2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-4526/1
EVM:skw
October 2, 2025 - Introduced by Senators Smith, Hesselbein, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Habush Sinykin, L. Johnson, Keyeski, Larson, Pfaff, Ratcliff, Roys, Spreitzer, Wall and Wirch, cosponsored by Representatives Fitzgerald, Vining, Anderson, Andraca, Arney, Bare, Billings, Brown, Clancy, Cruz, DeSanto, Doyle, Emerson, Goodwin, Haywood, Hong, Hysell, Johnson, Kirsch, Madison, Mayadev, McCarville, McGuire, Miresse, Moore Omokunde, Neubauer, Ortiz-Velez, Palmeri, Phelps, Prado, Rivera-Wagner, Roe, Sheehan, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Spaude, Stroud, Stubbs, Subeck, Taylor, Tenorio and Udell. Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development.
SB465,1,3
1An Act to repeal 16.75 (1p), 16.855 (1p), 66.0901 (1) (ae), 66.0901 (1) (am), 266.0901 (6m) and 66.0901 (6s); to amend 66.0901 (6) of the statutes; relating
3to: project labor agreements and public contracts. Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the state and local units of government are prohibited from engaging in certain practices in letting bids for state procurement or public works contracts. Among these prohibitions, as established by 2017 Wisconsin Act 3, the state and local governments may not do any of the following in specifications for bids for the contracts: 1) require that a bidder enter into an agreement with a labor organization; 2) consider, when awarding a contract, whether a bidder has or has not entered into an agreement with a labor organization; or 3) require that a bidder enter into an agreement that requires that the bidder or bidder’s employees become or remain members of a labor organization or pay any dues or fees to a labor organization. This bill repeals these bidding specification restrictions, allowing state and local units of government to opt to use such specifications. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SB465,1
1Section 1. 16.75 (1p) of the statutes is repealed. SB465,22Section 2. 16.855 (1p) of the statutes is repealed. SB465,33Section 3. 66.0901 (1) (ae) of the statutes is repealed. SB465,44Section 4. 66.0901 (1) (am) of the statutes is repealed. SB465,55Section 5. 66.0901 (6) of the statutes is amended to read: SB465,2,17666.0901 (6) Separation of contracts; classification of contractors. In 7public contracts for the construction, repair, remodeling or improvement of a public 8building or structure, other than highway structures and facilities, a municipality 9may bid projects based on a single or multiple division of the work. Public contracts 10shall be awarded according to the division of work selected for bidding. Except as 11provided in sub. (6m), the The municipality may set out in any public contract 12reasonable and lawful conditions as to the hours of labor, wages, residence, 13character and classification of workers to be employed by any contractor, classify 14contractors as to their financial responsibility, competency and ability to perform 15work and set up a classified list of contractors. The municipality may reject the bid 16of any person, if the person has not been classified for the kind or amount of work in 17the bid. SB465,618Section 6. 66.0901 (6m) of the statutes is repealed. SB465,719Section 7. 66.0901 (6s) of the statutes is repealed.
