Wisconsin Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 3, 2026

AB 387: Relating to: correction bill for 2025 Wisconsin Act 15 and making an appropriation.

This bill corrects an error in 2025 Wisconsin Act 15 regarding vehicle registration fees. It adds a $6 fee per new vehicle registration plate (not replacement plates) starting October 1, 2025, to be collected in addition to existing fees. The fee applies to all new plates issued after that date and directly affects vehicle owners registering new vehicles. The bill does not change existing heavy vehicle fee structures or other registration requirements. It is a technical correction to ensure proper fee implementation under the original law.

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 3, 2026

AB 320: Relating to: increasing certain court fees and surcharges and indexing those amounts for inflation. (FE)

AB 320 increases multiple court filing fees and requires these fees to be adjusted for inflation starting in 2030. It raises specific fees, such as the civil filing fee from $75 to $190 and the criminal case fee from $163 to $239, with future adjustments tied to the U.S. consumer price index. These changes directly affect individuals filing court cases (e.g., defendants in criminal matters, plaintiffs in civil or family cases) who pay these fees. The bill mandates that fee amounts be recalculated every five years based on inflation data, rounded up to the nearest dollar, and posted online by the state courts director. The adjustments apply to over 20 specific fee categories across criminal, civil, and family court proceedings.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 3, 2026

AB 217: Relating to: local government competitive bidding thresholds. (FE)

AB 217 raises competitive bidding thresholds for local government contracts in the state. It increases the general public work bidding threshold from $25,000 to $50,000 and the notice threshold from $5,000 to $10,000. For highway contracts specifically, it sets a $25,000 bidding threshold and $5,000 notice threshold. The bill also requires these thresholds to automatically adjust every five years based on inflation, using the U.S. Consumer Price Index. This directly affects towns and local governments when contracting for public projects above these new dollar amounts.

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 3, 2026

AB 676: Relating to: creating a tax credit for insurers for certain investments in community development entities. (FE)

AB 676 creates a tax credit for Wisconsin insurers who invest in community development entities (CDEs) that fund qualifying low-income community businesses. Insurers can claim a 10% credit (after an initial 0% period) against certain insurance regulatory fees for investments in CDEs that deploy capital to businesses with principal operations in Wisconsin - $125 million allocated for rural counties and $125 million for metro counties. The credit applies to investments meeting specific criteria, such as funding businesses with at least 60% of operations in Wisconsin and excluding those deriving significant income from real estate. This policy directly affects insurers and CDEs by incentivizing capital deployment to underserved communities through a structured, state-funded tax credit mechanism.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 3, 2026

AB 530: Relating to: the operation of drones over school property and providing a penalty.

AB 530 restricts drone operations over school properties, directly affecting anyone flying drones near public, private, or tribal schools. The bill prohibits drones over school grounds without authorization, except for specific law enforcement or emergency purposes like search/rescue, locating escaped prisoners, or preventing imminent danger. Violations carry a maximum $5,000 penalty, and evidence from drone recordings related to violations must be handled by law enforcement or correctional authorities. The law clarifies definitions for "school" and "public protective services agency" to ensure consistent application.

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 3, 2026

AB 670: Relating to: exempting persons engaged in certain contract research services from the sales and use tax. (FE)

AB 670 exempts businesses providing certain contract research services from state sales and use tax. It defines "contract research services" as research conducted for a client that would qualify as "qualified research" if done by the client’s own employees. The bill specifically includes research funded between companies in the same corporate group and research covered under federal tax rules for "contract research expenses." This exemption directly benefits research service providers in the state, reducing their tax burden for qualifying work. The bill aligns state tax treatment with federal research credit definitions under the Internal Revenue Code.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 3, 2026

AB 685: Relating to: individual income tax subtraction for certain theft losses. (FE)

AB 685 allows Wisconsin taxpayers to subtract certain theft losses from their state income tax when those losses are already deductible under federal tax rules (specifically IRS Section 165(c)(2) or (3)). It directly affects individuals who experience qualifying theft losses, such as stolen property, that meet federal deduction criteria. The bill creates a new state tax subtraction provision (statute 71.05(6)(b)57) for these losses, while clarifying that taxpayers cannot claim both this subtraction and a separate casualty loss deduction for the same loss. This aligns Wisconsin's tax treatment with federal rules for theft-related deductions, without creating new federal standards.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 2, 2026

AB 884: Relating to: who may purchase certain contractual services and technical changes to tax provisions related to qualified retirement plans and the film production services credit.

AB 884 amends Wisconsin's tax code with three key changes. It requires background checks for individuals handling federal tax data when contracted by state departments (affecting state agencies and contractors). It updates retirement plan tax benefits, allowing individuals aged 67+ to subtract up to $24,000 annually from taxable income (or $48,000 for married couples filing jointly), subject to specific rules. Finally, it clarifies film production credit eligibility by defining "production expenditures" to include local spending on Wisconsin-based music, travel agencies, and insurance services, while excluding marketing costs. These changes directly impact state agencies, retirees, and film productions seeking tax credits.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 2, 2026

AB 911: Relating to: funding for a battery collection and recycling program and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 911 creates a new funding mechanism to support a battery collection and recycling program by directing existing environmental fund monies (from statute 287.175 (3) (b)) toward this purpose. The bill specifically allocates funds already designated for battery recycling under current law, without creating new taxes or fees. It only takes effect if two other related bills (AB 713 or SB 702) are not enacted during the 2025-26 legislative session. This funding directly supports the operational costs of the state’s battery recycling program, primarily affecting program administrators and participating recyclers.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 2, 2026

AB 713: Relating to: requiring battery stewardship organizations to administer battery collection and recycling programs and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 713 requires battery producers (like manufacturers or brands selling batteries) to fund and manage collection and recycling programs starting in 2027. It bans disposal of covered batteries (portable/medium-sized batteries excluding medical devices, lead-acid, or alkaline types) in landfills after January 1, 2028, mandating they be returned through designated collection sites instead. Producers must also mark batteries with their identity by 2027 and indicate battery chemistry for proper recycling by 2029. This law directly affects battery sellers and manufacturers, shifting responsibility for recycling programs from consumers or local governments to the producers themselves.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 2, 2026

AB 778: Relating to: eligibility for the Transform Milwaukee Jobs program and the Transitional Jobs program. (FE)

AB 778 changes eligibility rules for Wisconsin's Transform Milwaukee Jobs and Transitional Jobs programs. It requires applicants to have neither filed for unemployment insurance benefits nor be eligible for them. The bill repeals an existing eligibility provision (49.163(2)(am)4) and amends the current rule (49.163(2)(am)5) to clarify this requirement. This directly affects individuals seeking employment assistance through these specific Milwaukee-based workforce programs. The change simplifies eligibility by excluding those currently accessing unemployment benefits.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 2, 2026

AB 813: Relating to: the opportunity attraction and promotion program administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

AB 813 amends Wisconsin's Opportunity Attraction and Promotion Program, which provides grants through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), to allow funding for non-public events that attract national exposure or boost economic growth - such as private conferences or industry gatherings - under specific conditions. The bill creates a new provision (3)(cm) limiting such non-public event funding to 25% of annual program funds, requiring WEDC to prioritize events during tourist off-seasons or economic downturns, and banning funding for regularly scheduled events. It also mandates that applicants secure non-state matching funds equal to the grant amount and requires WEDC to submit annual reports detailing all funded projects and their projected economic impact. This directly affects event organizers and businesses applying for WEDC grants to attract major opportunities to Wisconsin.