Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 751: Relating to: the appointment of certain employees of the University of Wisconsin System and faculty governance.

SB 751 modifies how the University of Wisconsin System appoints leaders and governs faculty roles. It removes requirements that only tenured faculty or those with the highest academic degrees could be considered for positions like chancellor, dean, or department chair. The bill also expands faculty and academic staff input in governance, ensuring non-tenured faculty and academic staff with teaching/research roles can participate equally. These changes directly affect all UW System leadership appointments and institutional governance processes across the university system.

Topics ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 694: Relating to: providing certain municipalities with additional supplemental county and municipal aid and establishing a Shared Revenue Advisory Council. (FE)

SB 694 establishes a Shared Revenue Advisory Council to study and recommend improvements to how state aid is distributed to counties and municipalities. The council, composed of legislative leaders, municipal/town/county association representatives, and the revenue secretary, will analyze population, property value, and revenue data to evaluate current aid formulas. It requires the council to recommend a new distribution formula for 2027 and beyond that maintains or increases aid for all jurisdictions, while accounting for population changes and property value declines. The bill also sets a baseline funding level of $16,257,500 for supplemental aid in fiscal year 2026-27, with annual adjustments based on tax revenue changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 706: Relating to: the sales and use tax exemption for personal farm property or household goods sold by auction on the Internet. (FE)

SB 706 modifies Wisconsin's sales tax exemption for personal farm property or household goods sold at auction, limiting the exemption to five or fewer auction events per year. The bill defines an "auction event" as consecutive days of bidding (including online), regardless of whether the property is physically located at one or multiple sites. It specifically applies to auctions conducted by licensed auctioneers, clarifying that "location" means a single building or store in shopping centers. This change directly affects auctioneers and sellers of farm equipment or household items who use online bidding platforms. The law creates new definitions for "auctioneer" and "location" to standardize the exemption rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 707: Relating to: replacing the expenditure restraint incentive program with a municipality payment program and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 707 replaces Wisconsin's existing "expenditure restraint incentive program" with a new "municipality payment program" that guarantees ongoing funding for eligible municipalities. It directly affects cities and towns that received payments under the old program in 2024, 2025, or 2026, ensuring they receive annual payments equal to their highest prior-year amount starting in 2027. Key provisions include ending the old program after 2026 (via Section 79.05(8)), creating a new payment structure (Section 79.06), and adjusting payment schedules for 2026-2027. The bill makes a specific appropriation to fund this transition, with most changes effective July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 767: Relating to: eligibility for the Transform Milwaukee Jobs program and the Transitional Jobs program. (FE)

SB 767 changes eligibility rules for Milwaukee's Transform Milwaukee Jobs and Transitional Jobs programs. It requires applicants to not have filed for unemployment insurance benefits or to be ineligible for such benefits. This directly affects job seekers in Milwaukee who have recently applied for or been denied unemployment benefits. The bill amends statute 49.163(2)(am)5 to add this requirement, making it a concrete policy change for program access. The bill is currently pending in committee review after introduction in December 2025.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 794: Relating to: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2025-26 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE)

SB 794 ratifies a labor agreement negotiated between the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee for the 2025-26 fiscal year. It directly affects building trades crafts workers (excluding those at UW-Madison) covered under collective bargaining. The bill authorizes funding from existing appropriations to implement the agreement, which was approved by employees and recommended by the joint committee on employment relations. The Board of Regents must file a certified copy of the agreement with the Secretary of State.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 735: Relating to: online clearinghouse of information for small businesses in Wisconsin. (FE)

AB 735 creates a centralized online clearinghouse for Wisconsin small businesses, requiring the state Department to compile and publish key information on a single website. The clearinghouse will include details on government contract bidding opportunities, economic development programs, business training/events, licensing/permit requirements, and tax/fee obligations from state and local agencies. This bill directly affects Wisconsin small businesses by making it easier to access government resources and compliance information in one place. The clearinghouse will be coordinated with agencies like the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Revenue.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 792: Relating to: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Association, for the 2025-27 biennium, covering employees in the public safety collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE)

SB 792 ratifies a negotiated agreement between Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Association for public safety employees (covering wages, benefits, and working conditions) during the 2025-27 biennium. The bill authorizes state funding from existing appropriations to implement the agreement, which was approved by affected employees and recommended by the joint committee on employment relations. This procedural bill does not create new policy but formally approves an existing labor agreement for public safety workers.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 791: Relating to: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2025-26 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE)

SB 791 ratifies a tentative agreement negotiated for the 2025-26 fiscal year between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, covering employees in building trades crafts. The bill authorizes the university to use existing funds (from Section 20.865) to implement the agreement, which was approved by the employees and recommended by the joint committee on employment relations. It requires the university to file a certified copy of the agreement with the secretary of state for official record.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 793: Relating to: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2025-26 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE)

SB 793 ratifies a negotiated agreement between the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee for the 2025-26 fiscal year, covering state workers in building trades crafts. The bill authorizes existing state funds to implement the agreement, which includes wage and benefit terms approved by the workers and the joint employment relations committee. It requires the agreement to be certified and filed with the secretary of state but does not create new policy or funding. The bill formally approves the existing contract terms without altering current state budget allocations.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 809: Relating to: investigation of any pregnancy outcome and civil and criminal liability exemptions relating to pregnancy outcome.

AB 809 prohibits state and local government funding for investigations into pregnancy outcomes (like miscarriage or stillbirth) when treating the person as a crime suspect. It bans law enforcement from investigating individuals as suspects solely due to their own pregnancy outcomes, requiring consent before investigating cases involving others' pregnancy outcomes. The bill exempts women from civil or criminal liability for pregnancy outcomes (including miscarriage, abortion, or stillbirth) and amends statutes to clarify that abortion-related legal protections apply. It directly affects women experiencing pregnancy outcomes, law enforcement agencies, and health services (with limited exceptions for health investigations). The bill creates new legal protections by restricting investigations and eliminating liability for pregnancy-related events.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 808: Relating to: a wetland assured delineation program, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

AB 808 creates a "wetland assured delineation program" that allows certified professionals to perform wetland boundary identification work with the same legal effect as government-verified reports. It directly affects environmental consultants and wetland delineators who meet specific qualifications (e.g., associate degree with 8+ years experience or bachelor’s with 5+ years) and apply for certification through the Department of Natural Resources. Key provisions include requiring annual applications, mandating reports by March 15 (with limited 12-month extensions), and allowing certified delineators’ work to bypass department confirmation under certain conditions. The program also establishes department oversight through performance reviews and audits to ensure compliance with wetland delineation standards.

Topics ✓ Environment

Bill results