Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1238: Relating to: allocation of building trust funds to develop preliminary plans and specification for expansion of the mother-young child care program under the Department of Corrections. (FE)

This bill directs the building commission to allocate $1,000,000 from state building trust funds to develop preliminary plans for expanding mother-young child care facilities within the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. The funding is intended to evaluate infrastructure needs and design specifications for a prison nursery program that would allow eligible incarcerated women and their infants to reside together in correctional institutions. The bill focuses on establishing physical spaces and support systems to enable bonding, breastfeeding, and healthy infant development for mothers and children in custody. This measure requires no new operational funding but authorizes planning work to prepare for potential future program expansion. The legislation was introduced in the 2026 Wisconsin Legislature and referred to the Corrections Committee for review.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1137: Relating to: evicting tenants for failure to pay rent.

This bill modifies Iowa's eviction laws to clarify the notice requirements landlords must follow when evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent. It establishes specific timelines for notice periods, requiring at least 30 days for month-to-month and weekly tenants, and 14 days for annual or shorter-term leases when a tenant is already in default. The legislation also prevents courts from dismissing eviction cases solely because a landlord accepts rent after serving a notice of default, provided the tenant pays all past due amounts before a judgment is entered. These changes directly affect landlords, tenants, and housing courts by standardizing procedures for handling rent arrears and eviction proceedings.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AR 17: Relating to: recognizing the life and extraordinary leadership of Bob Harlan.

This resolution formally recognizes the life and leadership of Bob Harlan, a longtime Green Bay resident and former president of the Green Bay Packers. It highlights his achievements, including transforming the team into one of the NFL's most successful franchises, winning Super Bowl XXXI, and leading the redevelopment of Lambeau Field. The measure serves as a commemorative tribute rather than establishing new laws or policies.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1093: Relating to: employment by a former member of the legislature as a lobbyist.

This bill establishes a one-year cooling-off period preventing former state legislators from working as lobbyists immediately after leaving office. It applies to any individual who served as a member of the legislature and prohibits their employment in lobbying roles for 12 months following the end of their term. The provision is designed to prevent potential conflicts of interest by ensuring a separation between legislative duties and lobbying activities.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1112: Relating to: applying the indoor smoking ban to electronic delivery devices and marijuana.

This bill updates the state's indoor smoking ban to explicitly include electronic delivery devices like vapes and e-cigarettes, as well as marijuana use. It defines "smoking" to cover inhaling or exhaling vaporized substances and requires that activated electronic devices be treated the same as traditional smoking in indoor spaces. The legislation applies to businesses and public venues that currently prohibit smoking, extending those restrictions to vaping and marijuana consumption. By clarifying these definitions, the bill ensures existing indoor smoking rules cover modern inhalation methods without requiring new enforcement mechanisms.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AJR 151: Relating to: proclaiming February 2026 as Black History Month.

This bill formally declares February 2026 as Black History Month in Wisconsin. It directly affects state government officials and the public by establishing an official recognition of the month. The resolution includes historical context about African American contributions to the state and specifically honors eight individuals for their achievements in civil rights, public service, education, and community leadership. The bill does not create new laws or funding but serves as a commemorative proclamation to acknowledge and celebrate the heritage and contributions of people of African descent.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1118: Relating to: refundability of the additional child and dependent care tax credit and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill makes the Wisconsin additional child and dependent care tax credit refundable, meaning families who owe no state income tax can still receive the credit as a cash payment. It applies to tax years starting after December 31, 2023, and before January 1, 2026, allowing claimants to receive up to 100% of their federal child and dependent care tax credit. If the credit amount exceeds the taxpayer's state tax liability, the unused portion is paid directly by the state through the Department of Revenue. The legislation also includes an appropriation to fund these payments and updates related tax credit listings in state statutes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1169: Relating to: a state minimum wage, allowing the enactment of local minimum wage ordinances, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

This bill establishes a state minimum wage of $15 per hour while allowing local governments to enact their own minimum wage ordinances. It creates a rule-making authority for the state department to set lower minimum wages for specific groups including agricultural workers, camp counselors, and students, and to exempt certain casual employment situations. The bill also requires annual adjustments to the minimum wage based on the consumer price index, with automatic increases unless inflation shows no growth. Additionally, it prohibits the state from setting different minimum wages for men and women.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1139: Relating to: disposition of property left behind by a tenant and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

This bill modifies how landlords handle personal property left behind by tenants who move out or are evicted. It allows landlords to presume abandoned property is abandoned unless the tenant provides written notice or agreement stating otherwise, giving landlords discretion to dispose of such items. The bill also limits fees landlords can charge tenants for storage, removal, or disposal of abandoned property, requiring these costs to be set at reasonable rates by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Topics ✗ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1119: Relating to: rent abatement and retaliatory conduct and granting rule-making authority.

This bill modifies Wisconsin's residential tenancy laws to strengthen protections for tenants facing unsafe living conditions and retaliatory actions by landlords. It requires landlords to provide a rent abatement schedule when repairs for health or safety issues cause tenants to lose full use of their homes, while also clarifying that tenants cannot withhold all rent if they stay in the property. The legislation creates a legal presumption that certain landlord actions, such as rent increases or lease nonrenewals, are retaliatory if they occur within 12 months of a tenant exercising their rights. Additionally, it grants the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection the authority to establish specific rules for calculating rent reductions based on various conditions.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1213: Relating to: a dairy agriculture resilience investment now grant pilot program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a pilot program to provide grants to small dairy farms with fewer than 1,000 milking cows, aiming to help them improve operational efficiency and resilience. The program would be funded by a $1.5 million appropriation and administered by the Department of Agriculture, which would have the authority to create rules for managing the grants. Eligible dairy producers could use the funding for projects designed to strengthen their farms against economic or environmental challenges. The legislation creates two new sections in the state statutes to outline the program's structure and funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1164: Relating to: permitting certain qualified individuals to make a request for medication for the purpose of ending their lives and providing a penalty. (FE)

This bill establishes a legal process for medical aid in dying, allowing mentally capable adults with terminal illnesses and a life expectancy of six months or less to request medication to end their lives. The law requires multiple steps including oral and written requests, confirmation from two medical providers, and thorough counseling about alternatives and risks before a prescription can be issued. It defines key terms such as "qualified individual" and "terminal disease," while also outlining protections against coercion and specifying that providers may decline participation without penalty. The legislation creates a new chapter in state statutes titled the "Our Care, Our Options Act" and includes provisions for penalties related to violations of the process.

Bill results