AB50: Bill Text

AB50,1197,18 2. A hurricane.

AB50,1197,20 3. A severe storm that results in flooding, damaging hail, extreme wind, or extremely cold temperatures.

AB50,1197,21 (c) “Financial institution” has the meaning given in s. 705.01 (3).

AB50,1197,23 (d) “Policy” means an insurance policy that includes coverage for loss or damage to property resulting from a catastrophic event.

AB50,1197,24 (e) “Record” has the meaning given in s. 137.11 (12).

AB50,1198,2 (2) A person may designate an account established by the person at a financial institution as a catastrophe savings account if all of the following apply:

AB50,1198,6 (a) The account is identified in the financial institution’s records as a catastrophe savings account or the person, at the time the account is established, creates a record that the account is a catastrophe savings account and then retains this record.

AB50,1198,9 (b) The account is established solely to hold savings to be used for the purposes under sub. (3) and no deposits are made in the account other than deposits intended to be used for the purposes under sub. (3).

AB50,1198,11 (3) Deposits in a catastrophe savings account may be withdrawn from the account only for any of the following purposes:

AB50,1198,14 (a) To pay for repair costs or other losses relating to damage to the account owner’s property caused by a catastrophic event to the extent the costs or losses are not covered by a policy or are self-insured losses.

AB50,1198,16 (b) To pay any portion of a policy’s deductible relating to damage to the account owner’s property caused by a catastrophic event.

AB50,1198,19 (4) If a person who establishes a catastrophe savings account maintains a policy providing coverage for a catastrophic event, the annual deposits in the catastrophe savings account may not exceed the following:

AB50,1198,20 (a) If the policy deductible is not more than $1,000, $2,000.

AB50,1198,22 (b) If the policy deductible exceeds $1,000, $15,000 or twice the amount of the policy deductible, whichever is less.

AB50,1199,2 (5) A catastrophe savings account established under sub. (2) may be a joint account, as defined in s. 705.01 (4), or a marital account, as defined in s. 705.01 (4m), but no individual may be an account owner of more than one catastrophe savings account.

AB50,2351 Section 2351. 224.77 (1) (o) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1199,11 224.77 (1) (o) In the course of practice as a mortgage banker, mortgage loan originator, or mortgage broker, except in relation to housing designed to meet the needs of elderly individuals, treat a person unequally solely because of sex, race, color, handicap, sexual orientation, as defined in s. 111.32 (13m), religion, national origin, age, or ancestry, the person’s lawful source of income, or the sex, marital status, status as a holder or nonholder of a license under s. 343.03 (3r), or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, as defined in s. 106.50 (1m) (u), of the person maintaining a household.

AB50,2352 Section 2352. 227.01 (13) (n) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1199,15 227.01 (13) (n) Fixes or approves rates, prices or charges, including a maximum weekly benefit amount or wage limitation under s. 108.05 (2), unless a statute specifically requires them to be fixed or approved by rule.

AB50,2353 Section 2353. 227.01 (13) (t) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1199,20 227.01 (13) (t) Ascertains and determines prevailing wage rates under ss. 66.0903, 103.49, 103.50, and 229.8275, except that any action or inaction which ascertains and determines prevailing wage rates under ss. 66.0903, 103.49, 103.50, and 229.8275 is subject to judicial review under s. 227.40.

AB50,2354 Section 2354. 227.01 (13) (zxm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1199,23 227.01 (13) (zxm) Establishes or adjusts a renewal date or renewal cycle for credentials that are subject to periodic renewal under s. 440.08 (2) (a) 1n.

AB50,2355 Section 2355. 227.139 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1200,7 227.139 (5) This section does not apply to a proposed rule of the department of natural resources establishing acceptable levels and standards, performance standards, enforcement standards and preventative action limits, monitoring requirements, and required response actions for any perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance or group or class of such substances in groundwater, drinking water, surface water, air, soil, or sediment.

AB50,2356 Section 2356. 227.19 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1200,15 227.19 (7) Nonapplication. This section does not apply to rules promulgated under s. 227.24, or to rules proposed by the department of natural resources establishing acceptable levels and standards, performance standards, enforcement standards and preventative action limits, monitoring requirements, and required response actions for any perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance or group or class of such substances in groundwater, drinking water, surface water, air, soil, or sediment.

AB50,2357 Section 2357. 227.26 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1200,22 227.26 (5) This section does not apply to a proposed rule of the department of natural resources establishing acceptable levels and standards, performance standards, enforcement standards and preventative action limits, monitoring requirements, and required response actions for any perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance or group or class of such substances in groundwater, drinking water, surface water, air, soil, or sediment.

AB50,2358 Section 2358. 229.682 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1201,2 229.682 (2) Prevailing wage. The construction of a baseball park facility that is financed in whole or in part by a district is subject to s. 66.0903.

AB50,2359 Section 2359. 229.8275 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1201,9 229.8275 Prevailing wage. A district may not enter into a contract under s. 229.827 with a professional football team, as described in s. 229.823, or a related party that requires the team or related party to acquire and construct or renovate football stadium facilities that are part of any facilities that are leased by the district to the team or to a related party unless the professional football team or related party agrees to all of the following:

AB50,1201,15 (1) Not to allow any employee working on the football stadium facilities who would be entitled to receive the prevailing wage rate under s. 66.0903 and who would not be required or allowed to work more than the prevailing hours of labor, if the football stadium facilities were a project of public works subject to s. 66.0903, to be paid less than the prevailing wage rate or to be required or allowed to work more than the prevailing hours of labor, except as allowed under s. 66.0903 (4) (a).

AB50,1201,21 (2) To require any contractor, subcontractor, or agent of a contractor or subcontractor performing work on the football stadium facilities to keep and allow inspection of records in the same manner as a contractor, subcontractor, or agent of a contractor or subcontractor performing work on a project of public works that is subject to s. 66.0903 is required to keep and allow inspection of records under s. 66.0903 (10).

AB50,1202,6 (3) To comply with s. 66.0903 in the same manner as a local governmental unit contracting for the erection, construction, remodeling, repairing, or demolition of a project of public works is required to comply with s. 66.0903 and to require any contractor, subcontractor, or agent of a contractor or subcontractor performing work on the football stadium facilities to comply with s. 66.0903 in the same manner as a contractor, subcontractor, or agent of a contractor or subcontractor performing work on a project of public works that is subject to s. 66.0903 is required to comply with s. 66.0903.

AB50,2360 Section 2360. 230.01 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1202,14 230.01 (2) (b) It is the policy of this state to provide for equal employment opportunity by ensuring that all personnel actions including hire, tenure or term, and condition or privilege of employment be based on the ability to perform the duties and responsibilities assigned to the particular position without regard to age, race, creed or religion, color, disability, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender expression, as defined in s. 111.32 (7j), gender identity, as defined in s. 111.32 (7k), or political affiliation.

AB50,2361 Section 2361. 230.01 (2) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2025 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB50,1203,2 230.01 (2) (b) It is the policy of this state to provide for equal employment opportunity by ensuring that all personnel actions including hire, tenure or term, and condition or privilege of employment be based on the ability to perform the duties and responsibilities assigned to the particular position without regard to age, race, creed or religion, color, disability, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender expression, as defined in s. 111.32 (7j), gender identity, as defined in s. 111.32 (7k), or political affiliation, or status as a holder or nonholder of a license under s. 343.03 (3r).

AB50,2362 Section 2362. 230.046 (3) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1203,6 230.046 (3) (f) Provide an apprenticeship program as described under subch. I of ch. 106. If an appointing authority provides an apprenticeship program under this paragraph, the appointing authority shall do all of the following:

AB50,1203,10 1. Create a defined training plan for employees who participate in the apprenticeship program, to include on-the-job and off-the-job training, that is designed for the employees to gain the skills necessary for the trade, craft, or business and for completion of the apprenticeship.

AB50,1203,13 2. During working hours and without loss of pay, provide to employees who participate in the apprenticeship program off-the-job, specialized training courses that are necessary for completion of the apprenticeship program.

