Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 482: Relating to: allowing the enactment of family and medical leave ordinances. (FE)

AB 482 repeals provisions that allowed cities, towns, and counties to create local family and medical leave ordinances. It directly affects local governments (like cities and counties) that previously could require employers to provide such leave, and employers in those jurisdictions. The bill amends statutes to prohibit local governments from enacting or enforcing any ordinance requiring employers to provide family or medical leave benefits, including existing ordinances in effect as of April 18, 2018. This shifts authority away from local governments to the state level for family leave policies.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Maureen McCarville (D) Alex Joers (D) Tara Johnson (D) Mike Bare (D) Joe Sheehan (D)

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 465: Relating to: permits authorizing the employment of minors. (FE)

AB 465 revises state law to require permits for most employment of minors under 16 years old, with specific exemptions for home-based work not tied to the employer's business, nonprofit work for elderly or disabled individuals (e.g., snow shoveling), and election inspector roles. Employers must obtain and maintain these permits, and failure to produce them during inspections is considered evidence of unlawful employment. The bill also prohibits advertising for minor employment during school hours without stating the required minimum age and bans soliciting minors to leave school for work. Additionally, it removes an exception allowing minors to work during school hours with a permit, making such employment illegal.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 532: Relating to: unemployment insurance benefits. (FE)

AB 532 updates Wisconsin's unemployment insurance benefit structure. It sets new maximum weekly benefit amounts: $370 for claims starting before January 4, 2026; $497 for claims starting January 4, 2026, through January 2, 2027; and establishes an annual inflation adjustment (using CPI data) for future years. The bill also raises the earnings threshold that reduces benefits from $500 to $672 for claims starting January 4, 2026, with future adjustments tied to inflation. These changes directly affect unemployed workers qualifying for state unemployment benefits by modifying benefit caps and the income level at which benefits decrease.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 474: Relating to: state preemption of local employment regulations. (FE)

AB 474 repeals two existing statutes (103.007 and 109.09(3)) that prevented local governments from creating their own employment regulations. This change would allow cities and counties to establish their own rules on issues like minimum wage, scheduling, or workplace safety, rather than being restricted by state law. The bill directly affects local governments and employers operating within municipalities that wish to implement stricter or different employment standards than the state currently permits. It is a procedural repeal with no new provisions or funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 577: Relating to: resolution of claims against the state for wrongful imprisonment of innocent persons, exempting from taxation certain amounts an individual receives from the claims board or legislature, health benefits and other assistance for wrongfully imprisoned persons, and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 577 provides tax exemptions for compensation paid to individuals wrongfully imprisoned, including amounts received from the claims board or legislature. It establishes health care coverage for these individuals for up to five years, with costs shared between the state and the recipient (matching state employee premium rates), and requires departments to create transition plans within five days of release to connect individuals with housing, job assistance, and health services. The bill directly affects people who were convicted of crimes they claim to be innocent of, were released after March 13, 1980, and received compensation under §775.05. Key mechanisms include exempting compensation from income tax (§71.05), creating health coverage rules (§40.516), and mandating transition planning (§301.051).

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 544: Relating to: the cigarette excise tax and cigarettes that involve heating tobacco without combustion. (FE)

SB 544 updates cigarette tax rates to distinguish between traditional smoking products and "heating tobacco" products (which heat tobacco without burning). It creates a new tax category for heating tobacco products, charging 63 mills per cigarette for lighter products and 126 mills for heavier ones - half the rate applied to traditional cigarettes. Businesses selling these products will pay these new rates, with adjustments to offset federal taxes. The bill also requires a one-time inventory tax on existing stock when rates change, but the main policy change is reducing taxes for heating tobacco products compared to traditional cigarettes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 465: Relating to: project labor agreements and public contracts. (FE)

SB 465 removes outdated restrictions on public construction contracts by repealing specific statutes (16.75(1p), 16.855(1p), 66.0901(1)(ae), (am), (6m), and (6s)). It amends Section 66.0901(6) to allow municipalities to set reasonable conditions for worker pay, hours, and qualifications in public building projects (excluding highways), and to classify contractors based on financial responsibility and ability. This directly affects cities and towns awarding construction contracts for public buildings, giving them more flexibility in contract terms. The bill makes no new policy changes but eliminates existing barriers to municipal oversight of worker conditions and contractor qualifications.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 467: Relating to: unemployment insurance work search and registration and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

AB 467 modifies unemployment insurance requirements for claimants. It mandates that individuals seeking benefits must complete at least four documented work search activities weekly (with the department able to set higher standards via rules), unless they have a verified expectation of reemployment with their former employer. The bill also establishes a process for the department to waive work search requirements through rulemaking and requires employers to verify reemployment prospects for exemptions. This directly affects unemployed workers filing for state unemployment benefits in Wisconsin.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 601: Relating to: an income tax subtraction for payments on education loans. (FE)

SB 601 creates a Wisconsin income tax deduction for payments on qualified education loans, allowing taxpayers to subtract up to $5,130 annually (adjusted yearly for inflation) for principal or interest paid. It directly affects Wisconsin residents with qualifying education loans who meet federal definition (per IRS Section 221(d)). Key provisions exclude amounts withdrawn from college savings accounts (Sec. 224.50) and prevent double-deduction with federal tax filings. The deduction amount increases annually based on U.S. August CPI changes from the prior year, rounded to the nearest $10. This is a state tax policy change, not a federal one.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 468: Relating to: various changes to the unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation laws. (FE)

AB 468 modifies unemployment insurance eligibility rules for workers terminated due to misconduct. It creates a new definition of "misconduct" that includes deliberate violations of workplace policies, excessive absenteeism without valid reasons, and willful violations of government regulations. The bill requires workers terminated for misconduct to wait 7 weeks and earn wages equal to 14 times their weekly benefit rate before requalifying for benefits. These changes directly affect workers who lose jobs for specific workplace conduct and employers who pay into unemployment insurance funds.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 381: Relating to: suspension without pay in cases of judicial misconduct or pending final determination in proceedings involving alleged judicial misconduct or permanent disability.

SB 381 requires the Wisconsin Supreme Court to form a panel under existing law before temporarily suspending a judge without pay in cases involving alleged judicial misconduct or permanent disability. This new procedural step mandates a hearing to determine "probable cause" for the suspension before it can be imposed. The bill directly affects sitting judges facing misconduct allegations or disability proceedings by adding a formal review process prior to suspension. It amends statute 757.95 to create a specific requirement for this panel hearing, streamlining the suspension process while adding a safeguard. The bill passed committee amendments in November 2025 and is now available for scheduling.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 316: Relating to: the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship 2000 program and a major land acquisitions program. (FE)

SB 316 modifies funding rules for Wisconsin's land acquisition programs that support parks and recreational lands. It reduces the maximum grant percentage from 50% to 40% for local governments applying for funds after purchasing land (instead of before), while maintaining a 30% cap on using grants for the remaining costs. The bill also sets aside $2 million annually from fiscal years 2026-27 through 2029-30 specifically for the state to acquire land directly, and preserves a $38,000 grant for Upper Whiting Park development. These changes directly affect cities, counties, and conservation groups seeking state funding for land acquisitions under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship program.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Bill results