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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 1,418 In committee 1,418 Passed 1,112 Signed 1,133 Failed 8,181

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 367: Relating to: exemptions from minimum wage, overtime pay, and recordkeeping requirements for minor league baseball players.

AB 367 exempts minor league baseball players covered by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) from standard labor laws requiring minimum wage, overtime pay, and detailed recordkeeping. Specifically, it creates new exemptions in state labor statutes for players whose CBAs explicitly define their wages and working conditions. Employers are no longer required to track these players' hours or maintain standard payroll records. The bill applies only to players under such CBAs, not to all minor league athletes. This is a procedural change to labor law exemptions, not a new pay standard.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 185: Relating to: property tax exemption for nonprofit theaters. (FE)

SB 185 is a technical correction bill that updates specific dates in existing property tax exemption law for nonprofit theaters. It changes the effective date from October 1, 1990, to June 1, 1995, and adjusts the reference year from 2025 to 2026. This bill does not create new exemptions or alter eligibility rules - it only corrects administrative dates in current law. The change directly affects nonprofit theaters operating under the existing tax exemption framework. The bill was recently passed by the Senate with committee recommendations.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 356: Relating to: perimenopause and menopause education. (FE)

SB 356 requires the state department to partner with healthcare providers (including obstetricians/gynecologists) and community health centers to educate women about perimenopause and menopause symptoms, management, and related issues. The bill mandates creation of informational materials covering symptoms, treatments, biological processes, when to consult a provider, and communication strategies for family/friends. These materials - available electronically and physically - will be distributed through healthcare providers to women identified as experiencing or nearing perimenopause or menopause. The law directly affects women navigating these health transitions by providing standardized, accessible education resources.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 654: Relating to: exempting persons engaged in certain contract research services from the sales and use tax. (FE)

SB 654 exempts companies providing contract research services from state sales tax. It defines these services as research conducted for clients that would qualify as "qualified research" under federal tax rules if done in-house by the client’s own staff. The bill specifically includes research funded between corporate group members and research paid for through contract research expenses. This policy change directly affects research service providers by removing a sales tax burden on their services.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 650: Relating to: penalty enhancer for crimes committed by a person acting as an agent of a foreign government or terrorist organization with the intent to silence or punish persons for their political view, criminalizing the enforcement of foreign laws without federal or state approval, and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 650 defines "transnational repression" as actions by foreign agents targeting individuals (like activists or journalists) to silence them due to political views. It creates three key provisions: (1) requires Wisconsin's Department of Justice to develop law enforcement training, public awareness campaigns, and a reporting portal for transnational repression cases; (2) increases penalties for crimes committed as transnational repression (e.g., raising a Class B felony to a Class A felony); and (3) criminalizes enforcing foreign laws without federal or state approval, punishable as a Class E felony with a minimum 3-year prison term. The bill directly affects foreign government agents, law enforcement, and individuals targeted by transnational repression. It focuses on prevention, awareness, and stricter penalties for specific foreign interference tactics.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 400: Relating to: use restrictions on state and local government electronic devices.

SB 400 restricts state and local government employees from using official electronic devices to access social media, apps, or AI tools owned by entities based in designated "foreign countries of concern" (as defined by federal regulations). It directly affects state agencies and local governmental units (like cities, school districts, and special districts) by prohibiting non-law enforcement personnel from downloading or using these foreign-owned technologies on government-owned devices. The bill allows for limited exceptions through written waivers granted by the secretary of administration for specific work purposes. This is a policy change focused on limiting government use of foreign-owned digital tools, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Topics ✗ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 647: Relating to: fraudulent claims for unclaimed property and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 647 targets individuals who fraudulently claim unclaimed property belonging to others. It imposes civil penalties (equal to the property value) and criminal penalties (a Class I felony) for filing claims without consent to deprive owners. The bill also requires the state administrator to post penalty details online for 12 months and allows partial penalty waivers. This directly affects people who submit false claims for unclaimed funds or assets held by the state. The law updates existing statutes to clarify penalties for fraudulent claims under Section 177.12045.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 472: Relating to: required approvals of rezoning requests related to residential development, contents of and consistency of local ordinances with local comprehensive plans, certain tax incremental district project costs related to residential development, and tax incremental district lifespan extension. (FE)

SB 472 amends state statutes to require local governments (cities, towns, and counties) to include specific elements in their comprehensive plans for residential development. Key provisions mandate that plans detail current land uses, analyze trends, project future residential densities in 5-year increments, and include maps showing environmentally sensitive areas. The bill also clarifies that enacting a comprehensive plan does not automatically make it a regulation and requires ordinances affecting residential development to align with the plan's approved density standards. These changes apply to local governments engaging in residential development programs, aiming to standardize planning processes and ensure consistency between zoning decisions and long-term land use goals.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 473: Relating to: local regulation of accessory dwelling units. (FE)

SB 473 requires local governments to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per single-family lot as a "permitted use" without special permits, directly affecting homeowners in residential and mixed-use zones. Localities may still set reasonable limits on ADU size (capped at the main house's square footage), height, and setbacks, but cannot impose additional approvals for standard ADUs. The bill also prohibits new ADUs created after its effective date from being used as short-term rentals (like Airbnb), while allowing existing ADUs to remain unaffected. This standardizes ADU access across the state while giving communities flexibility to manage development.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 426: Relating to: registration of trailers used for transporting manufactured housing units. (FE)

SB 426 simplifies registration for trailers transporting manufactured housing units. It allows transporters (businesses or individuals moving these units) to use a single annual registration plate on all their trailers instead of registering each trailer separately. The plate must be displayed on the trailer and is valid for one calendar year, with a fee based on the combined weight of the unit and trailer. This directly affects companies that transport manufactured homes, modular housing, or portable buildings used for living. The bill amends existing statute to establish this streamlined registration process.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 476: Relating to: a workforce home loan program. (FE)

SB 476 modifies a state workforce home loan program to set maximum home purchase prices by county, based on annual data from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. It prohibits fees on these loans and requires qualified organizations (like approved lenders) to verify applicant eligibility using state-provided forms. The bill directly affects low-to-moderate income homebuyers seeking affordable mortgages through this program. Key changes include adding county-specific price limits to underwriting guidelines and requiring the state authority to distribute loan funds electronically. The bill is pending final passage after committee approval.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 470: Relating to: increasing the maximum fee for court costs collectible in a municipal court action. (FE)

SB 470 increases the maximum court cost fee in municipal court actions from $38 to $48 per case, applying to most matters like defaults, guilty pleas, or contested trials. It excludes specific violations, such as financial responsibility cases under section 344.62(2). The bill requires that $5 of each collected fee be paid monthly to the general fund, with the remainder retained by the municipality. This change directly affects municipal courts and residents facing court costs in local proceedings. The bill does not alter eligibility for fee waivers or other court procedures.