AB50,2363 Section 2363. 230.046 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1203,19 230.046 (5) (b) Training Except as provided in par. (bm), training costs estimated to exceed $500, excluding the compensation of participants, have been included in the budget and approved by the legislature or the joint committee on finance, and such costs will be encumbered for training purposes on the records of the agency;

AB50,2364 Section 2364. 230.046 (5) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1204,2 230.046 (5) (bm) Training costs for an apprenticeship program provided under sub. (3) (f) estimated to exceed $1,000, excluding the compensation of participants, have been included in the budget and approved by the legislature or the joint committee on finance, and such costs will be encumbered for training purposes on the records of the agency;

AB50,2365 Section 2365. 230.08 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1204,7 230.08 (2) (g) One stenographer appointed by each elective executive officer, except the secretary of state and the state treasurer; and one deputy or assistant appointed by each elective executive officer, except the state treasurer, secretary of state, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction.

AB50,2366 Section 2366. 230.08 (2) (L) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1204,10 230.08 (2) (L) 4. Higher educational aids board, created under s. 15.67 attached to the department of administration under s. 15.03.

AB50,2367 Section 2367. 230.08 (2) (yh) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1204,13 230.08 (2) (yh) The director of Native American affairs in the department of administration.

AB50,2368 Section 2368. 230.08 (2) (ym) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1204,16 230.08 (2) (ym) The ombudsperson of the office of the ombudsperson for corrections.

AB50,2369 Section 2369. 230.10 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1205,8 230.10 (2) The compensation plan in effect at the time that a representative is recognized or certified to represent employees in a collective bargaining unit and the employee salary and benefit provisions under s. 230.12 (3) (e) in effect at the time that a representative is certified to represent employees in a collective bargaining unit under subch. V of ch. 111 constitute the compensation plan or employee salary and benefit provisions for employees in the collective bargaining unit until a collective bargaining agreement becomes effective for that unit. If a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V of ch. 111 expires prior to the effective date of a subsequent agreement, and a representative continues to be recognized or certified to represent employees specified in s. 111.81 (7) (a) or (ag) or certified to represent employees specified in s. 111.81 (7) (ar) to (f) in that collective bargaining unit, the wage rates of the employees in such a unit shall be frozen until a subsequent agreement becomes effective, and the compensation plan under s. 230.12 and salary and benefit changes adopted under s. 230.12 (3) (e) do not apply to employees in the unit.

AB50,2370 Section 2370. 230.12 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1205,16 230.12 (1) (f) Trainee pay rates. When Except with respect to apprentices as provided in par. (fm), when applicable, the compensation plan may provide for rates of pay below the minimum of the pay range to reflect the appropriate beginning pay for persons appointed to positions who do not possess the qualifications necessary to perform the work at the classification level for which they are being trained. Pay increases up to the minimum of the pay range shall be provided to compensate for the attainment of additional qualifications during the trainee period.

AB50,2371 Section 2371. 230.12 (1) (fm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1205,22 230.12 (1) (fm) Apprentice pay rates. The compensation plan may provide for rates of pay to reflect the appropriate beginning pay for persons appointed to apprenticeship programs under s. 230.046 (3) (f) during the apprenticeship. Pay increases shall be provided to compensate for the attainment of additional qualifications during the apprenticeship.

AB50,2372 Section 2372. 230.12 (9m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1206,2 230.12 (9m) Paid family and medical leave. (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

AB50,1206,4 1. “Family leave” means leave from employment for a reason specified in s. 103.10 (3) (b).

AB50,1206,5 2. “Medical isolation” means any of the following:

AB50,1206,9 a. When a health care professional, a local health officer, or the department of health services advises that an individual seclude herself or himself from others when the individual is awaiting the result of a diagnostic test for a communicable disease or when the individual is infected with a communicable disease.

AB50,1206,11 b. When a local health officer or the department of health services advises that an individual isolate or quarantine under s. 252.06.

AB50,1206,14 c. When an individual’s employer advises that the individual not come to the workplace due to a concern that the individual may have been exposed to or infected with a communicable disease.

