AB50: Bill Text

AB50,897,6 (5) Appeals to governor. If the department of transportation considers any determination of the department of workforce development of the prevailing wage rates in an area to be incorrect, it may appeal to the governor, whose determination is final.

AB50,897,22 (6) Contents of contracts. The department of transportation shall include a reference to the prevailing wage rates determined under sub. (3) and the prevailing hours of labor in the notice published for the purpose of securing bids for a project. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if any contract or subcontract for a project that is subject to this section is entered into, the prevailing wage rates determined under sub. (3) and the prevailing hours of labor shall be physically incorporated into and made a part of the contract or subcontract. For a minor subcontract, as determined by the department of workforce development, that department shall prescribe by rule the method of notifying the minor subcontractor of the prevailing wage rates and prevailing hours of labor applicable to the minor subcontract. The prevailing wage rates and prevailing hours of labor applicable to a contract or subcontract may not be changed during the time that the contract or subcontract is in force. The department of transportation shall post the prevailing wage rates determined by the department, the prevailing hours of labor, and the provisions of subs. (2) and (7) in at least one conspicuous place that is easily accessible to the employees on the site of the project.

AB50,898,3 (7) Penalties. (a) Except as provided in pars. (b), (d), and (f), any contractor, subcontractor, or contractor’s or subcontractor’s agent who violates this section may be fined not more than $200 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both. Each day that a violation continues is a separate offense.

AB50,898,11 (b) Whoever induces any individual who seeks to be or is employed on any project that is subject to this section to give up, waive, or return any part of the wages to which the individual is entitled under the contract governing the project, or who reduces the hourly basic rate of pay normally paid to an individual for work on a project that is not subject to this section during a week in which the individual works both on a project that is subject to this section and on a project that is not subject to this section, by threat not to employ, by threat of dismissal from employment, or by any other means is guilty of an offense under s. 946.15 (1).

AB50,898,20 (c) Any individual employed on a project that is subject to this section who knowingly allows a contractor, subcontractor, or contractor’s or subcontractor’s agent to pay him or her less than the prevailing wage rate set forth in the contract governing the project, who gives up, waives, or returns any part of the compensation to which he or she is entitled under the contract, or who gives up, waives, or returns any part of the compensation to which he or she is normally entitled for work on a project that is not subject to this section during a week in which the individual works both on a project that is subject to this section and on a project that is not subject to this section, is guilty of an offense under s. 946.15 (2).

AB50,899,3 (d) Whoever induces any individual who seeks to be or is employed on any project that is subject to this section to allow any part of the wages to which the individual is entitled under the contract governing the project to be deducted from the individual’s pay is guilty of an offense under s. 946.15 (3), unless the deduction would be allowed under 29 CFR 3.5 or 3.6 from an individual who is working on a project that is subject to 40 USC 3142.

AB50,899,8 (e) Any individual employed on a project that is subject to this section who knowingly allows any part of the wages to which he or she is entitled under the contract governing the project to be deducted from his or her pay is guilty of an offense under s. 946.15 (4), unless the deduction would be allowed under 29 CFR 3.5 or 3.6 from an individual who is working on a project that is subject to 40 USC 3142.

AB50,899,11 (f) Paragraph (a) does not apply to any individual who fails to provide any information to the department to assist the department in determining prevailing wage rates under sub. (3) or (4).

AB50,899,21 (8) Enforcement and prosecution. The department of transportation shall require adherence to subs. (2), (2m), and (6). The department of transportation may demand and examine, and every contractor, subcontractor, and contractor’s or subcontractor’s agent shall keep and furnish upon request by the department of transportation, copies of payrolls and other records and information relating to compliance with this section. Upon request of the department of transportation or upon complaint of alleged violation, the district attorney of the county in which the work is located shall investigate as necessary and prosecute violations in a court of competent jurisdiction. Section 111.322 (2m) applies to discharge and other discriminatory acts arising in connection with any proceeding under this section.

AB50,1673 Section 1673. 103.503 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,900,5 103.503 (1) (a) “Accident” means an incident caused, contributed to, or otherwise involving an employee that resulted or could have resulted in death, personal injury, or property damage and that occurred while the employee was performing the work described in s. 66.0903 (4), 2013 stats., or s. 16.856 103.49 (2m), 2015 stats., on a project of public works or while the employee was performing work on a public utility project.

