Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 478: Relating to: repealing prohibition on state and local government labor regulation. (FE)

AB 478 repeals two existing statutes (66.0134 and 947.21) that previously prohibited state and local governments from regulating labor matters. This bill directly affects state and local government entities by removing a legal barrier that prevented them from creating their own labor regulations. The key mechanism is the simple repeal of these specific statutes, allowing governments to establish rules on issues like wages, working conditions, or union practices without violating the repealed restrictions. The bill does not create new regulations but enables governments to develop their own labor policies where they previously could not.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Karen Kirsch (D) Maureen McCarville (D) Tara Johnson (D) Mike Bare (D) Christine Sinicki (D)

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 381: Relating to: perimenopause and menopause education. (FE)

AB 381 requires the state department to partner with healthcare providers (like OB/GYNs) and community health centers to educate women about perimenopause and menopause. It directs the department to create accessible informational materials covering symptoms, treatments, biological processes, when to seek care, and communication tips - distributed through healthcare providers to women identified as experiencing or nearing these stages. The materials must be available both online and in print. This bill directly affects women navigating perimenopause and menopause by providing standardized educational resources through existing healthcare channels.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 503: Relating to: the definition of hemp. (FE)

AB 503 updates the legal definition of "hemp" in state law to clarify regulatory boundaries. It establishes a 0.3% THC limit (or up to 1% under federal law) for hemp plants, explicitly excludes FDA-approved drugs, and creates new categories like "hemp-derived cannabinoid products" with restrictions on synthetic cannabinoids. The bill directly affects hemp farmers (who must meet THC testing standards), manufacturers of hemp products (who must comply with new labeling rules), and state agencies like the Department of Agriculture. Key mechanisms include requiring standardized THC testing methods and defining industrial hemp uses (e.g., stalk fiber, seed oil) separate from psychoactive products.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 508: Relating to: allowing Social Security Disability Insurance recipients to receive concurrent unemployment insurance benefits. (FE)

AB 508 repeals two sections of state law (108.04 (2) (h) and 108.04 (12) (f)) that previously prevented Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients from receiving unemployment insurance benefits at the same time. This bill directly affects individuals who qualify for SSDI but are currently unemployed and seeking unemployment benefits. The key provision removes the legal barrier forcing these individuals to choose between disability and unemployment benefits. The change would allow them to receive both types of benefits simultaneously, effective for weeks of unemployment beginning after the bill's publication.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 571: Relating to: a statewide Parkinson’s disease registry. (FE)

AB 571 creates a statewide Parkinson’s disease registry to collect and track health data on Parkinson’s disease and related conditions (like multiple system atrophy). Health care providers must report anonymized patient data - including diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, and demographics - to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for storage and analysis. The registry will generate annual public reports on disease incidence, prevalence, and trends via a dedicated website, with strict privacy safeguards (e.g., coded data, IRB-approved research access). This affects health care facilities, providers, and patients, but does not impose new costs or treatment requirements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 669: Relating to: race-based higher education programs and requirements. (FE)

AB 669 revises higher education program definitions and requirements in Wisconsin, focusing on how "disadvantaged" students are identified and supported. It prohibits the use of race, ethnicity, gender, or group identity in defining "disadvantaged" students, requiring that eligibility be based solely on economic, familial, geographic, or personal hardship. The bill updates existing programs like graduate aid grants (e.g., "Ben R. Lawton grants") and retention plans to operate without race-based considerations, while maintaining reporting requirements for financial aid distribution by student demographics. It affects public universities, technical colleges, and students applying for state-funded aid programs.

Topics ✗ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 658: Relating to: the maximum compensation for compatibility with elective offices in cities, villages, and towns. (FE)

AB 658 raises the maximum annual compensation limits for volunteer emergency responders (firefighters, EMTs, and emergency medical responders) who also hold elected local government offices in cities, villages, or towns. It increases the cap to $35,000 for communities with under 5,000 residents and $25,000 for larger communities (over 5,000 residents), up from previous limits of $25,000 and $15,000, respectively. The bill clarifies that holding an elected office is compatible with receiving wages from certain local government positions, such as those under sections 60.37(4) or 61.327. This change directly affects volunteer emergency workers seeking to serve in local elected roles without exceeding compensation thresholds.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 546: Relating to: authorizing additional circuit court and criminal justice system positions. (FE)

SB 546 expands court capacity in specific Wisconsin counties by adding new judicial branches and related positions. It increases circuit court branches in Kenosha County (from 8 to 9, effective 2028), Brown County (from 8 to 9 in 2027, then to 10 in 2028), and Menominee/Shawano Counties (from 2 to 3, effective 2027). The bill authorizes 4 new circuit judge positions, 4 new court reporter positions, and 30.5 additional assistant district attorney positions across 25 counties to support these expansions. All changes take effect between August 2027 and August 2028, with funding tied to existing state appropriations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Oct 18, 2024

AB 1191: Relating to: a refundable income tax credit based on property taxes paid and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a refundable income tax credit designed to help Wisconsin residents offset property taxes they have paid. It directly affects individuals with household incomes under $125,000 who own or rent a principal dwelling in the state, excluding those who can be claimed as dependents by others. The credit allows eligible claimants to receive a percentage of their property taxes that exceed 4% of their household income, with the specific percentage increasing over time from 10% to 40% between 2024 and 2026. If the calculated credit amount is larger than the taxes owed, the difference is paid directly to the claimant as a refund. The legislation also sets income thresholds and limits, such as excluding nonresidents and properties assessed over $1,000,000, while requiring an appropriation to fund the payments.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Oct 18, 2024

SB 1112: Relating to: a refundable income tax credit based on property taxes paid and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill creates a refundable income tax credit for Wisconsin residents who pay property taxes or rent that includes property taxes, aiming to help lower-income households offset these costs. Eligible individuals must have a household income under $125,000 and cannot be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer, with specific exclusions for part-year residents and those with property assessed over $1 million. The credit amount varies based on income levels and the year the tax year begins, ranging from 10% to 40% of the portion of taxes that exceed 4% of household income. If the calculated credit exceeds the taxes owed, the remaining amount is paid directly to the claimant as a refund. The legislation also establishes an appropriation to fund these payments and integrates this new credit into the state's existing list of allowable tax credits.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Oct 7, 2024

SB 675: Relating to: waiting period for purchase of handguns.

This bill modifies the waiting period required before a person can purchase a handgun in Wisconsin. It extends the mandatory wait time from 48 hours to five working days when a background check yields unclear results and the state justice department needs more time to determine if the buyer is prohibited from owning a firearm. The law applies to all handgun sales occurring on or after the effective date of the legislation.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Oct 7, 2024

SB 1109: Relating to: violence prevention grants and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a program to distribute funds from vapor product taxes to local health departments and tribal health centers for violence prevention initiatives. The legislation explicitly prohibits these grant funds from being given to law enforcement agencies or any entities working directly with them, focusing the resources on health-based prevention strategies instead. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Department of Health Services to hire staff to administer the grant program, providing specific funding increases for these administrative positions.

Bill results