues. It reduces a 12% tax levy limit to 5% for the town of Cable, adds park development costs to eligible project expenses, and adjusts how property value increases are calculated after TID termination. These changes directly affect cities and towns operating TIDs by altering how they determine tax levy limits and what projects qualify for TID financing. The bill simplifies calculations for property value increments and ensures consistent application of levy limits across districts.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 683: Relating to: an appropriation for refundable long-term care insurance assessment credits and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 683 allocates state funds to cover refundable tax credits for long-term care insurance assessments. It directly affects Wisconsin residents who purchase qualifying long-term care insurance policies by enabling them to receive tax refunds for premiums paid. The bill specifies that funds from "Schedule A" will cover payments under several statutes (71.07, 71.28, 71.47, and 76.633) related to these credits. This is a fiscal appropriation bill, not a new policy, ensuring existing credit programs have dedicated funding. The measure requires legislative action to appropriate the funds but does not change eligibility or credit amounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 723: Relating to: income tax credits for beginning farmers and owners of farm assets and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 723 creates a new 5% income tax credit for beginning farmers and owners of agricultural assets in Wisconsin. Beginning farmers receive a credit equal to 5% of lease payments or purchase prices paid for agricultural assets (including land improvements), while asset owners get 5% of lease payments received from beginning farmers. The credit is limited to the first three years of a lease, capped at $75,000 per taxable year, and requires a certificate of eligibility. It applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026, and affects individual taxpayers (not partnerships or corporations directly). The bill also establishes a dedicated funding appropriation for unused credits.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 751: Relating to: the appointment of certain employees of the University of Wisconsin System and faculty governance.

SB 751 modifies how the University of Wisconsin System appoints leaders and governs faculty roles. It removes requirements that only tenured faculty or those with the highest academic degrees could be considered for positions like chancellor, dean, or department chair. The bill also expands faculty and academic staff input in governance, ensuring non-tenured faculty and academic staff with teaching/research roles can participate equally. These changes directly affect all UW System leadership appointments and institutional governance processes across the university system.

Topics ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 694: Relating to: providing certain municipalities with additional supplemental county and municipal aid and establishing a Shared Revenue Advisory Council. (FE)

SB 694 establishes a Shared Revenue Advisory Council to study and recommend improvements to how state aid is distributed to counties and municipalities. The council, composed of legislative leaders, municipal/town/county association representatives, and the revenue secretary, will analyze population, property value, and revenue data to evaluate current aid formulas. It requires the council to recommend a new distribution formula for 2027 and beyond that maintains or increases aid for all jurisdictions, while accounting for population changes and property value declines. The bill also sets a baseline funding level of $16,257,500 for supplemental aid in fiscal year 2026-27, with annual adjustments based on tax revenue changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 706: Relating to: the sales and use tax exemption for personal farm property or household goods sold by auction on the Internet. (FE)

SB 706 modifies Wisconsin's sales tax exemption for personal farm property or household goods sold at auction, limiting the exemption to five or fewer auction events per year. The bill defines an "auction event" as consecutive days of bidding (including online), regardless of whether the property is physically located at one or multiple sites. It specifically applies to auctions conducted by licensed auctioneers, clarifying that "location" means a single building or store in shopping centers. This change directly affects auctioneers and sellers of farm equipment or household items who use online bidding platforms. The law creates new definitions for "auctioneer" and "location" to standardize the exemption rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 707: Relating to: replacing the expenditure restraint incentive program with a municipality payment program and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 707 replaces Wisconsin's existing "expenditure restraint incentive program" with a new "municipality payment program" that guarantees ongoing funding for eligible municipalities. It directly affects cities and towns that received payments under the old program in 2024, 2025, or 2026, ensuring they receive annual payments equal to their highest prior-year amount starting in 2027. Key provisions include ending the old program after 2026 (via Section 79.05(8)), creating a new payment structure (Section 79.06), and adjusting payment schedules for 2026-2027. The bill makes a specific appropriation to fund this transition, with most changes effective July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 767: Relating to: eligibility for the Transform Milwaukee Jobs program and the Transitional Jobs program. (FE)

SB 767 changes eligibility rules for Milwaukee's Transform Milwaukee Jobs and Transitional Jobs programs. It requires applicants to not have filed for unemployment insurance benefits or to be ineligible for such benefits. This directly affects job seekers in Milwaukee who have recently applied for or been denied unemployment benefits. The bill amends statute 49.163(2)(am)5 to add this requirement, making it a concrete policy change for program access. The bill is currently pending in committee review after introduction in December 2025.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 794: Relating to: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2025-26 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE)

SB 794 ratifies a labor agreement negotiated between the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee for the 2025-26 fiscal year. It directly affects building trades crafts workers (excluding those at UW-Madison) covered under collective bargaining. The bill authorizes funding from existing appropriations to implement the agreement, which was approved by employees and recommended by the joint committee on employment relations. The Board of Regents must file a certified copy of the agreement with the Secretary of State.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 735: Relating to: online clearinghouse of information for small businesses in Wisconsin. (FE)

AB 735 creates a centralized online clearinghouse for Wisconsin small businesses, requiring the state Department to compile and publish key information on a single website. The clearinghouse will include details on government contract bidding opportunities, economic development programs, business training/events, licensing/permit requirements, and tax/fee obligations from state and local agencies. This bill directly affects Wisconsin small businesses by making it easier to access government resources and compliance information in one place. The clearinghouse will be coordinated with agencies like the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Revenue.