Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 37: Relating to: local regulation of vegetable gardens.

SB 37 prohibits local governments (cities, towns, or counties) from requiring permits or banning vegetable gardens on residential property. It defines "vegetable garden" broadly to include edible plants, flowers, and pollinator plants grown in residential plots. The bill does not stop local governments from enforcing unrelated rules like zoning, water use, fertilizer regulations, or controlling weeds/invasive species - only those specifically targeting vegetable gardens. This directly affects homeowners who grow food or flowers in their yards and limits municipal overreach into residential gardening.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 198: Relating to: various changes to the unemployment insurance law and requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of certain federally authorized unemployment benefits. (FE)

Senate Bill 198 proposes several changes to the state's unemployment insurance law. It requires the Joint Committee on Finance to approve any federally authorized increases to weekly unemployment benefits or total benefit amounts before they can be implemented by state agencies. The bill also expands the definition of employment misconduct that can disqualify individuals from receiving benefits, including new provisions related to theft of employer information or property damage, and violations of employer absenteeism or tardiness policies. Additionally, it adds a requirement for out-of-state claimants to register with their local job center website or labor market exchange.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 201: Relating to: workforce metrics. (FE)

Senate Bill 201 requires state agencies and authorities to track and report standardized performance metrics for various state-funded workforce development programs. These metrics include participants' employment rates, median earnings, and attainment of postsecondary credentials after program exit. The bill mandates that this performance data be published annually on a single, state-maintained website. Additionally, it updates requirements for employers to provide information about local workforce development resources to employees affected by business closings or mass layoffs.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 167: Relating to: possession of a firearm on school grounds by school employees and fees for licenses to carry a concealed weapon. (FE)

SB 167 allows licensed teachers to carry concealed firearms on school grounds under specific conditions. It requires schools (public, charter, private, or tribal) to adopt written policies permitting this, and exempts licensed teachers from firearm possession restrictions in school areas if their school has such a policy. The bill also adjusts concealed carry license fees: new licenses cost up to $37 (covering issuance costs), and renewals cost up to $12. These changes apply to applications submitted on the bill's effective date. The law directly affects licensed teachers, school districts, and the Department of Justice (which sets fees).

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

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

SB 230 requires physical retail stores to accept cash for in-person purchases at the point of sale, directly affecting businesses like grocery stores, pharmacies, and shops that operate from a physical location. The bill prohibits stores from refusing cash payments unless legally barred from accepting cash for specific goods or services. Violations would result in fines ranging from $200 to $5,000 per incident, enforceable by the department or district attorneys through civil penalties or court injunctions. This law applies only to face-to-face transactions at physical store locations, not online or phone sales.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 300: Relating to: a grant program for the purchase of automated registration plate reader systems. (FE)

AB 300 creates a state grant program to help local law enforcement agencies purchase automated license plate reader systems (high-speed cameras that scan plates and convert data for law enforcement use). The program requires at least half of the grant funds to go to agencies in rural areas (defined as cities/towns under 20,000 population, at least 15 miles from larger cities). Agencies must submit a spending plan to the Department of Justice for review before receiving grants, which are limited to public safety and crime prevention purposes. The bill does not apply to state-level agencies or require specific outcomes, focusing solely on funding access for local rural and urban law enforcement.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 299: Relating to: a grant program for the purchase of automated registration plate reader systems. (FE)

SB 299 creates a state grant program to help law enforcement agencies buy automated registration plate reader systems (high-speed cameras that scan license plates and convert data). The bill requires at least half of the grant funds to go to agencies in rural areas (defined as communities under 20,000 people at least 15 miles from larger cities). Law enforcement agencies applying for grants must submit a detailed spending plan for review by the Department of Justice. This program directly affects local police departments, sheriffs' offices, and tribal law enforcement in rural communities seeking to enhance public safety technology.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AJR 64: Relating to: designating June 2025 as Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month.

AJR 64 designates June 2025 as Myasthenia Gravis (MG) Awareness Month in Wisconsin. This symbolic resolution recognizes MG, an autoimmune neuromuscular disease causing muscle weakness that affects vision, speech, and breathing, and aligns with the national observance of MG Awareness Month held every June. The bill does not create new laws, funding, or services; it is a formal acknowledgment to raise public awareness about MG, which impacts approximately 10-20 people per 100,000 Americans.

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

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

Bill results