Relating to: allowing the enactment of family and medical leave ordinances. (FE)
SB 539 removes legal barriers that previously prevented cities, towns, and counties from creating their own family and medical leave policies. It repeals restrictions (like Section 103.10 (1m)) that blocked local governments from requiring employers to provide such benefits. The bill amends Section 103.12 to explicitly allow local ordinances on employment benefits, meaning cities like Madison or Milwaukee could set their own rules for paid leave. This directly affects employers in municipalities that adopt such local ordinances, requiring them to comply with local standards instead of only state-level rules. The bill does not specify leave details but enables local governments to establish their own requirements.
Bill status
failed
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Oct 17, 2025
Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
6
Key actions
0
Committee
0
Oct 17, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Senators L. Johnson, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Habush Sinykin, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Roys and Spreitzer;
cosponsored by Representatives Subeck, Anderson, Andraca, Arney, Bare, Brown, Clancy, DeSmidt, Emerson, Joers, Johnson, Madison, McCarville, Miresse, Moore Omokunde, Palmeri, Phelps, Roe, Sheehan, Snodgrass, Stroud, Stubbs, Tenorio, Udell and Vining
upper
10 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 539
Scope: WI
Hi! I can help you understand SB 539. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline