Wisconsin Bills | MyRepTracker

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 955: Relating to: the rule-making authority of agencies. (FE)

AB 955 limits state agencies' ability to interpret laws by requiring explicit statutory permission before creating rules that interpret statutes they enforce. It adds a new section (227.11(1m)) stating agencies cannot interpret laws without specific legislative authorization. The bill also repeals existing language that allowed broader agency interpretation authority and reorganizes related sections. This directly affects all state agencies that develop rules for enforcing or administering laws, ensuring they cannot interpret statutes without clear prior legislative permission. The change focuses on clarifying rule-making boundaries, not altering policy outcomes.

Barbara Dittrich (R) Scott Allen (R) Dan Knodl (R) Karen Hurd (R) Ron Tusler (R)

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 881: Relating to: water diversion or elevation projects in towns.

AB 881 requires town boards to approve water diversion or elevation projects in towns before they can proceed. Specifically, it mandates that towns must pass a resolution approving projects that use pumps to divert water to unnatural locations or raise water levels above natural elevations (excluding emergencies). This applies to all projects located within town boundaries, giving local governments direct control over such water management activities. The bill does not change existing state authority over navigable waters but adds a new local approval step for town-based projects.

Topics ✓ Environment

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 882: Relating to: town authority over the water elevation of an artificial water body created by a dam and recourse due to damage caused by an obstructed waterway.

AB 882 allows towns to set maximum water levels for artificial water bodies (like ponds or reservoirs behind dams) if high water saturates road beds. It specifically enables town boards to require lower water elevations when a dam's operation threatens road safety. The bill also clarifies that landowners damaged by flooding from negligent obstruction of waterways can demand removal of the obstruction by giving written notice to the responsible party. These changes directly affect towns managing water infrastructure and landowners impacted by water-related damage.

Topics ✓ Transportation

vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 699: Relating to: alternative methods of providing pupil transportation services. (FE)

SB 699 modifies school transportation rules to allow more flexible options. It lowers the standard passenger limit for school buses from 14 to 9 or fewer people (excluding the driver) and creates a new emergency process: school boards can request temporary transportation for 10+ passengers if regular service is unavailable, requiring approval from the transportation secretary. The bill also specifies insurance requirements, mandating minimum $10,000 property damage and $25,000 bodily injury coverage for non-school-owned vehicles carrying 9 or fewer passengers. These changes directly affect school districts, bus contractors, and private providers offering pupil transportation services.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 750: Relating to: admission of students to technical college programs.

AB 750 amends state rules for admitting students to technical college programs. It establishes new admission priority rules for in-state residents versus non-residents (Section 38.22(5)(a)) and creates two new options for community college districts (Section 38.22(5)(b)). Districts may now reserve program spaces for students facing hardship or participating in school-to-work programs, or for protective services training like law enforcement, firefighting, or emergency medical services. These changes give colleges flexibility to address specific student needs and workforce preparation goals within existing admission frameworks.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 757: Relating to: the appointment of certain employees of the University of Wisconsin System and faculty governance.

AB 757 amends Wisconsin statutes to change how the University of Wisconsin System appoints certain leadership roles and clarifies faculty governance rights. It prohibits requiring faculty tenure, specific academic degrees, or faculty status for appointments like chancellor, dean, or vice chancellor (Sections 2-3). The bill redefines "faculty" to include instructional academic staff with 50%+ teaching/research duties for governance purposes (Section 5), and ensures non-tenured faculty can serve on committees without restrictions (Section 5c). It also establishes new rules for "limited appointments" (e.g., administrative roles) requiring board approval and annual reporting (Sections 7-9). These changes directly affect UW System leadership, faculty, and academic staff in hiring and governance processes.

Topics ✓ Education

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 793: Relating to: creating an Office of Internal Audit attached to the Department of Employee Trust Funds. (FE)

AB 793 creates a new Office of Internal Audit within Wisconsin's Department of Employee Trust Funds. This office, led by an internal auditor appointed directly by the Employee Trust Funds Board (outside regular civil service), will independently monitor the department's handling of public employee trust fund assets. The auditor will review all department activities related to the funds, ensure compliance with laws and contracts, and provide risk assessments to safeguard benefits for plan participants. The bill directly affects the Department of Employee Trust Funds and its Board by establishing this dedicated oversight role.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 799: Relating to: parental access to health records of minors.

SB 799 modifies parental access to minors' health records. It requires parents to obtain written consent from minors aged 14 or older before accessing their health records, unless the minor is developmentally disabled (where consent isn't required). The bill also restricts access for parents who caused child protection cases (e.g., abuse/neglect), denying them access to health records if their child was placed under child protection services due to their actions. This applies specifically to health records covered under statutes related to patient care and treatment.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 202: Relating to: voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases. (FE)

Assembly Bill 202 primarily removes residential rental agreements from the scope of the Wisconsin Consumer Act. It changes how certain problematic provisions in residential leases are handled, allowing tenants to elect to void the entire agreement or sever only the voidable clauses, rather than the agreement being automatically void. Such voidable clauses include those that authorize landlords to take action against tenants for contacting law enforcement or health services, or for being a victim of a crime. If a tenant voids the agreement, it converts to a periodic tenancy under similar terms, or if a provision is severed, the rest of the agreement remains in effect. Tenants who suffer financial loss due to these voidable provisions can sue for double damages, costs, and attorney fees, excluding rent payments.

Topics ✓ Housing

vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 146: Relating to: prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty.

SB 146 prohibits individuals convicted of a violent felony from legally changing their name. It amends existing law to clarify that the prohibition applies specifically to violent crimes classified as felonies, not all violent offenses. This directly affects people with violent felony convictions who seek to change their legal name. The bill establishes a clear legal barrier to name changes for this group, with penalties for violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 7: Relating to: prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state.

This bill would prevent foreign governments or entities hostile to the U.S. from purchasing agricultural or forestry land within the state. It directly affects potential foreign buyers and landowners by prohibiting such acquisitions of farmland or forest land. The key provision bans transactions involving designated "foreign adversaries" and applies to all agricultural or forestry land, including leases or long-term agreements. The bill is currently under review by the Agriculture and Revenue Committee following a public hearing.

vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 241: Relating to: required ratio of journeyworkers to apprentices in apprenticeship programs and contracts.

AB 241 amends Wisconsin statute 106.015(1) to prohibit requiring more than one journeyworker for every two apprentices in apprenticeship programs or contracts. This directly affects apprenticeship programs, particularly those governed by collective bargaining agreements, by limiting the minimum journeyworker-to-apprentice ratio. The bill prevents state agencies from enforcing or authorizing stricter ratios (e.g., requiring two journeyworkers per apprentice) through rules, program approvals, or contracts. It takes effect for collective bargaining agreements when they expire or are modified, renewed, or extended. The legislation aims to standardize ratio requirements across apprenticeship programs statewide.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment