AB50: Bill Text

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.

AB50,1662,18 (7) Advanced manufacturing grants. 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 establishing a program to award matching grants to small and midsized manufacturing companies located in this state to invest in advanced manufacturing technologies. No one company may receive more than $200,000 in grants under this subsection, and no one grant under this subsection may be for an amount that is more than one- third of the amount invested in advanced manufacturing technologies by the company. To receive a grant under this subsection, a company must commit to not reduce its employment below the level when the grant is awarded. If within 10 years after receiving a grant under this subsection the company that receives the grant fails to meet this commitment, the company shall repay the grant amount to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may provide an exemption to the repayment requirement under this subsection if it finds that the company has undergone a unique hardship.

AB50,1663,3 (8) Main street bounceback grants. 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 awarding grants of $10,000 each to small businesses and nonprofit organizations that open a new location or expand operations in a vacant commercial space. A recipient of a grant under this subsection may use grant moneys for commercial lease and mortgage payments, business operating expenses, and commercial building repair and tenant improvements.

AB50,9150 Section 9150. Nonstatutory provisions; Workforce Development.

AB50,1663,9 (1) Worker’s compensation insurance; rate approval; notice. The commissioner of insurance shall submit to the legislative reference bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register a notice of the effective date of new rates for worker’s compensation insurance first approved by the commissioner under s. 626.13 after the effective date of this subsection.

AB50,1663,18 (2) Predictable work schedules for retail, food service, and cleaning employees; transitional provisions. No later than the effective date of this subsection, an employer, as defined in s. 103.035 (1) (e), shall provide each service employee, as defined in s. 103.035 (1) (L), with a written copy of the service employee’s work schedule, as defined in s. 103.035 (1) (o). That work schedule is considered a work schedule provided to a service employee under s. 103.035 (3) (a) 2. for all purposes under s. 103.035, including that the employer shall post a copy of the work schedule as provided in s. 103.035 (3) (a) 3., and, if the employer changes that work schedule, s. 103.035 (3) (a) 2. applies to that change.

AB50,1663,22 (3) Workforce innovation grant program. Of the amounts appropriated under s. 20.445 (1) (bw) in the 2025-26 fiscal year, the department shall allocate $15,000,000 for grants for workforce development in the area of artificial intelligence and $25,000,000 for grants for healthcare workforce development.

AB50,1663,23 (4) Minimum wage study committee.

AB50,1664,2 (a) The secretary of workforce development shall establish a minimum wage study committee under s. 15.04 (1) (c). The committee shall consist of the following:

AB50,1664,3 1. Five members appointed by the governor.

AB50,1664,4 2. One member appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

AB50,1664,5 3. One member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.

AB50,1664,6 4. One member appointed by the majority leader of the senate.

AB50,1664,7 5. One member appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

AB50,1664,10 (b) The committee created under par. (a) shall study options to increase the minimum wage for workers in this state to ensure that all Wisconsin workers earn a living wage.

AB50,1664,15 (c) No later than October 1, 2026, the committee created under par. (a) shall submit to the governor and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided under s. 13.172 (3) a report that includes recommendations regarding the options for achieving a minimum wage and other means of increasing worker compensation in this state that allow a worker to earn a living wage.

AB50,1664,17 (d) The minimum wage study committee terminates upon submission of the report under par. (c).

AB50,1664,22 (5) Unemployment insurance; electronic communications. The department of workforce development shall submit to the legislative reference bureau for publication in the Wisconsin administrative register a notice indicating the date upon which the department is able to implement the treatment of s. 108.14 (2e).

AB50,1664,23 (6) Wisconsin Fast Forward allocations.

AB50,1665,5 (a) Green jobs training. From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (b), in fiscal year 2025-26, the department of workforce development shall allocate $2,000,000 for grants under s. 106.27 (1) to public or private organizations for the development and implementation of green jobs training programs in this state. In this paragraph, “green jobs” means jobs that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources.

AB50,1665,9 (b) Teacher apprentice incentives. From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (b), in each year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, the department of workforce development shall allocate $1,000,000 to provide grants under s. 106.27 (1) to support costs of sponsoring teacher apprentices under subch. I of ch. 106.

AB50,1665,13 (c) Health care industry training. From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (b), in each year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, the department of workforce development shall allocate $500,000 for grants under s. 106.27 (1) to support training in the health care industry.

AB50,1665,17 (d) Artificial intelligence. From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (b), in each year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, the department of workforce development shall allocate $200,000 for grants under s. 106.27 (1) to help school districts to prepare students for a future that includes artificial intelligence.

AB50,9151 Section 9151. Nonstatutory provisions; Other.

AB50,1667,15 (1) Legislative intent. The legislature intends the repeal of ss. 49.141 (1) (j) 2., 115.76 (12) (a) 2. and 3., and 769.401 (2) (g), the renumbering and amendment of ss. 891.40 (1) and 891.41 (1) (b), the amendment of ss. 29.219 (4), 29.228 (5) and (6), 29.229 (2) (i), 29.2295 (2) (i), 29.607 (3), 45.01 (6) (c), 45.51 (3) (c) 2. and (5) (a) 1. b. and c., 45.55, 46.10 (2), 48.02 (13), 48.025 (title), (2) (b), and (3) (c), 48.27 (3) (b) 1. a. and b. and (5), 48.299 (6) (intro.) and (e) 1., 2., 3., and 4. and (7), 48.355 (4g) (a) 1., 48.396 (2) (dm), 48.42 (1g) (a) 4., (b), and (c) and (2) (b) 1. and 2. and (bm) 1., 48.422 (6) (a) and (7) (bm) and (br), 48.423 (2) (d), 48.432 (1) (am) 2. b., 48.63 (3) (b) 4. and 5., 48.82 (1) (a), 48.837 (1r) (d) and (e) and (6) (b) and (br), 48.913 (1) (a), (b), and (h), (2) (intro.), (b), and (c) (intro.), (3), (4), and (7), 48.9795 (1) (a) 1. c. and (b), 49.141 (1) (j) 1., 49.155 (1m) (c) 1g. and 1h., 49.163 (2) (am) 2., 49.19 (1) (a) 2. a. and (4) (d) (intro.), 1., 2., 3., 4., and 5., 49.345 (2), 49.43 (12), 49.471 (1) (b) 2., 49.90 (4), 54.01 (36) (a), 54.960 (1), 69.03 (15), 69.11 (4) (b), 69.12 (5), 69.13 (2) (b) 4., 69.14 (1) (c) 4., (e) (title) and 1., (f) 1., and (g) and (2) (b) 2. d., 69.15 (1), (3) (title), (a) (intro.), 1., 2., and 3., (b) 1., 2., 3., and 4. (intro.), a., and b., and (d), and (3m) (title), (a) (intro.) and 3., and (b), 71.03 (2) (d) (title), 1., 2., and 3., (g), and (m) 2. and (4) (a) (as it relates to gendered references), 71.05 (22) (a) (title), 71.07 (5m) (a) 3. and (9e) (b), 71.09 (13) (a) 2., 71.52 (4), 71.83 (1) (a) 8. and (b) 5., 77.25 (8m), 77.54 (7) (b) 1., 101.91 (5m), 102.07 (5) (b) and (c), 103.10 (1) (h), 103.165 (3) (a) 3., 111.32 (12), 115.76 (12) (a) 1. and (13), 146.34 (1) (f), 157.05, 182.004 (6), 250.04 (3) (a), 301.50 (1), 700.19 (2), 705.01 (4) and (4m), 706.09 (1) (e), 765.001 (2), 765.01, 765.03 (1), 765.16 (1m) (intro.) and (c), 765.23, 765.24, 765.30 (3) (a), 766.587 (7) (form) 9., 766.588 (9) (form) 13., 766.589 (10) (form) 14., 767.215 (2) (b) and (5) (a) 2., 767.323, 767.80 (1) (intro.) and (c) and (2), 767.803, 767.804 (1) (a) 4., 767.805 (title), (1), (1m), (2) (a) and (b), (3) (title) and (a), (4) (intro.) and (d), (5) (a) and (b), and (6) (a) (intro.), 767.855, 767.863 (1m), 767.87 (1m) (intro.), (8), and (9), 767.883 (1), 769.316 (9), 769.401 (2) (a), 815.20 (1), 822.40 (4), 851.30 (2) (a), 852.01 (1) (f) 1., 2., and 3., 854.03 (3), 891.39 (title), (1) (a) and (b), and (3), 891.40 (2), 891.405, 891.407, 891.41 (title), (1) (intro.) and (a), and (2), 905.05 (title), 938.02 (13), 938.396 (2g) (g), 943.20 (2) (c), 943.201 (1) (b) 8., and 943.205 (2) (b), and the creation of ss. 69.15 (3) (b) 3m., 765.02 (3), 891.40 (1) (b) and (3), 891.41 (3), and 990.01 (22h), (39), and (40m), and the repeal and recreation of s. 29.563 (3) (a) 3. (as it relates to gendered references) to harmonize the language of the Wisconsin statutes relating to marriage and the determination of parentage with the provision of s. 990.001 (2), which specifies that words importing one gender extend and may be applied to any gender. The legislature intends that by amending the statutes relating to marriage and the determination of parentage with respect to married couples to use gender neutral language where appropriate so as to clarify that the same statutory rights and responsibilities apply between married persons of the same sex as between married persons of different sexes and to extend some of the presumptions of paternity to either parent, the Wisconsin statutes will be better aligned with the holding of the U.S. Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584, 192 L. Ed. 2d 609 (2015), which recognizes that same-sex couples have a fundamental constitutional right to marriage.

AB50,1667,19 (2) Delayed penalty application for violating prohibition. Notwithstanding s. 941.285, no person may be subject to a penalty for violating s. 941.285 (1) with regard to the possession of any device prohibited under that section for the first 180 days after the effective date of this subsection.

AB50,1668,3 (3) Real estate condition reports; disclosures related to flooding. Notwithstanding s. 709.035, the treatment of ss. 709.03 (form) F4., G1., and G1m. and 709.033 (form) E3., F3m., and F3n. does not require a property owner that has furnished to a prospective buyer of the property an original or amended report before the effective date of this subsection to submit an amended report with respect to the information required by ss. 709.03 (form) F4., G1., and G1m. and 709.033 (form) E3., F3m., and F3n.

AB50,9201 Section 9201. Fiscal changes; Administration.

AB50,9202 Section 9202. Fiscal changes; Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

AB50,9203 Section 9203. Fiscal changes; Arts Board.

AB50,9204 Section 9204. Fiscal changes; Building Commission.

AB50,9205 Section 9205. Fiscal changes; Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board.

AB50,9206 Section 9206. Fiscal changes; Children and Families.

AB50,9207 Section 9207. Fiscal changes; Circuit Courts.

AB50,9208 Section 9208. Fiscal changes; Corrections.

AB50,9209 Section 9209. Fiscal changes; Court of Appeals.

AB50,9210 Section 9210. Fiscal changes; District Attorneys.

AB50,9211 Section 9211. Fiscal changes; Educational Communications Board.

AB50,9212 Section 9212. Fiscal changes; Elections Commission.

AB50,9213 Section 9213. Fiscal changes; Employee Trust Funds.

AB50,9214 Section 9214. Fiscal changes; Employment Relations Commission.

AB50,9215 Section 9215. Fiscal changes; Ethics Commission.

AB50,9216 Section 9216. Fiscal changes; Financial Institutions.

AB50,1669,2 (1) Appropriation transfer to the office of the secretary of state. Notwithstanding s. 20.144 (1) (g), in the 2025-26 fiscal year, the amount transferred under that appropriation to the appropriation account under s. 20.575 (1) (g) shall be $502,900.

AB50,9217 Section 9217. Fiscal changes; Governor.

AB50,9218 Section 9218. Fiscal changes; Health and Educational Facilities Authority.

AB50,9219 Section 9219. Fiscal changes; Health Services.

AB50,1669,9 (1) Extended intensive treatment surcharge balance transfer. The unencumbered balance in the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (2) (gL), 2023 stats., is transferred to the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (2) (g).

AB50,1669,13 (2) Winnebago Mental Health Institute. There is transferred from the general fund to the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (2) (gk) $18,599,500 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $15,251,000 in fiscal year 2026-27 to support the operations of Winnebago Mental Health Institute.

AB50,9220 Section 9220. Fiscal changes; Higher Educational Aids Board.

AB50,9221 Section 9221. Fiscal changes; Historical Society.

AB50,9222 Section 9222. Fiscal changes; Housing and Economic Development Authority.

AB50,9223 Section 9223. Fiscal changes; Insurance.

AB50,1669,23 (1) Health insurance risk-sharing plan balance transfer. Any balance of moneys that was credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.145 (5) (g), 2013 stats., or s. 20.145 (5) (k), 2013 stats., and that was not lapsed as a result of 2015 Wisconsin Act 55 is transferred in fiscal year 2025-26 to the appropriation account under s. 20.145 (1) (g).

AB50,9224 Section 9224. Fiscal changes; Investment Board.

AB50,9225 Section 9225. Fiscal changes; Joint Committee on Finance.

AB50,9226 Section 9226. Fiscal changes; Judicial Commission.

AB50,9227 Section 9227. Fiscal changes; Justice.

AB50,9228 Section 9228. Fiscal changes; Legislature.

AB50,9229 Section 9229. Fiscal changes; Lieutenant Governor.

AB50,9230 Section 9230. Fiscal changes; Local Government.

AB50,9231 Section 9231. Fiscal changes; Military Affairs.

AB50,9232 Section 9232. Fiscal changes; Natural Resources.

AB50,1670,12 (1) Transfer from capital improvement fund to the conservation fund. In fiscal year 2026-27, there is transferred from the capital improvement fund to the forestry account of the conservation fund an amount equal to the difference between the following:

AB50,1670,15 (a) The total amount transferred to the capital improvement fund under s. 20.370 (5) (hq) and (hr), 2023 stats., in fiscal years 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26.

AB50,1670,17 (b) The total amount obligated under s. 23.0917 (3) (bt) 3. and (bw) 2. in fiscal years 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 minus $4,000,000.

AB50,1670,21 (2) Water resources account lapses. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (c), in fiscal year 2025-26, there is lapsed to the conservation fund $386,500 from the account under s. 20.370 (7) (fr); $436,600 from the account under s. 20.370 (7) (ft); and $176,900 from the account under s. 20.370 (7) (fw).

AB50,1670,24 (3) 5r processors cleanup funding lapse. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (c), the unencumbered balance of s. 20.370 (4) (hs) on the effective date of this subsection is lapsed to the environmental fund.

AB50,9233 Section 9233. Fiscal changes; Public Defender Board.

AB50,9234 Section 9234. Fiscal changes; Public Instruction.

AB50,9235 Section 9235. Fiscal changes; Public Lands, Board of Commissioners of.

AB50,9236 Section 9236. Fiscal changes; Public Service Commission.

AB50,9237 Section 9237. Fiscal changes; Revenue.

AB50,1671,9 (1) Division of alcohol beverages. The unencumbered balances in the appropriation accounts under s. 20.566 (1) (ha), 2023 stats., and s. 20.566 (1) (hd), 2023 stats., are transferred to the appropriation account under s. 20.566 (9) (g).

AB50,1671,11 (2) Date of computer aid payments. In fiscal year 2025-26, there is transferred from the general fund to the local government fund $98,047,100.