AB50,1674 Section 1674. 103.503 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,900,9 103.503 (1) (e) “Employee” means a laborer, worker, mechanic, or truck driver who performs the work described in s. 66.0903 (4), 2013 stats., or s. 16.856 103.49 (2m), 2015 stats., on a project of public works or on a public utility project.

AB50,1675 Section 1675. 103.503 (1) (g) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB50,900,13 103.503 (1) (g) “Project of public works” means a project of public works that is subject to s. 66.0903 or 103.49.

AB50,1676 Section 1676. 103.503 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,900,22 103.503 (2) Substance abuse prohibited. No employee may use, possess, attempt to possess, distribute, deliver, or be under the influence of a drug, or use or be under the influence of alcohol, while performing the work described in s. 66.0903 (4), 2013 stats., or s. 16.856 103.49 (2m), 2015 stats., on a project of public works or while performing work on a public utility project. An employee is considered to be under the influence of alcohol for purposes of this subsection if he or she has an alcohol concentration that is equal to or greater than the amount specified in s. 885.235 (1g) (d).

AB50,1677 Section 1677. 103.503 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,901,8 103.503 (3) (a) 2. A requirement that employees performing the work described in s. 66.0903 (4), 2013 stats., or s. 16.856 103.49 (2m), 2015 stats., on a project of public works or performing work on a public utility project submit to random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident drug and alcohol testing and to drug and alcohol testing before commencing work on the project, except that testing of an employee before commencing work on a project is not required if the employee has been participating in a random testing program during the 90 days preceding the date on which the employee commenced work on the project.

AB50,1678 Section 1678. 103.90 (3) (b) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,901,11 103.90 (3) (b) 3. Any bed and breakfast establishment, hotel, or tourist rooming house that is required to be licensed under s. 97.605.

AB50,1679 Section 1679. 104.001 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,901,18 104.001 (3) This section does not affect an ordinance that, subject to s. 66.0903, requires an employee of a city, village, town, or county, an employee who performs work under a contract for the provision of services to a city, village, town, or county, or an employee who performs work that is funded by financial assistance from a city, village, town, or county to be paid at a minimum wage rate specified in the ordinance.

AB50,1680 Section 1680. 104.001 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,901,23 104.001 (4) This section does not affect the requirement that employees employed on a public works project contracted for by a city, village, town, or county be paid at the prevailing wage rate, as defined in s. 66.0903 (1) (g), as required under s. 66.0903.

AB50,1681 Section 1681. 106.023 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,902,8 106.023 Teacher apprenticeships. (1) In consultation with the department of public instruction, the department shall prescribe the conditions under which a person may serve a teacher apprenticeship, as to higher education attendance requirements, level of supervision of an apprentice, and the credit for school attendance in serving the apprenticeship. The department shall also prescribe the criteria an individual must satisfy to demonstrate that the individual has successfully completed an apprenticeship under this section.

AB50,902,10 (2) Every person commencing a teacher apprenticeship shall enter into an apprentice contract under s. 106.01.

AB50,1682 Section 1682. 106.04 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,902,15 106.04 Employment of apprentices on state public works projects. (1) Definition. In this section, “project” means a project of public works that is subject to s. 103.49 or 103.50 in which work is performed by employees employed in trades that are apprenticeable under this subchapter.

AB50,902,20 (2) Waiver. If the department grants an exception or modification to any requirement in any contract for the performance of work on a project relating to the employment and training of apprentices, the department shall post that information on its Internet site, together with a detailed explanation for granting the exception or modification.

AB50,1683 Section 1683. 106.135 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,902,23 106.135 Youth-to-registered apprenticeship grant program. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB50,902,24 (a) “Apprenticeship program” has the meaning given in s. 106.001 (4).

AB50,903,1 (b) “Youth apprenticeship program” means the program under s. 106.13 (1).

AB50,903,7 (2) Grant program. (a) The department shall develop and administer a program to award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (em) to youth apprenticeship consortia to provide incentives to individuals to transition from participating in the youth apprenticeship program to participating in an apprenticeship program. The department may not award more than $350,000 in grants under this subsection in any fiscal year.

AB50,903,10 (b) Youth apprenticeship consortia that may receive a grant under this section shall be partnerships between one or more school districts or between one or more school districts and at least one of the following:

AB50,903,11 1. A community-based organization.

AB50,903,12 2. A cooperative educational service agency.

AB50,903,13 3. Employers.

AB50,903,14 4. Colleges in the technical college system.

AB50,903,15 5. Labor unions.

AB50,903,16 6. Chambers of commerce.

AB50,903,17 7. Local workforce development boards.

AB50,903,18 8. Other public agencies.

AB50,903,19 9. Other contributing individuals.

AB50,903,20 (3) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

AB50,1684 Section 1684. 106.136 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,903,23 106.136 On-the-job learning grant program. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB50,903,24 (a) “Apprentice” has the meaning given in s. 106.001 (1).

AB50,904,1 (b) “Apprenticeship program” has the meaning given in s. 106.001 (4).

AB50,904,3 (2) Program. (a) The department shall develop and administer a program to award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (er) to the following:

AB50,904,8 1. New and small employers for costs associated with apprenticeship programs. To be eligible to receive a grant, an employer must either never have had an apprenticeship program or not have had an apprenticeship program in the particular trade, craft, or business for which it seeks the grant in the 5 years preceding the date of application for the grant.

AB50,904,9 2. Healthcare employers for costs associated with on-the-job learning.

AB50,904,11 (b) Employers may use the grants under this section to reimburse themselves for costs related to apprentices, including wages, instruction, and mentoring.

AB50,904,12 (c) Grants under par. (a) 2. shall be provided under a pilot program.

AB50,904,14 (3) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section, which shall include procedures and criteria for awarding grants under this section.

AB50,1685 Section 1685. 106.145 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,904,22 106.145 Wisconsin worker advancement program. The department shall, from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (cm), establish and administer a Wisconsin worker advancement program to make grants to local organizations, including local workforce development boards established under 29 USC 3122 and community-based organizations, for the organizations to provide employment and workforce services, including unrestricted support services, career services, and training programs to address workforce barriers.

AB50,1686 Section 1686. 106.27 (1) (h) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,905,2 106.27 (1) (h) Grants for education and training in the use of artificial intelligence.

AB50,1687 Section 1687. 106.27 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,905,7 106.27 (2m) Consultation. The department shall consult with the department of public instruction, the department of health services, the technical college system board and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation in implementing this section.

AB50,1688 Section 1688. 106.29 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,905,13 106.29 Workforce innovation grant program. (1) Workforce innovation grants. The department shall, from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (bw), establish and operate a program to provide grants to regional organizations to design and implement programs to address their region’s workforce challenges.

AB50,905,17 (2) Implementation. (a) Duties. To implement this section, the department shall receive and review applications for grants under sub. (1) and prescribe the form, nature, and extent of the information that must be contained in an application for a grant under sub. (1).

AB50,905,20 (b) Powers. In addition to the duties described in par. (a), the department shall have all other powers necessary and convenient to implement this section, including the power to audit and inspect the records of grant recipients.

AB50,1689 Section 1689. 106.30 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,906,2 106.30 (1) Definition. In this section, “nurse” means a registered nurse licensed under s. 441.06 or permitted under s. 441.08, a licensed practical nurse licensed or permitted under s. 441.10, or an advanced practice registered nurse prescriber certified under s. 441.16 (2), or a nurse-midwife licensed under s. 441.15 441.09.

AB50,1690 Section 1690. 106.30 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,906,10 106.30 (2) Survey form. Each odd-numbered year Biennially, the department of workforce development shall develop and submit to the department of safety and professional services a survey form to gather data under s. 441.01 (7) (a) 1. to assist the department of workforce development in evaluating the supply of, demand for, and turnover among nurses in this state and in determining whether there are any regional shortages of nurses, shortages of nurses in any specialty areas, or impediments to entering the nursing profession in this state.

