Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 359: Relating to: the minimum age of assistant child care teachers.

SB 359 sets a minimum age of 16 for assistant child care teachers in licensed Wisconsin child care centers. It requires these assistants to complete specific early childhood education training (such as two credits, a non-credit course, or an approved program) within six months of starting their role. The bill also allows trained assistants aged 18 or older to provide limited sole supervision during specific times - like opening/closing hours or naptime in full-day centers, or short periods in school-age programs - when a lead teacher is present. This directly affects child care centers hiring assistants and ensures they meet defined training standards.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 318: Relating to: a requirement for fair organizations that seek state aid.

AB 318 requires fair organizations (like county fairs, agricultural societies, or associations) seeking state aid to submit two annual reports. Within 30 days after each fair, they must file a detailed report verifying that gambling devices, most alcohol sales (except fermented malt beverages and wine), and "immoral" exhibitions were prohibited at the event. By January 31st each year, they must also submit a finance report covering receipts, disbursements, attendance, and other required details. State aid payments are tied to submitting these reports on time, ensuring compliance before funds are released.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 72: Relating to: proclaiming June 2025 as Immigrant Heritage Month.

SJR 72 is a non-binding resolution that officially designates June 2025 as "Immigrant Heritage Month" in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic proclamation to honor the contributions of immigrants to Wisconsin's history, economy, and communities. The resolution highlights that immigrants contribute significantly to Wisconsin's workforce, economy (including $1.2 billion in annual state/local taxes), and key sectors like agriculture and technology. This designation applies statewide and aims to foster unity and recognition of immigrant contributions, without altering legal status or creating new programs.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 364: Relating to: the regulation of family and group child care centers. (FE)

SB 364 updates Wisconsin's regulations for family and group child care centers. It increases the maximum number of children allowed in a family child care center from 8 to 12 and adjusts licensing fees to be paid every two years, with fees based on the number of children served (e.g., $60.50 biennially for centers serving 4-12 children). The bill also requires child care centers to provide staff training on preventing sudden infant death syndrome for infants under one year and mandates foster parents to complete approved training on caring for foster children. These changes directly affect licensed child care centers, foster parents, and kinship care providers by updating licensing rules, fee structures, and mandatory training requirements.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 317: Relating to: a Department of Children and Families program to make payments to child care programs, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 317 creates the Child Care Quality Improvement Program to provide monthly payments to certified child care providers, including licensed centers and school-based programs. It allocates $221 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and $220 million for 2026-27 from the Department of Children and Families budget. The program grants the department rule-making authority to set eligibility, payment amounts, and usage requirements for recipients. The bill repeals outdated sections of existing law and updates funding allocations for quality improvement activities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 348: Relating to: the minimum age of assistant child care teachers.

AB 348 lowers the minimum age for assistant child care teachers in Wisconsin from 17 or 18 to 16 years old, directly affecting licensed child care centers hiring these staff. To qualify, individuals must complete early childhood education training (e.g., two college credits, a department-approved course, or an approved program) within six months. The bill maintains current rules that assistant teachers may only provide sole supervision during specific times (like opening/closing hours or naptime) if a qualified child care teacher is present on-site. It does not change requirements for child care teachers themselves.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 350: Relating to: the regulation of family and group child care centers. (FE)

AB 350, introduced on July 8, 2025, by multiple state representatives and senators, aims to establish new regulations for family and group child care centers. It directly affects child care providers operating under these models by setting standards for safety, staffing, and facility requirements. The bill is currently referred to the Committee on Children and Families for further review. As introduced, it focuses on creating specific regulatory frameworks for these centers without detailing exact provisions in the provided context.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 349: Relating to: allowing certified child care operators to provide care to up to six children. (FE)

AB 349 would allow certified child care operators to provide care for up to six children, changing the current capacity limit for licensed providers. This directly affects licensed child care facilities operating under state certification. The bill amends regulatory standards to establish six as the new maximum number of children per certified operator. It applies specifically to certified settings and does not alter requirements for unlicensed care.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 190: Relating to: 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.

AB 190 modifies state public records law to allow requesters who win partial victories to recover attorney fees. Specifically, it enables fee recovery when a government agency voluntarily releases a contested record *after* a lawsuit is filed, and a court determines the lawsuit was a substantial factor in that release. This directly affects public record requesters who successfully pressure agencies to disclose documents through litigation without a full court judgment. The bill creates a clear mechanism for fee awards in these specific scenarios, avoiding the need for a formal court order on the record's disclosure.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AJR 70: Relating to: proclaiming June 2025 as Immigrant Heritage Month.

This joint resolution (AJR 70) formally proclaims June 2025 as "Immigrant Heritage Month" in Wisconsin. It recognizes the historical and ongoing contributions of immigrants to Wisconsin's culture, economy, and communities, citing statistics such as 308,000 immigrants in the state and their $13.5 billion in annual household income. The resolution does not create new laws or policies; it is a ceremonial declaration urging Wisconsinites to celebrate immigrant contributions and reject prejudice. It directly affects the public by designating a month for community recognition, with no specific groups or programs being altered or funded.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 353: Relating to: withholding state payments to the federal government if federal aid to the state is withheld under certain circumstances. (FE)

SB 353 creates a procedure for Wisconsin to pause state payments to the federal government if federal aid to the state is withheld under a presidential executive order or court order. The state secretary must calculate the lost federal aid, report it to the governor and legislature within 60 days, and then withhold up to that amount from upcoming state payments to the federal government over the next year. Payments to the federal government are restored once the withheld federal aid is fully returned. This bill directly affects state financial transactions with the federal government and applies when federal aid is blocked through specific legal or executive actions.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 355: Relating to: establishing a civil cause of action for civil rights violations.

SB 355 creates a new legal pathway for individuals whose constitutional rights (under U.S. or state law) were violated by government actors acting "under color of law" (e.g., police, officials). It allows affected people to sue for damages, injunctions, or other relief against the violating party, including government entities. The bill specifically requires courts to award reasonable attorney fees to winning plaintiffs and sets a 6-year deadline to file such lawsuits. This directly affects anyone facing rights violations by government officials, providing a clear legal remedy where none existed previously under the cited statutes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results