AB 165 Wisconsin Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: local guaranteed income programs.

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.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Nov 2025
Assembly Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Nov 2025
Vetoed
Dec 2025
Introduced Apr 8, 2025 Vetoed Dec 5, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Text Text as Enrolled · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was finalized into law, adding a specific prohibition against using shared revenue payments, tax levies, or fee revenues to fund guaranteed income programs. This expanded the original text to explicitly cover all potential funding sources, ensuring local governments cannot use any public money for these payments.
Scope change
The scope of the prohibition was broadened to explicitly include shared revenue payments, taxes, and fees, whereas the original draft only mentioned general moneys.
FISCAL

Explicitly prohibited the use of shared revenue payments, tax levies, and fee revenues for guaranteed income programs.

TECHNICAL

Removed draft metadata and formatting, replacing it with official enactment details and the standard Wisconsin effective date clause.

Floor votes · Assembly Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
31
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Dec 5, 2025
Vetoed
Report vetoed by the Governor on 12-5-2025
lower
Nov 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15
upper
Nov 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 42, Paired 2
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on calendar 4-22-2025 by Committee on Rules
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Report passage recommended by Committee on Public Benefit Reform, Ayes 4, Noes 2
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Piwowarczyk, Maxey, Allen, Behnke, Brooks, Dittrich, Duchow, Green, B. Jacobson, Kreibich, Murphy, O'Connor, Penterman and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Nass and Wanggaard
lower
14 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors