AB50: Bill Text

AB50,1646,22 (1) Levy limit exception for regional planning commission charges. For the purposes of a levy imposed by a city, village, town, or county in December 2025, the base amount to which s. 66.0602 (2) applies does not include any amount that the city, village, town, or county levied in the immediately preceding year to pay for the city’s, village’s, town’s, or county’s share of a regional planning commission’s budget as charged by the commission under s. 66.0309 (14) (a) to (c).

AB50,9131 Section 9131. Nonstatutory provisions; Military Affairs.

AB50,1647,4 (1) Payment to the Town of Westport for disaster assistance. Notwithstanding the requirements under s. 323.31, from the appropriation under s. 20.465 (3) (b), in the 2025-26 fiscal year, the department of military affairs shall provide a payment of $68,100 to the Town of Westport to reimburse the costs incurred from storm damage.

AB50,9132 Section 9132. Nonstatutory provisions; Natural Resources.

AB50,1647,11 (1) Nonprofit conservation organization grants. In the 2025-26 fiscal year, from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (5) (aa), the department of natural resources shall provide grants to Gathering Waters, as authorized under s. 23.0955; to the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, as authorized under s. 23.0956; to River Alliance of Wisconsin, as authorized under s. 281.72; and to Wisconsin Lakes, as authorized under s. 281.69 (1r).

AB50,1647,22 (2) Emergency rules for PFAS community grant program. The department of natural resources may use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules relating to the community grant program under s. 292.67. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (e) 1d. and 1g., for emergency rules promulgated under this subsection, the department is not required to prepare a statement of scope of the rules or to submit the proposed rules in final draft form to the governor for approval.

AB50,1648,5 (3) Statewide biomonitoring studies. The department of health services shall conduct biomonitoring studies across the state to assess perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure levels and better understand the factors that affect perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure levels in different communities. The department may, as part of these studies, survey volunteer participants, test blood samples for the presence and levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and analyze the results.

AB50,1648,10 (4) Forestry-industry-wide strategic plan. From the appropriation under s. 20.370 (2) (jq), the department of natural resources shall develop a forestry- industry-wide strategic plan and road map. The department shall submit the final report on this plan and road map to the council on forestry no later than September 16, 2026.

AB50,1648,23 (5) Emergency rule-making authority; Great Lakes erosion control revolving loan program. The department of natural resources may use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules under s. 23.1991 for the period before the date on which permanent rules under s. 23.1991 take effect. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until the first day of the 25th month beginning after the effective date of the emergency rules, the date on which the permanent rules take effect, or the effective date of the repeal of the emergency rules, whichever is earliest. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department of natural resources is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as emergency rules is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB50,1649,13 (6) Emergency rule-making authority; Mississippi River erosion control revolving loan program. The department of natural resources may use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules under s. 23.1993 for the period before the date on which permanent rules under s. 23.1993 take effect. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until the first day of the 25th month beginning after the effective date of the emergency rules, the date on which the permanent rules take effect, or the effective date of the repeal of the emergency rules, whichever is earliest. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department of natural resources is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as emergency rules is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB50,1649,19 (7) Notification of U.S. Coast Guard rules for vessel discharge. When the department of natural resources determines that the secretary of the U.S. department of homeland security has promulgated final, effective, and enforceable rules under 33 USC 1322 (p) (5), the department shall notify the legislative reference bureau. The legislative reference bureau shall publish a notice in the Wisconsin Administrative Register that specifies that date.

AB50,1649,22 (8) Well compensation earmark for the town of Bloom. Notwithstanding s. 281.75 (4) (b) 4., the town of Bloom in Richland County is eligible for a claim under s. 281.75, not to exceed $16,000.

AB50,9133 Section 9133. Nonstatutory provisions; Public Defender Board.

AB50,1650,6 (1) Incumbent staff. Individuals in project positions that were funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, and funded from the appropriation under s. 20.550 (1) (m), and who are employed by the public defender board on the day before the effective date of this subsection may be appointed to the permanent equivalent of those positions, funded from the appropriation under s. 20.550 (1) (a), notwithstanding any provision of ch. 230.

AB50,9134 Section 9134. Nonstatutory provisions; Public Instruction.

AB50,1650,14 (1) Four-year-old kindergarten contracts; emergency rules. The department of public instruction may promulgate emergency rules under s. 227.24 to implement s. 115.445 (2m). Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a), (2) (b), and (3), the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB50,9135 Section 9135. Nonstatutory provisions; Public Lands, Board of Commissioners of.

AB50,9136 Section 9136. Nonstatutory provisions; Public Service Commission.

AB50,9137 Section 9137. Nonstatutory provisions; Revenue.

AB50,1650,19 (1) Passage. This act may become law notwithstanding s. 13.085 (1).

AB50,1650,20 (2) Refunds of certain tax payments made for nontaxable tribal land.

AB50,1650,21 (a) In this subsection:

AB50,1650,24 1. “Claimant” means an individual who paid property taxes levied between 2015 and 2021 on real property exempt from taxation under the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe and who did not pay such taxes under protest.

AB50,1651,1 2. “Department” means the department of revenue.

AB50,1651,3 (b) Subject to the limitations under this subsection, a claimant is eligible to receive a payment as determined under par. (d).

AB50,1651,9 (c) A claimant may file a claim for a payment under this subsection to compensate the claimant for property taxes levied between 2015 and 2021 on real property exempt from taxation under the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe that the claimant paid. The department shall establish procedures for claimants to file a claim for a payment under this subsection. No claimant may make a claim for a payment under this subsection after May 31, 2026.

AB50,1651,12 (d) A claimant who files a claim under par. (c) shall receive a payment equal to the amount of property taxes levied between 2015 and 2021 on real property exempt from taxation under the Treaty of La Pointe paid by the claimant.

AB50,1651,18 (e) For each payment under this subsection approved by the department, the department shall certify the allowable amount of the payment to the department of administration for payment to the claimant by check, share draft, or other draft drawn from the appropriation account under s. 20.835 (1) (b). The department of administration shall make all payments due under this subsection no later than June 30, 2026.

AB50,9138 Section 9138. Nonstatutory provisions; Safety and Professional Services.

AB50,1652,8 (1) DSPS credential investigations; emergency rules. Using the procedure under s. 227.24, the department of safety and professional services and any credentialing board, as defined in s. 440.01 (2) (bm), may promulgate rules that are necessary to implement s. 440.03 (13) (br). Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department or credentialing board is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until July 1, 2027, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner, and the effective period may not be further extended under s. 227.24 (2).

AB50,1652,22 (2) Advanced practice registered nurses; emergency rules. Using the procedure under s. 227.24, the board of nursing may promulgate rules under ch. 441 that are necessary to implement the changes to the licensure of advanced practice registered nurses. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the board is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection. A rule promulgated under this subsection may take effect no later than the first day of the 13th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), a rule promulgated under this subsection is effective for 2 years after its promulgation, or until permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner, and the effective period of a rule promulgated under this subsection may not be further extended under s. 227.24 (2).

AB50,1652,23 (3) Advanced practice registered nurses; recognized roles.

AB50,1653,1 (a) In this subsection, the definitions under s. 441.001 apply.

AB50,1653,9 (b) Notwithstanding s. 441.09 (3), an individual who, on January 1, 2026, is licensed as a registered nurse in this state and is practicing in a recognized role may continue to practice advanced practice registered nursing and the corresponding recognized role in which he or she is practicing and may continue to use the titles corresponding to the recognized roles in which he or she is practicing during the period before which the board takes final action on the person’s application under s. 441.09. This paragraph does not apply after the first day of the 13th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph.

AB50,9139 Section 9139. Nonstatutory provisions; Secretary of State.

AB50,9140 Section 9140. Nonstatutory provisions; State Fair Park Board.

AB50,9141 Section 9141. Nonstatutory provisions; Supreme Court.

AB50,9142 Section 9142. Nonstatutory provisions; Technical College System.

AB50,9143 Section 9143. Nonstatutory provisions; Tourism.

AB50,1653,22 (1) Transfer of American Indian tourism marketing contract. The contract between the department of tourism and the Great Lakes inter-tribal council in effect on the effective date of this subsection that is primarily related to the promotion of tourism featuring American Indian heritage and culture, as determined by the secretary of administration, is transferred to the department of administration. The department of administration shall carry out any obligations under such a contract until the contract is modified or rescinded by the department of administration to the extent allowed under the contract.

AB50,9144 Section 9144. Nonstatutory provisions; Transportation.

AB50,1654,4 (1) Sound barriers on I 894. During the 2025−27 fiscal biennium, the department of transportation shall allocate $19,500,000 from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (3) (cq) for the construction of sound barriers on I 894, between 27th street and 76th street, in Milwaukee County.

AB50,1654,9 (2) Harbor assistance program priority. Notwithstanding s. 85.095 (2) and (3), in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, when making grant awards for the harbor assistance program under s. 85.095, the department of transportation shall give priority to municipalities in which a shipbuilder in this state is conducting operations.

AB50,1654,16 (3) City of Sheboygan marina educational facility. In the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, from the appropriations under ss. 20.395 (2) (cq) and 20.866 (2) (uv), notwithstanding the eligibility criteria under s. 85.095, the department of transportation shall award a grant under s. 85.095 (2) (a) to the city of Sheboygan for the construction of an educational facility at the Harbor Centre Marina. The amount of the grant awarded under this subsection shall be $3,000,000 or the total cost of the project, whichever is less.

AB50,1655,4 (4) Prioritization of local bridge and culvert assessment in certain grants. During the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, the department of transportation shall designate 10 percent of moneys appropriated under s. 20.395 (2) (fd) and 10 percent of the moneys appropriated under s. 20.395 (2) (fc) and (fu) for grants for improvements to bridges or culverts identified as being in poor or worse condition in local bridge and culvert assessments performed under s. 85.64. The department of transportation shall establish criteria for evaluating the suitability of projects for which applications are made under s. 86.31 (3o) and (3s) for the moneys designated under this subsection. If the department does not receive sufficient complete grant applications meeting the criteria under this subsection in the 2025‑27 fiscal biennium, the moneys designated under this subsection shall be available for any other purpose for which the moneys were appropriated.

AB50,1655,10 (5) Village of Ontario street development. Notwithstanding limitations on the amount and use of aids provided under s. 86.31 or eligibility requirements for receiving aids under s. 86.31, in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (2) (fd), the department of transportation shall award a grant to the village of Ontario for residential street development. The grant under this subsection shall be in the amount of $500,000.

AB50,1655,16 (6) Village of DeForest interchange improvement. Notwithstanding limitations on the amount and use of aids provided under s. 86.31 or eligibility requirements for receiving aids under s. 86.31, in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (2) (fd), the department of transportation shall award a grant to the village of DeForest for improvements to the I 39/CTH “V” interchange. The grant under this subsection shall be in the amount of $6,000,000.

AB50,9145 Section 9145. Nonstatutory provisions; Treasurer.

AB50,9146 Section 9146. Nonstatutory provisions; University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; Medical College of Wisconsin.

AB50,9147 Section 9147. Nonstatutory provisions; University of Wisconsin System.

AB50,1656,5 (1) Paid sick leave for temporary employees. The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System shall submit to the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration, with its recommendations for adjustments to compensation and employee benefits for employees of the system under s. 230.12 (3) (e) 1. for the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, a plan to provide paid sick leave benefits to temporary employees of the system. The plan shall provide sick leave benefits at the same rate such benefits are provided to permanent and project employees of the system.

AB50,1656,13 (2) Juneteenth holiday and Veterans Day. The administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration shall include June 19 and November 11 as paid holidays in the proposal for adjusting compensation and employee benefits for University of Wisconsin System employees for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years that it submits to the joint committee on employee relations under s. 230.12 (3) (e) 1. The recommendation shall specify that the first June 19 paid holiday is June 19, 2026, and the first November 11 paid holiday is November 11, 2026.

AB50,1656,15 (3) Funding for the University of Wisconsin Missing-in-Action Recovery and Identification Project.

AB50,1656,16 (a) In this subsection:

AB50,1656,17 1. “Board” means the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

AB50,1656,19 2. “MIA Recovery Project” means the University of Wisconsin Missing-in- Action Recovery and Identification Project.

AB50,1656,23 (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.285 (1) (a), the board shall provide $500,000 in funding in each fiscal year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium for the MIA Recovery Project to perform a mission for the recovery and identification of Wisconsin veterans who are missing in action.

AB50,1657,6 (c) The MIA Recovery Project, acting through its representative, shall submit at the conclusion of the mission for which the funds were expended, to the board, the joint committee on finance, the standing committees of each house of the legislature dealing with veterans matters, the governor, the department of veterans affairs, and the department of military affairs, a report on the mission’s findings and an accounting of expenditures for the mission.

AB50,1657,7 (4) Paid family and medical leave.

AB50,1657,8 (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

AB50,1657,10 1. “Family leave” means leave from employment for a reason specified in s. 103.10 (3) (b).

AB50,1657,11 2. “Medical isolation” means any of the following:

AB50,1657,15 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.

AB50,1657,17 b. When a local health officer or the department of health services advises that an individual isolate or quarantine under s. 252.06.

AB50,1657,20 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.

AB50,1657,24 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.

AB50,1658,1 4. “Serious health condition” has the meaning given in s. 103.10 (1) (g).

AB50,1658,9 (b) Program plan. The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System shall submit to the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration, with its recommendations for adjustments to compensation and employee benefits for employees of the system under s. 230.12 (3) (e) 1. for 2025-27, a plan for a program to provide paid family and medical leave for 8 weeks annually to employees of the system. If the the joint committee on employment relations approves the program for paid family and medical leave, it shall go into effect on January 1, 2027.

AB50,1658,14 (5) Funding allocation for a statewide Parkinson’s disease registry. From the appropriation under s. 20.285 (1) (a), the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System shall allocate in fiscal year 2025-26, at least $3,900,000, and in fiscal year 2026-27, at least $2,400,000, to establish the statewide Parkinson’s disease registry under s. 36.47.

AB50,1658,15 (6) Funding allocations for certain programs and initiatives.

AB50,1658,16 (a) In this subsection:

AB50,1658,17 1. “Board” means the Board of Regents of the system.

AB50,1658,18 2. “System” means the University of Wisconsin System.

AB50,1658,20 (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.285 (1) (a), the board shall allocate at least the following amounts for the following purposes:

AB50,1658,23 1. In fiscal year 2025-26, $1,209,500, and in fiscal year 2026-27, $1,612,500, to increase assistance to veterans and military personnel enrolled in the system and to their families.

AB50,1659,3 2. In each fiscal year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, $1,001,500, for the program under s. 36.61, including any extension of program eligibility to additional health care providers, as defined in s. 36.61 (1) (b).

AB50,1659,5 3. In each fiscal year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, $500,000, to establish or continue foster youth programming for eligible students enrolled in the system.

AB50,1659,9 4. In each fiscal year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, $300,000, for the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s UniverCity Alliance program that leverages the university’s academic and research resources to address challenges faced by urban areas.

AB50,1659,12 5. In each fiscal year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, $1,000,000, to support journalism programs and fellowships for students and graduates of journalism programs at system institutions.

AB50,1659,16 6. In each fiscal year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, $250,000, for the system to provide education, training, research, and technical assistance to support small businesses and entrepreneurs, economic development practitioners, and communities in the development of entrepreneurial activity in rural Wisconsin.

AB50,1659,21 (7) Grant to the Institute for Healthy Aging. From the appropriation under s. 20.285 (1) (a), the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System shall award a grant of $450,000 in each fiscal year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium to the Institute for Healthy Aging to support programs in fall prevention and recovery training.

AB50,9148 Section 9148. Nonstatutory provisions; Veterans Affairs.

AB50,9149 Section 9149. Nonstatutory provisions; Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

AB50,1660,12 (1) Funding for the Green Innovation Fund. Notwithstanding the cap on expenditures specified in s. 20.192 (1) (a), in fiscal year 2025-26, the amount the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may expend from the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (a) is increased by $50,000,000 for the purpose of supporting the Green Innovation Fund as it existed on January 1, 2025. In this subsection, “Green Innovation Fund” means the green bank, known as the Green Innovation Fund, administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation in collaboration with the Department of Administration based on the advice of the Governor’s Green Ribbon Commission on Clean Energy and Environmental Innovation established by executive order 195, issued April 19, 2023.

AB50,1660,16 (2) Enterprise zone designation limit. The treatment of s. 238.399 (3) (a) may not be construed to require that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation revoke a certification for tax benefits under s. 238.399 that is in effect on the effective date of this subsection.

AB50,1661,2 (3) Accelerate Wisconsin. Notwithstanding the cap on expenditures specified in s. 20.192 (1) (a), in fiscal year 2025-26, the amount the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may expend from the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (a) is increased by $10,000,000 for the purpose of supporting a business accelerator program to be administered in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin System and aimed at developing research, including research from the University of Wisconsin System, into new startup businesses. As part of the program, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may award grants directly to businesses to assist in their growth and development and may award grants to or in support of business incubators.

AB50,1661,8 (4) Forward agriculture support. Notwithstanding the cap on expenditures specified in s. 20.192 (1) (a), in fiscal year 2025-26, the amount the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may expend from the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (a) is increased by $15,000,000 for the purpose of providing state matching funds related to federal funding in conjunction with WiSys’s Forward Agriculture program to promote sustainable agriculture.

AB50,1661,17 (5) Thrive Rural Wisconsin funding accessibility. Notwithstanding the cap on expenditures specified in s. 20.192 (1) (a), in fiscal year 2025-26, the amount the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may expend from the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (a) is increased by $5,000,000 for the purpose of supporting the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Thrive Rural Wisconsin program. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation shall provide funding to its established regional and tribal partners to develop and fund projects in nonmetropolitan municipalities with populations of less than 10,000 to provide for increased availability and accessibility of local project capital.

AB50,1662,2 (6) Tribal enterprise accelerator program. Notwithstanding the cap on expenditures specified in s. 20.192 (1) (a), in fiscal year 2025-26, the amount the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may expend from the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (a) is increased by $5,000,000 for the purpose of creating a tribal enterprise accelerator program to offer statewide technical assistance and grants for community development investment and capacity building to American Indian tribes or bands in this state to diversify their revenue strategies in industries other than the gaming and entertainment industries.