Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 40: Relating to: school safety grants and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 40 establishes a competitive grant program to fund school safety improvements and security training for school personnel. It allocates $30 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year to public, private, and tribal schools, with a maximum grant of $20,000 per school. The program prioritizes schools that have not previously received similar grants under Section 165.88 and requires annual reports to the Joint Committee on Finance. Grants must be awarded by June 30, 2027, after which no new funding will be issued.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Barbara Dittrich (R) Scott Allen (R) Dan Knodl (R) Calvin Callahan (R) Rick Gundrum (R)

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 280: Relating to: interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE)

SB 280 redirects $172 million in interest earned from coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds to the general fund. It directly affects the state's budget by moving existing interest funds that would otherwise remain in the department of administration's appropriation. The bill's key mechanism is a fiscal adjustment under section 20.906(1), lapsing these funds to the general fund upon the bill's effective date. This is a procedural budget reallocation, not a new policy or program.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 231: Relating to: creating a tax credit for expenses related to film production services and for capital investments made by a film production company, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 231 creates a 25% tax credit for film production companies in Wisconsin covering eligible expenses (like wages, equipment, and location costs) and capital investments for accredited productions. It directly affects film production companies operating in Wisconsin that meet minimum spending thresholds ($50,000 or $100,000 depending on production length) and excludes news, sports, or corporate content. The bill establishes a State Film Office to administer the program, requiring accredited productions to include a state acknowledgment in the final film and mandating annual reports on credit allocations. It caps annual tax credits at $10 million statewide and $1 million per company, with strict eligibility rules and third-party audit requirements to ensure compliance.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 231: Relating to: creating a tax credit for expenses related to film production services and for capital investments made by a film production company, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 231 creates a tax credit program for film production companies in Wisconsin, providing credits for eligible expenses like wages and capital investments incurred within the state. It establishes a State Film Office within the Department of Tourism to administer the program, set accreditation standards for productions (requiring minimum spending thresholds of $50,000 for short productions or $100,000 for longer ones), and issue tax credits. The bill caps annual program spending at $10 million total and $1 million per company, mandates that accredited productions include a state acknowledgment in the final product, and requires annual reports on program usage and efficiency. This directly affects film production companies operating in Wisconsin that meet the accreditation criteria and seek to reduce costs through state tax incentives.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 230: Relating to: requiring retail sellers to accept cash and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 230 requires physical retail stores to accept cash payments during face-to-face transactions with customers. It directly affects brick-and-mortar businesses selling goods or services in person, unless other laws prohibit cash acceptance. Retailers violating this rule face fines of $200 to $5,000 per violation, or court-ordered injunctions to stop the violation. The law does not apply to online sales or situations where cash acceptance is legally restricted.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 139: Relating to: a tax credit for relocating to this state due to Hurricane Helene or the Los Angeles wildfires. (FE)

AB 139 creates a $10,000 tax credit for residents of Los Angeles County, California, or North Carolina who relocated to this state due to Hurricane Helene (2024) or the Los Angeles wildfires (January 2025). It directly affects individuals who lived in those areas before the disasters, moved to this state because of them, and filed income tax returns in LA County or North Carolina for 2022-2023. To qualify, claimants must not have a felony conviction and must file the credit within the timeframe specified in tax law. The credit applies against state income tax for taxable years 2025, up to the full amount of the tax liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 205: Relating to: serving maple syrup in a public eating place.

AB 205 creates a new statute (97.19) requiring that any product labeled as "maple syrup" served in public eating places must be made entirely of maple syrup. It directly affects restaurants and food service establishments that serve items marketed as maple syrup. The bill prohibits serving products identified as maple syrup unless they contain 100% maple syrup, while allowing non-maple syrup products to be served if they aren't labeled as maple syrup. This clarifies labeling standards for consumers and aligns with federal definitions for maple syrup.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 195: Relating to: serving maple syrup in a public eating place.

SB 195 prohibits public eating places (like restaurants) from serving any product labeled as "maple syrup" unless it consists entirely of maple syrup, as defined by federal regulations (21 CFR 168.140). The bill specifically targets mislabeling, allowing establishments to serve non-maple products only if they are not marketed as maple syrup. It directly affects restaurants and food service businesses that sell syrup-based items. The law creates a clear labeling standard without restricting other menu items. This is a straightforward regulatory measure focused on product transparency.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 58: Relating to: referendum questions for certain referenda that affect property taxes. (FE)

Senate Bill 58 modifies the information provided on ballots for certain referenda that affect property taxes. It requires these ballot questions to include a good faith estimate of the dollar amount difference a median-valued, single-family residence would experience if the referendum passes, along with the property value used for the estimate. For bond referenda, the bill also mandates the inclusion of the estimated interest rate, total interest accruing, and any fees for bond defeasance. These changes affect voters and local political subdivisions by providing more detailed financial impact information for property tax-related ballot measures.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 81: Relating to: school district operating referenda.

Senate Bill 81 modifies the process for school district operating referenda in Wisconsin. It requires school board resolutions for referenda to clearly specify if proposed excess revenue is for recurring or nonrecurring purposes, and the exact amount for each. The bill also mandates that the referendum ballot itself must state if any approved excess revenue is for a nonrecurring purpose and its corresponding amount. A key change is that only excess revenue approved for recurring purposes will be included in the base for determining future revenue limits, while nonrecurring excess revenue will not be added to this base. This affects how school districts manage their budgets and how voters are informed about these proposals.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AJR 8: Relating to: restricting the governor’s partial veto authority to only rejecting entire bill sections of an appropriation bill that are capable of separate enactment and reducing appropriations in a bill (first consideration).

AJR 8 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the governor's partial veto power on budget bills. It would prevent the governor from rejecting small parts of a bill (like single words or sentences) and require that any vetoed section must be a complete, standalone law that can function independently. The bill specifically targets appropriation bills, restricting the governor to vetoing entire sections that are capable of separate enactment. This is a proposed constitutional change, not a law, and would need voter approval to take effect. The amendment aims to reduce the governor's ability to alter budget bills through partial vetoes.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 286: Relating to: interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE)

AB 286 redirects $172 million in interest earned from unused coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds to the general state fund. It applies to funds held under specific state appropriations (section 20.505(1)(mb)) that were not spent by the deadline. The bill transfers this interest directly to the general fund on its effective date, rather than allowing it to remain in the recovery fund. This is a procedural adjustment to reallocate existing interest earnings, not a new funding program.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results