AB 165 defines "guaranteed income program" in Wisconsin law as a program providing regular, unearned cash payments to individuals that can be used for any purpose, with no work or training requirements. It applies specifically to "political subdivisions" (cities, villages, towns, or counties), enabling them to use their own funds - including shared revenue, tax money, or fees - to implement such programs. The bill does not create new funding or mandate local governments to establish these programs; it only provides a legal definition for future local initiatives. This definition allows local governments to structure cash assistance programs under clear statutory guidance.
AB 662 prohibits Wisconsin state agencies from contracting with business entities primarily based in designated "foreign countries of concern" (like China), controlled by Chinese government entities, or subsidiaries of such entities. Contractors must certify they are not prohibited entities and ensure goods/services aren’t sourced from them. Violations trigger significant penalties, including fines up to twice the contract value or $250,000, plus a 5-year contracting ban. An exemption exists if the goods/services are unavailable elsewhere and approved by the Department of Administration.
SB 16 clarifies that high school athletic associations coordinating sports for grades 9-12 can choose to be governed by specific public records and open meetings laws. If they elect this status, they can keep referee records and individual student athlete records private, exempting them from standard public inspection requirements. School districts must only join such associations if the association has chosen to follow these rules. The bill creates new definitions for "interscholastic athletic association" and updates statutes to define these groups as "governmental bodies" under certain conditions.
AB 211 creates a new exemption in Wisconsin law allowing "tobacco bars" to operate without adhering to the state's public smoking ban. To qualify, these establishments must have opened after June 4, 2009, allow only cigar and pipe smoking (not cigarettes), not be classified as food establishments, display clear signage about smoking, prohibit minors under 21 from entering, require employee acknowledgment of secondhand smoke exposure, and demonstrate adequate air filtration in licensing applications. The bill directly affects tobacco bars meeting these specific criteria, enabling them to operate with smoking permitted while imposing strict operational requirements. It does not change the general public smoking ban but establishes a defined exception for this narrow category of businesses.
AB 673 bans medical and research facilities receiving state or federal funds from using genetic software or sequencers developed by foreign adversaries (as defined by federal regulations). It also prohibits storing human genome data of state residents in foreign adversary countries, with exceptions for certain clinical trials. The law applies to facilities, companies, and nonprofits handling genetic data, requiring them to keep such data inaccessible to foreign adversaries. Violations carry a $10,000 penalty per offense, enforced by the state Attorney General.
AB 450 creates a new statute (101.02(26)) specifying that Wisconsin’s commercial building codes (Chapters SPS 361-366) apply to public buildings, structures, or places of employment when their plans are submitted to the state department or a local government authorized to review such plans under statute 101.12. It explicitly excludes Section SPS 361.03(7) from applying to these public projects. This bill directly affects public construction projects requiring building plan reviews by state or local authorities, effective August 1, 2025, with local jurisdictions required to comply by April 1, 2026. The change clarifies code applicability without altering the underlying building safety standards.
AB 308 prohibits Wisconsin state and local government funds from being used to pay for health services for individuals without legal immigration status. The bill directly affects undocumented residents by blocking state/local funding for their healthcare. Key provisions ban state/local funds for such services (except where federal law requires payment or where applying the ban would cause loss of federal funds). The law does not restrict federal healthcare programs or funding. This is a policy change affecting state budget allocations, not a procedural measure.
SB 291 expands Wisconsin's business development tax credit to include certain employer-provided child care costs. It allows businesses to claim a tax credit equal to up to 15% of qualifying expenses for establishing or operating child care programs for employees, such as upfront setup costs, operational expenses, employee reimbursements, or reserved child care slots. The bill directly affects Wisconsin-based businesses that provide child care benefits to employees, making these costs eligible for the tax credit starting in 2025. Key provisions define "eligible child care costs" broadly to cover capital expenditures, operational spending, and reimbursements, while capping the credit at 15% of those expenses. The law applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.
SB 532 prohibits University of Wisconsin System institutions from charging students supplemental fees for enrolling in courses offered exclusively online, unless the fee covers specific costs directly tied to online delivery (like technology or platform costs) or is also charged for equivalent in-person courses. It directly affects students taking fully online courses, particularly non-resident students who might face higher fees. The bill creates a new requirement (36.27 (1) (c)) ensuring online course fees are justified by actual costs or applied equally to in-person options. The law takes effect for the first semester or session beginning at least 30 days after its effective date.
SB 389 adjusts how Wisconsin school districts calculate their maximum allowable spending limits (revenue limits) for specific school years. It adds $325 per student to the calculation for the 2023-24 through 2026-27 school years, while removing previous adjustments that would have affected spending limits for the 2015-16 through 2018-19 years and the 2021-22 year. The bill also modifies rules for consolidated school districts, changing how their revenue limits are calculated during the 2020-21 through 2026-27 school years. These changes take effect for the 2027-28 school year and beyond, directly impacting all public school districts in Wisconsin.
AB 166 requires Wisconsin colleges and universities to collect and report specific data about student outcomes and costs starting in 2027. Institutions must report graduates' average salaries (6 months and 5 years post-graduation by major), average debt, graduation rates, cost of attendance, and popular degree programs. The state board will also create and publish a list of the 50 most in-demand jobs in Wisconsin with required education levels and average salaries. This data will be provided to high schools for students in grades 10-12 as part of required academic and career planning services. The bill directly affects higher education institutions and students seeking career guidance.
SB 525 streamlines the process for sign owners to remove vegetation obstructing outdoor advertising signs along highways. It creates a permit system allowing sign owners to trim or remove vegetation within a 500-foot "viewing window" around a sign, defined as the area where the sign must be visible. The bill requires permit applicants to describe proposed work, mandates 15-day advance notice and photo documentation for existing sign owners, and specifies that vegetation removal must include stump removal and proper disposal. This directly affects sign owners and highway departments managing rights-of-way, with new rules for permits, documentation, and compensation for removing trees in designated "living snow fences."