AB50,1206,18 3. “Medical leave” means leave from employment when an employee is in medical isolation or has a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform his or her employment duties, or makes the employee unable to perform the duties of any suitable employment.

AB50,1206,19 4. “Serious health condition” has the meaning given in s. 103.10 (1) (g).

AB50,1207,4 (b) Program. The administrator shall develop and recommend to the joint committee on employment relations a program, administered by the division, that provides paid family and medical leave for 8 weeks per year to employees whose compensation is established under this section or s. 20.923 (2) or (3) but does not include employees of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. The approval process for the program is the same as that provided under sub. (3) (b), and, if approved, the program shall be incorporated into the compensation plan under sub. (1).

AB50,1207,6 (c) Rules. The administrator may promulgate rules to implement the family and medical leave program under par. (b).

AB50,2373 Section 2373. 230.18 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1207,19 230.18 Discrimination prohibited. No question in any form of application or in any evaluation used in the hiring process may be so framed as to elicit information concerning the partisan political or religious opinions or affiliations of any applicant nor may any inquiry be made concerning such opinions or affiliations and all disclosures thereof of those opinions or affiliations shall be discountenanced except that the director may evaluate the competence and impartiality of applicants for positions such as clinical chaplain in a state institutional program. No discriminations may be exercised in the recruitment, application, or hiring process against or in favor of any person because of the person’s political or religious opinions or affiliations or because of age, sex, disability, race, color, sexual orientation, gender expression, as defined in s. 111.32 (7j), gender identity, as defined in s. 111.32 (7k), national origin, or ancestry except as otherwise provided.

AB50,2374 Section 2374. 230.18 of the statutes, as affected by 2025 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB50,1208,11 230.18 Discrimination prohibited. No question in any form of application or in any evaluation used in the hiring process may be so framed as to elicit information concerning the partisan political or religious opinions or affiliations of any applicant nor may any inquiry be made concerning such opinions or affiliations and all disclosures of those opinions or affiliations shall be discountenanced except that the director may evaluate the competence and impartiality of applicants for positions such as clinical chaplain in a state institutional program. No discriminations may be exercised in the recruitment, application, or hiring process against or in favor of any person because of the person’s political or religious opinions or affiliations or because of age, sex, disability, race, color, sexual orientation, gender expression, as defined in s. 111.32 (7j), gender identity, as defined in s. 111.32 (7k), national origin, or ancestry, or status as a holder or nonholder of a license under s. 343.03 (3r) except as otherwise provided.

AB50,2375 Section 2375. 230.26 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1208,20 230.26 (4) Fringe benefits specifically authorized by statutes, with the exception of leave of absence with pay owing to sickness, deferred compensation plan participation under subch. VII of ch. 40, worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, group insurance, retirement, and social security coverage, shall be denied employees hired under this section. Such employees may not be considered permanent employees and do not qualify for tenure, vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, performance awards, or the right to compete in promotional processes.

AB50,2376 Section 2376. 230.28 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1209,3 230.28 (6) An employee appointed to a position in an apprenticeship program under s. 230.046 (3) (f) shall be on a probationary period for the duration of the apprenticeship and may be separated during that period without the right of appeal, at the discretion of the appointing authority. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, the employee shall gain permanent status.

AB50,2377 Section 2377. 230.35 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1209,6 230.35 (1) (a) 1. One hundred four hours each year for a full year of service during the first 5 2 years of service;

AB50,2378 Section 2378. 230.35 (1) (a) 1m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1209,9 230.35 (1) (a) 1m. One hundred twenty hours each year for a full year of service during the next 3 years of service;

AB50,2379 Section 2379. 230.35 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1209,13 230.35 (1) (c) When the rate of annual leave changes during the 2nd, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th or 25th calendar year, the annual leave for that year shall be prorated.

AB50,2380 Section 2380. 230.35 (1m) (bt) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1209,16 230.35 (1m) (bt) 1. 120 hours each year for a full year of service during the first 5 2 years of service;