Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 851: Relating to: the agricultural conservation easement purchase program and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 851 authorizes $25 million from the capital improvement fund to purchase agricultural conservation easements, which are agreements that limit development on farmland to preserve agricultural use. The bill creates new funding mechanisms (20.115 (7) (br) and (tb)) to reimburse costs for these easements and specifies payment procedures for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. It directly affects landowners selling conservation easements and state agencies administering the program. The appropriation supports farmland conservation by enabling the state to acquire easements under Section 93.73. The bill repeals an outdated statute (23.197 (15)) and amends related sections to implement these funding changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Maureen McCarville (D) Alex Joers (D) Francesca Hong (D) Tara Johnson (D) Mike Bare (D)

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 852: Relating to: farmland preservation implementation grants, maximum acres of agricultural enterprise areas, indexing the farmland preservation tax credit for inflation, and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 852 establishes new grants for local governments to implement farmland preservation plans, including activities like updating zoning, creating farmland agreements, and monitoring compliance. It also requires the state to automatically adjust the farmland preservation tax credit for inflation annually using agricultural price data, ensuring the credit keeps pace with rising costs. These changes directly affect Wisconsin farmers who claim the tax credit and local governments (counties, cities, tribes) that receive implementation grants. The bill creates specific funding mechanisms through the working lands fund and sets eligibility criteria for grant recipients based on plan alignment and project effectiveness.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 840: Relating to: the agricultural conservation easement purchase program and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 840 creates new funding streams to support Wisconsin's Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program, which helps farmers protect working land by restricting development. The bill allocates funds from the "working lands fund" and "capital improvement fund" to cover costs for purchasing conservation easements, with a maximum $25 million public debt limit for these purchases. It directly affects farmers who participate in the program and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, which administers the easement acquisitions. The legislation modifies existing statutes to establish these funding mechanisms and streamline payments related to easement agreements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 817: Relating to: healthy food incentive program funding, payment processing equipment and services for farmers’ markets and farmers, and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 817 creates a state program to provide electronic payment processing equipment and services (including SNAP/food stamp processing) to farmers' markets and farmers selling directly to consumers. It allocates $367,500 biennially for this purpose and increases the healthy food incentive program appropriation by $1 million annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. The bill requires payment processors to handle both SNAP transactions and local purchasing incentives funded by third parties. It directly affects farmers' markets, vendors, and SNAP participants by improving access to electronic payments. The program is administered by the Department of Health Services with new staffing support.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 823: Relating to: spending cap for the Wisconsin agricultural exports program and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 823 establishes specific spending limits for Wisconsin's agricultural exports program. It requires $2.5 million to be spent on one export objective, $1.25 million each for two other objectives, and caps total annual spending at $1 million. The bill also increases funding for the program by $1.07 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and $1.09 million for 2026-27. Additionally, it adds one administrative position (1.0 FTE) within the Department of Agriculture to manage the program. The bill directly affects the Center for International Agribusiness Marketing and the Department of Agriculture, which administer the program.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 829: Relating to: funding for Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grants, the “Something Special from Wisconsin” promotion, and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 829 increases state funding for two Wisconsin economic development programs. It adds $200,000 annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to promote "Something Special from Wisconsin" (advertising the state's products), and $300,000 annually for the same periods to fund "Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin" grants. These grants support Wisconsin businesses selling locally produced goods, while the promotion campaign helps market Wisconsin-made products. The bill directly affects Wisconsin businesses participating in these programs and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, which administers both initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 828: Relating to: grants for students enrolled in teacher education programs, school district revenue limits, the reimbursement rate for special education costs, and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 828 creates a $10 million annual grant program for students enrolled in approved teacher education programs at Wisconsin institutions of higher education, requiring recipients to teach in Wisconsin public or tribal schools for at least four years after graduation. It reduces the state's reimbursement rate for special education costs from 100% to 90% of eligible expenses. The bill also adjusts annual revenue limits for school districts, increasing allowable funding growth for the 2023-2027 school years through revised calculation formulas. These changes affect teacher training programs, school districts, and special education funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 841: Relating to: farmland preservation implementation grants, maximum acres of agricultural enterprise areas, indexing the farmland preservation tax credit for inflation, and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 841 creates a program to fund local governments in Wisconsin to implement farmland preservation plans through grants. It establishes annual adjustments to the farmland preservation tax credit for inflation using agricultural price data, ensuring the credit amount increases with rising costs. The bill also sets maximum acreage limits for agricultural enterprise areas and authorizes funding for activities like zoning certification, farmland preservation agreements, and monitoring compliance. These changes directly affect Wisconsin farmers (through the tax credit) and local governments (through grant eligibility). The policy shifts focus to maintaining agricultural land by making preservation tools more adaptable to economic changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 847: Relating to: written resource guides informing inmates and juveniles in custody of their rights and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 847 requires state correctional institutions and juvenile facilities to create and maintain written "Know Your Rights" resource guides for inmates and juveniles. These guides must explain rights based on legal status, confinement type, and facility, and be updated annually or after legal changes. The guides must be posted in facilities, provided to new entrants or upon request, and explained by trained staff during intake or transfers. The bill appropriates $200,000 for developing these guides, with requirements to involve formerly incarcerated people in the process, and takes effect July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 871: Relating to: constructing laterals and service pipes without a landowner’s permission in the City of Milwaukee. (FE)

AB 871 allows Milwaukee’s city government to install water, gas, sewer, and heat utility pipes (laterals/service pipes) on private property without the landowner’s permission under specific conditions. It applies only to absentee owners (non-residents) after the city makes at least three documented contact attempts, and with tenant consent for the property. Crucially, the city cannot charge property owners for these installations - the costs remain with the city. This change affects Milwaukee homeowners with vacant properties and tenants, streamlining utility upgrades while shifting financial responsibility from residents to the city.

passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 119: Relating to: congratulating the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh women’s volleyball team for winning the 2025 NCAA Division III National Championship.

This Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 119) is a ceremonial resolution formally congratulating the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh women’s volleyball team for winning the 2025 NCAA Division III National Championship. It recognizes their historic first national title, flawless tournament performance (6 wins, no sets dropped), 34-3 overall record, and academic achievements (3.6 team GPA). The resolution serves as symbolic recognition from the Wisconsin Legislature to the team, coaches, and university community, highlighting their athletic and academic excellence. As a non-binding resolution, it has no policy or financial impact and does not affect any individuals or entities beyond expressing legislative commendation.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 806: Relating to: main street bounceback grants and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 806 creates a $25 million annual appropriation for "Main Street Bounceback Grants" to help businesses open new locations or expand operations in vacant commercial spaces. The grants, administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, directly assist eligible businesses (excluding nonprofits) seeking to revitalize underutilized downtown areas. The bill requires eligibility rules to mirror the existing Wisconsin Tomorrow Main Street Bounceback Grant program as of June 30, 2023. This provides a dedicated funding stream for business expansion in vacant commercial properties, with $25 million allocated for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results