Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 458: Relating to: eliminating the right-to-work law. (FE)

SB 458 would eliminate the state's right-to-work law, removing a provision that allowed employees to work without joining a union. The bill requires employers to obtain majority worker approval before implementing union security agreements (where union membership is mandatory for all employees in a workplace). It also mandates that employees personally authorize dues deductions, rather than automatic withholding. These changes directly affect private-sector employees, employers, and labor organizations across the state.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Brad Pfaff (D) Jodi Habush Sinykin (D) Mark Spreitzer (D) Chris Larson (D) Dianne Hesselbein (D)

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 483: Relating to: including with the property tax bill information about state aid reduction to school districts. (FE)

SB 483 requires property tax bills sent to homeowners to include specific information about reductions in state aid to their local school district. It mandates details on the dollar amount and percentage change of any aid reduction from the previous year and current year, and if the reduction stems from state choice programs (like Milwaukee or Racine Choice) or scholarship payments, it requires a clear statement about that cause. The bill also notes that school districts could choose to offset such aid cuts by raising local property taxes. This applies only in years when a state aid reduction actually occurs. The summary focuses solely on the mandated disclosure in property tax bills, not on policy impacts or advocacy.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 512: Relating to: prohibiting an employer from relying on information about a prospective employee’s compensation when making employment decisions or inquiring about a prospective employee’s compensation and from restricting an employee’s right to disclose compensation information, allowing actions in circuit court, and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 512 prohibits employers from asking about a job applicant’s previous salary before making a job offer or using that information to set pay. It also allows employees to discuss or disclose their own pay with coworkers without retaliation. Employees who face discrimination for discussing pay can file complaints with the state labor department or sue in court, with damages limited by company size (ranging from $50,000 to $300,000). The law directly affects all employers and employees in the state, aiming to increase pay transparency and reduce wage discrimination.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AJR 103: Relating to: proclaiming the last full week of September as Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week.

AJR 103 designates the last full week of September as Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Awareness Week in Wisconsin. This symbolic resolution aims to raise public awareness about FTD - a progressive brain disorder affecting behavior, personality, or language - highlighting its challenges, misdiagnosis rates, and economic impact on families, without creating new policies or funding. It aligns with existing global awareness efforts but does not alter laws or provide resources.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 557: Relating to: regulation and credentialing of appraisers and appraisal management companies.

AB 557 updates Wisconsin's regulations for real estate appraisers and appraisal management companies. It raises the transaction value threshold for "residential appraiser" certification from $250,000 to $500,000 and establishes state-to-state reciprocity agreements to recognize appraiser credentials. The bill also requires appraisers to display their title and license number on reports and prohibits appraisal management companies from removing independent appraisers from their panels without specific justification. These changes directly affect licensed appraisers, appraisal management companies, and the Department of Financial Institutions overseeing credentialing.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 100: Relating to: proclaiming the last full week of September as Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week.

Wisconsin would designate the last full week of September as Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Awareness Week through this symbolic resolution. It aims to raise public awareness about FTD - a misdiagnosed condition affecting behavior, language, and emotional expression in people aged 45-64 - with no new policies or funding attached. The resolution references FTD’s $120,000 annual economic burden per family and its lack of cure, aligning with global awareness efforts. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct policy impact but seeks to highlight the condition’s challenges.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 128: Relating to: requiring first responders to be trained to administer epinephrine delivery systems. (FE)

AB 128 requires specific first responders - including firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, correctional officers, and conservation wardens - to complete training on recognizing severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), safely storing and administering epinephrine delivery systems, and following up after use. The bill mandates that all qualifying first responders must have an epinephrine delivery system available during duty and be trained on all required subjects. The state department must compile and maintain a list of approved training organizations and may distribute epinephrine systems using existing funds. This legislation directly affects over 30,000 first responders across multiple agencies who respond to medical emergencies.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 543: Relating to: regulation and credentialing of appraisers and appraisal management companies.

SB 543 updates Wisconsin's appraiser licensing rules by raising the maximum transaction value for residential appraisals from $250,000 to $500,000, allowing appraisers to handle more expensive properties without additional certification. It revises reciprocity agreements to streamline certification for out-of-state appraisers, requiring mutual agreements between Wisconsin and other states' regulatory bodies. The bill also clarifies the title appraisers must display on reports, permitting "Wisconsin certified residential appraiser" for commercial properties up to $500,000 or residential properties. These changes primarily affect residential appraisers, appraisal management companies, and the process for obtaining or renewing credentials.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 554: Relating to: prohibiting the use of absentee ballot drop boxes for any election.

SB 554 bans municipalities from using physical drop boxes or other receptacles for receiving absentee ballots in any election, requiring all absentee ballots to be submitted by mail instead. This bill directly affects local election offices and voters who currently use drop boxes to return absentee ballots. The key provision, added to statute 6.87 (4) (b) 1m., prohibits the use of any physical drop box for voted absentee ballots. It applies to all elections and would eliminate an existing voting method in affected jurisdictions. The bill was introduced on October 17, 2025, and referred to committee.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 540: Relating to: prohibiting an employer from relying on information about a prospective employee’s compensation when making employment decisions or inquiring about a prospective employee’s compensation and from restricting an employee’s right to disclose compensation information, allowing actions in circuit court, and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 540 bans employers from asking job applicants about their past pay or using that information in hiring decisions. It also protects employees’ right to discuss, share, or ask about their own or coworkers’ pay without employer interference. Violations can be reported to the labor department or pursued in court, with remedies including back pay, reinstatement, and capped damages up to $300,000 based on employer size. The law directly affects all employers and employees in the state, aiming to reduce pay discrimination by promoting transparency.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 398: Relating to: including information about immunization waivers in enrollment or admission materials for schools, child care centers, and nursery schools.

AB 398 requires schools, child care centers, and nursery schools to include specific information about immunization waiver processes in their enrollment or admission materials. This means parents and guardians would see clear details on how to request waivers when signing up their children, rather than learning about it later. The bill standardizes this information across all covered institutions to improve transparency. It directly affects families during enrollment and the institutions managing those applications.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 150: Relating to: passing legislation to reduce carbon emissions.

SB 150 requires the state legislature to create and pass a plan by the 2025-26 session to reduce the state's carbon emissions by 52% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The bill directly affects the state government, which must develop this plan, and will impact all residents and businesses through new emission regulations. Key provisions include setting specific emission reduction targets and mandating that the plan prioritize improvements in economic and racial equity. The bill focuses on establishing concrete, time-bound goals rather than detailing specific regulatory mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill results