Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1222: Relating to: creating an office of the ombudsperson for corrections and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill creates a new Office of the Ombudsperson for Corrections within the Department of Administration to investigate complaints from prisoners, staff, contractors, and their families regarding abuse, unfair treatment, or rights violations in state correctional facilities and community-based correctional services. The ombudsperson, appointed by the governor with Senate approval, will receive complaints at no cost to the complainant after internal processes are exhausted, investigate facility policies and practices, and make recommendations to facility operators, the governor, or the legislature. The office will have authority to subpoena records and witnesses, require facility operators to cooperate with investigations, and publish annual reports with statistics on complaints and recommendations on a public website. The bill also authorizes funding for the new position and establishes the ombudsperson's role within the state's correctional oversight structure.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1166: Relating to: requiring an employer to provide reasonable break time and accommodations for an employee who is breastfeeding the employee’s child to express breast milk for the child. (FE)

This bill requires employers in Wisconsin to provide reasonable break time and specific accommodations for breastfeeding employees with children under one year of age. Employers must offer a private space shielded from view and free from intrusion, along with access to electrical outlets, running water, and a refrigerator for storing breast milk. The law applies to all employers, including state and local government agencies, but includes an exception for small businesses with fewer than 50 employees if compliance would cause undue hardship. Employees cannot be discriminated against or retaliated against for taking these breaks, and violations can be reported to the department for enforcement. The bill also clarifies how unpaid break time affects health care coverage eligibility and when it counts as paid work time.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1135: Relating to: the defense of waiver in eviction actions.

This bill would remove a specific legal provision that currently allows landlords to use a tenant's waiver of their right to a jury trial as a defense in eviction cases. By repealing this section of the statutes, the legislation would eliminate that particular defense strategy available to property owners. The change directly affects landlords and tenants involved in eviction proceedings where such waivers might have been signed. This policy adjustment aims to alter how eviction defenses are structured in court proceedings.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1236: Relating to: expanding eligibility for the Medical Assistance program. (FE)

This bill expands eligibility for Wisconsin's Medical Assistance program to include parents or caretakers of dependent children and adults under 65 with family incomes between 101% and 133% of the poverty line. The legislation requires the state to seek federal approval before these new eligibility categories take effect, with the changes scheduled to begin on January 1, 2029, if approved. If federal approval is not obtained, individuals meeting the new income and relationship criteria would not qualify for Medical Assistance benefits. The bill also adjusts existing income thresholds for current eligible families and reorganizes statutory sections to accommodate these changes.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1238: Relating to: allocation of building trust funds to develop preliminary plans and specification for expansion of the mother-young child care program under the Department of Corrections. (FE)

This bill directs the building commission to allocate $1,000,000 from state building trust funds to develop preliminary plans for expanding mother-young child care facilities within the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. The funding is intended to evaluate infrastructure needs and design specifications for a prison nursery program that would allow eligible incarcerated women and their infants to reside together in correctional institutions. The bill focuses on establishing physical spaces and support systems to enable bonding, breastfeeding, and healthy infant development for mothers and children in custody. This measure requires no new operational funding but authorizes planning work to prepare for potential future program expansion. The legislation was introduced in the 2026 Wisconsin Legislature and referred to the Corrections Committee for review.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1137: Relating to: evicting tenants for failure to pay rent.

This bill modifies Iowa's eviction laws to clarify the notice requirements landlords must follow when evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent. It establishes specific timelines for notice periods, requiring at least 30 days for month-to-month and weekly tenants, and 14 days for annual or shorter-term leases when a tenant is already in default. The legislation also prevents courts from dismissing eviction cases solely because a landlord accepts rent after serving a notice of default, provided the tenant pays all past due amounts before a judgment is entered. These changes directly affect landlords, tenants, and housing courts by standardizing procedures for handling rent arrears and eviction proceedings.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AR 17: Relating to: recognizing the life and extraordinary leadership of Bob Harlan.

This resolution formally recognizes the life and leadership of Bob Harlan, a longtime Green Bay resident and former president of the Green Bay Packers. It highlights his achievements, including transforming the team into one of the NFL's most successful franchises, winning Super Bowl XXXI, and leading the redevelopment of Lambeau Field. The measure serves as a commemorative tribute rather than establishing new laws or policies.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1093: Relating to: employment by a former member of the legislature as a lobbyist.

This bill establishes a one-year cooling-off period preventing former state legislators from working as lobbyists immediately after leaving office. It applies to any individual who served as a member of the legislature and prohibits their employment in lobbying roles for 12 months following the end of their term. The provision is designed to prevent potential conflicts of interest by ensuring a separation between legislative duties and lobbying activities.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1112: Relating to: applying the indoor smoking ban to electronic delivery devices and marijuana.

This bill updates the state's indoor smoking ban to explicitly include electronic delivery devices like vapes and e-cigarettes, as well as marijuana use. It defines "smoking" to cover inhaling or exhaling vaporized substances and requires that activated electronic devices be treated the same as traditional smoking in indoor spaces. The legislation applies to businesses and public venues that currently prohibit smoking, extending those restrictions to vaping and marijuana consumption. By clarifying these definitions, the bill ensures existing indoor smoking rules cover modern inhalation methods without requiring new enforcement mechanisms.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AJR 151: Relating to: proclaiming February 2026 as Black History Month.

This bill formally declares February 2026 as Black History Month in Wisconsin. It directly affects state government officials and the public by establishing an official recognition of the month. The resolution includes historical context about African American contributions to the state and specifically honors eight individuals for their achievements in civil rights, public service, education, and community leadership. The bill does not create new laws or funding but serves as a commemorative proclamation to acknowledge and celebrate the heritage and contributions of people of African descent.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1118: Relating to: refundability of the additional child and dependent care tax credit and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill makes the Wisconsin additional child and dependent care tax credit refundable, meaning families who owe no state income tax can still receive the credit as a cash payment. It applies to tax years starting after December 31, 2023, and before January 1, 2026, allowing claimants to receive up to 100% of their federal child and dependent care tax credit. If the credit amount exceeds the taxpayer's state tax liability, the unused portion is paid directly by the state through the Department of Revenue. The legislation also includes an appropriation to fund these payments and updates related tax credit listings in state statutes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1158: Relating to: a state minimum wage, allowing the enactment of local minimum wage ordinances, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

This bill establishes a state minimum wage schedule that gradually increases from $15 per hour in 2026 to $20 per hour by 2030, with slightly lower rates for small employers defined as those with 50 or fewer employees. It also sets specific minimum wage rates for tipped employees, which increase more slowly over the same period. Beginning in 2031, the state department of labor gains authority to adjust the minimum wage annually based on changes in the consumer price index. The bill also grants the department power to create rules for special categories of workers, including agricultural employees, students, and those with disabilities, while exempting certain types of casual employment from minimum wage requirements.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results