AB50,1691 Section 1691. 106.50 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,907,3 106.50 (1) Intent. It is the intent of this section to render unlawful discrimination in housing. It is the declared policy of this state that all persons shall have an equal opportunity for housing regardless of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, lawful source of income, receipt of rental or housing assistance, as defined in s. 106.50 (1m) (rm), age, or ancestry and it is the duty of the political subdivisions to assist in the orderly prevention or removal of all discrimination in housing through the powers granted under ss. 66.0125 and 66.1011. The legislature hereby extends the state law governing equal housing opportunities to cover single-family residences that are owner-occupied. The legislature finds that the sale and rental of single-family residences constitute a significant portion of the housing business in this state and should be regulated. This section shall be considered an exercise of the police powers of the state for the protection of the welfare, health, peace, dignity, and human rights of the people of this state.

AB50,1692 Section 1692. 106.50 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2025 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB50,907,21 106.50 (1) Intent. It is the intent of this section to render unlawful discrimination in housing. It is the declared policy of this state that all persons shall have an equal opportunity for housing regardless of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, status as a holder or nonholder of a license under s. 343.03 (3r), status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, lawful source of income, receipt of rental or housing assistance, as defined in s. 106.50 (1m) (rm), age, or ancestry and it is the duty of the political subdivisions to assist in the orderly prevention or removal of all discrimination in housing through the powers granted under ss. 66.0125 and 66.1011. The legislature hereby extends the state law governing equal housing opportunities to cover single-family residences that are owner-occupied. The legislature finds that the sale and rental of single-family residences constitute a significant portion of the housing business in this state and should be regulated. This section shall be considered an exercise of the police powers of the state for the protection of the welfare, health, peace, dignity, and human rights of the people of this state.

AB50,1693 Section 1693. 106.50 (1m) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,908,5 106.50 (1m) (h) “Discriminate” means to segregate, separate, exclude, or treat a person or class of persons unequally in a manner described in sub. (2), (2m), or (2r) because of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, lawful source of income, receipt of rental or housing assistance, as defined in s. 106.50 (1m) (rm), age, or ancestry.

AB50,1694 Section 1694. 106.50 (1m) (h) of the statutes, as affected by 2025 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB50,908,14 106.50 (1m) (h) “Discriminate” means to segregate, separate, exclude, or treat a person or class of persons unequally in a manner described in sub. (2), (2m), or (2r) because of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, status as a holder or nonholder of a license under s. 343.03 (3r), status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, lawful source of income, receipt of rental or housing assistance, as defined in s. 106.50 (1m) (rm), age, or ancestry.

AB50,1695 Section 1695. 106.50 (1m) (nm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,908,21 106.50 (1m) (nm) “Member of a protected class” means a group of natural persons, or a natural person, who may be categorized because of sex, race, color, disability, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, status as a holder or nonholder of a license under s. 343.03 (3r), status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking, lawful source of income, age, or ancestry.

AB50,1696 Section 1696. 106.50 (1m) (rm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,909,6 106.50 (1m) (rm) “Rental or housing assistance” means any form of financial contribution from a 3rd party for the purpose of creating or maintaining affordable housing for tenants, purchasers, or other recipients of housing, including assistance provided under 42 USC 1437f, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program administered by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, or the Community Development Block Grant Program administered by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

AB50,1697 Section 1697. 106.50 (5m) (f) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,909,14 106.50 (5m) (f) 1. Nothing in this section prohibits an owner or agent from requiring that a person who seeks to buy or rent housing supply information concerning family status, and marital, financial, and business status but not concerning race, color, disability, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, status as a holder or nonholder of a license under s. 343.03 (3r), status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, or, subject to subd. 2., age.

AB50,1698 Section 1698. 106.52 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,909,20 106.52 (3) (a) 1. Deny to another or charge another a higher price than the regular rate for the full and equal enjoyment of any public place of accommodation or amusement because of sex, race, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or ancestry or because a person holds or does not hold a license under s. 343.03 (3r).

AB50,1699 Section 1699. 106.52 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,910,2 106.52 (3) (a) 2. Give preferential treatment to some classes of persons in providing services or facilities in any public place of accommodation or amusement because of sex, race, color, creed, sexual orientation, national origin, or ancestry or because a person holds or does not hold a license under s. 343.03 (3r).