Wisconsin Bills | MyRepTracker

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 146: Relating to: requests for information from employers about unemployment insurance claims.

AB 146 would require Wisconsin employers to provide written reasons for objecting to unemployment insurance claims and give them at least 12 business days to respond to information requests from the unemployment department. The department would also be permitted to seek additional details directly from employees about their eligibility, employment, or wages. This bill applies to claims filed for weeks beginning after its effective date, affecting employers, the unemployment department, and employees involved in claims. It modifies the existing process for handling claim disputes without changing benefit eligibility rules.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 5: Relating to: requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents.

AB 5 requires Wisconsin school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents. School boards must post a list of adopted textbooks on their website and provide access to these materials within 14 days of a written request at no cost. The bill mandates that school boards establish procedures to ensure timely access to materials, while clarifying that this does not infringe on copyright law or override existing resident rights to access school records under other statutes. This directly affects school district residents (including parents and community members) and school boards in Wisconsin.

Topics ✓ Education

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 162: Relating to: workforce metrics. (FE)

Wisconsin's AB 162 establishes standardized metrics to track the success of state-funded workforce programs, such as job training and employment services. It requires state agencies operating these programs to report specific outcomes, including the percentage of participants working without government support two and four quarters after program completion, median earnings, and credential attainment. Agencies must publish this data on a single state website and submit annual reports to the legislature, while exempting data involving minors or violating federal confidentiality rules. The bill directly affects all state agencies managing workforce development initiatives, including programs like corrections reentry and Wisconsin Works.

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 39: Relating to: requiring state employees to perform their work at the offices of their employer.

AB 39 requires most Wisconsin state employees to work at their agency's office for at least 80% of their regularly scheduled work hours each month. This applies to all state agencies, including departments and boards, but excludes employees whose duties were performed off-site before March 1, 2020, and staff from the investment board. The law mandates in-office work during standard hours, with exceptions for pre-pandemic remote work patterns. It takes effect on December 31, 2025, and does not apply to legislative or judicial staff.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 281: Relating to: the employment eligibility verification program and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

AB 281 requires state agencies and contractors to verify employees' work eligibility through the federal E-Verify program before hiring or awarding government contracts. It prohibits contracts with employers not enrolled in E-Verify or who knowingly hire workers flagged as ineligible by the program. Contracts must include written verification statements, and violations require immediate termination without liability for uncompleted work. The law applies to state procurement, construction, and local government hiring, but stops if the federal E-Verify program ends.

Topics ✗ Immigration

vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 622: Relating to: fees related to animal markets, animal dealers, animal truckers, and animal transport vehicles. (FE)

SB 622 revises annual fee structures for animal market operators, dealers, and truckers in Wisconsin. It establishes three new market license classes: Class A ($420/year, allows livestock/auction sales any day), Class B ($220/year, limits auctions to 4 days), and Class E ($280/year, limited to equine sales only). The bill also creates a $20 annual fee for each registered animal transport vehicle and repeals outdated reinspection fee provisions. These changes directly affect businesses operating animal markets, dealers, and transporters by clarifying licensing requirements and standardizing fees.

vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 610: Relating to: increasing the maximum penalty for certain controlled substances offenses if the violation occurs near a homeless shelter and providing a penalty.

SB 610 increases the maximum prison sentence for distributing methamphetamine or similar drugs near homeless shelters. If someone distributes these drugs within 1,000 feet of a homeless shelter - knowing or reasonably aware the shelter is nearby - their maximum prison term rises by 5 years. The bill specifically targets violations of drug distribution laws (Section 961.65) occurring in these proximity circumstances. This policy change directly affects individuals convicted of such drug distribution offenses near shelters, without altering existing penalties for other drug offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 405: Relating to: a civil cause of action for a minor injured by a gender transition procedure.

SB 405 creates a legal right for minors injured by gender transition procedures to sue healthcare providers for physical, psychological, emotional, or physiological harm. The bill defines "gender transition procedure" broadly (including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones) but excludes treatments for certain medical conditions like disorders of sexual development. It requires providers to document a minor's gender identity for two years, obtain certification from multiple healthcare professionals confirming the procedure is the only treatment for a mental health concern, and provide specific risk warnings to minors and parents before consent. The law allows lawsuits to be filed before the minor turns 33, with defenses available if providers follow the required documentation and consent protocols.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 457: Relating to: the conditions under which a school district may adopt a resolution to exceed its revenue limit. (FE)

AB 457 would allow California school districts to adopt resolutions exceeding their legally set revenue limits under specific, defined conditions. It directly affects school districts seeking flexibility to spend more than their allocated budget for certain needs, such as addressing unexpected costs or funding critical projects. The bill establishes clear criteria and procedures districts must follow to request and receive approval for exceeding revenue limits. Currently, the bill has passed the Education Committee and is pending further review by the Rules Committee, but it has not yet become law.

Topics ✓ Education

vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 276: Relating to: challenges to the validity of administrative rules and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 276 changes how legal fees are handled when courts invalidate agency rules. It requires courts to award reasonable attorney fees and costs to parties successfully challenging administrative rules or guidance documents, provided the challenge is based on constitutional violations, exceeding statutory authority, or improper rule-making procedures. These fees and costs must be paid from specific state appropriations outlined in statutes (20.865 (1) (a), (g), or (q)), not from general funds. The bill directly affects individuals or organizations challenging agency rules and state agencies responsible for paying these costs.

vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 275: Relating to: statements of scope for administrative rules. (FE)

SB 275 establishes time limits for statements of scope used by state agencies when creating administrative rules. It requires permanent rule scope statements to expire after 30 months and emergency rule statements after 6 months, after which agencies cannot base new rules on expired statements. The bill also mandates separate scope statements for concurrent emergency and permanent rule proposals and prohibits agencies from using a single scope statement for multiple rules. These changes apply to all Wisconsin administrative agencies creating new rules under the state's rulemaking process.

vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 289: Relating to: requirements for proposed administrative rules that impose any costs.

SB 289 requires state agencies to provide detailed economic impact analyses for proposed rules that impose costs on businesses, local governments, or individuals. Agencies must quantify expected implementation and compliance costs (and potential savings) for each affected group, attribute all costs directly to the rule (not other laws or federal requirements), and include this in their analysis. If an independent analysis shows costs exceed $10 million over two years, the rule must be paused until costs are addressed or offset. This bill directly affects state agencies creating new rules and the businesses, local governments, and individuals who would bear the financial impact.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Environment