AB43,2429 19Section 2429 . 196.504 (2) (c) 1. b. of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1329,2020 196.504 (2) (c) 1. b. Require that projects serve unserved areas.
AB43,2430 21Section 2430. 196.504 (2) (c) 1. h. of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1330,622 196.504 (2) (c) 1. h. Projects that are capable of offering service at actual
23download speeds of 100 megabits per second or greater and upload speeds of 100
24megabits per second or greater and shall give higher priority to projects that are
25capable of exceeding these speeds. Beginning on July 1 of the 2nd calendar year

1beginning after the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date], and on
2July 1 of each successive odd-numbered year thereafter, the commission may adjust
3the threshold service speeds designated in this subdivision if, upon review, it
4determines there is good cause to do so in order to align with changes in technology
5and actual market conditions. If the commission adjusts these threshold speeds, it
6shall publicize the adjusted speeds on its website.
AB43,2431 7Section 2431. 196.504 (2) (c) 2. d. and e. of the statutes are created to read:
AB43,1330,88 196.504 (2) (c) 2. d. The affordability of the service.
AB43,1330,109 e. All federal funding for broadband facilities in the project area of the proposed
10project.
AB43,2432 11Section 2432 . 196.504 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
AB43,2433 12Section 2433. 196.504 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1330,1613 196.504 (2m) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), from the appropriation
14under s. 20.155 (3) (c), each fiscal year the commission shall award no less than 10
15percent of the amount in the schedule for that appropriation in fiscal year 2023-24
16as broadband expansion grants under sub. (2).
AB43,1330,2117 (b) Except as provided in par. (c), if the remaining unobligated balance of the
18appropriation under s. 20.155 (3) (c) is less than 10 percent of the amount in the
19schedule for that appropriation in fiscal year 2023-24, the commission shall award
20the entire remaining balance in broadband expansion grants under sub. (2) in that
21fiscal year.
AB43,1330,2522 (c) If in any fiscal year, the commission does not receive sufficient broadband
23expansion grant applications that meet the eligibility criteria to award the minimum
24amounts described under par. (a) or (b), the commission shall award the maximum
25amount of broadband expansion grants under sub. (2) possible that fiscal year.
AB43,2434
1Section 2434. 196.504 (2r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1331,32 196.504 (2r) The commission shall administer the line extension assistance
3program and shall have the following powers:
AB43,1331,94 (a) To make financial assistance grants to residents of properties that are not
5served by a broadband service provider to assist in paying the customer costs
6associated with line extension necessary to connect broadband service to the
7properties. The amount of a financial assistance grant under this subsection may
8not exceed $4,000. Grants awarded under this subsection shall be paid from the
9appropriation under s. 20.155 (3) (b).
AB43,1331,1210 (b) To establish criteria for evaluating applications and awarding financial
11assistance grants under this subsection. The criteria shall give priority to properties
12that serve as a primary residence.
AB43,2435 13Section 2435 . 196.504 (2t) of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1331,1714 196.504 (2t) (a) Within 10 days of the close of the broadband expansion grant
15application process, the commission shall publish on its website the proposed
16geographic broadband service area and the proposed broadband service speeds for
17each application for a broadband expansion grant submitted.
AB43,1331,2118 (b) An Internet service provider in or proximate to the proposed project area
19may, within 30 days of publication of the information under par. (a), submit in writing
20to the commission a challenge to an application. A challenge shall contain
21information demonstrating one of the following:
AB43,1331,2522 1. The provider currently provides available, reliable, and affordable fixed
23wireless or wired broadband service to any part of the proposed project area at
24download speeds of 100 megabits per second or greater and upload speeds of 20
25megabits per second or greater.
AB43,1332,7
12. The provider commits to complete construction of broadband infrastructure
2and to provide available, reliable, and affordable fixed wireless or wired broadband
3service to any part of the proposed project area at speeds equal to or greater than the
4speeds described under subd. 1. no later than 24 months after the date of the
5commission's order awarding broadband expansion grants. The provider shall
6submit documentation showing this commitment, including engineering plans,
7invoices related to project materials, permit applications, and a project timeline.
AB43,1332,118 (bm) An Internet service provider that submits a challenge under this
9subsection shall allow the commission to inspect the broadband infrastructure
10identified by a provider in a challenge under par. (b) 1. or 2. to ensure it meets
11minimum service standards.
AB43,1332,1612 (c) The commission shall evaluate an Internet service provider's challenge
13under this subsection, and is prohibited from funding any portion of a project relating
14to the area that is the subject of the challenge if the commission determines that the
15challenger's provision of or commitment to provide broadband service that meets the
16requirements of par. (b) in that area is credible.
AB43,1333,317 (d) If the commission denies funding to an applicant as a result of an Internet
18service provider's challenge made under this subsection and the Internet service
19provider does not fulfill its commitment to provide available, reliable, and affordable
20broadband service in the area that is the subject of the challenge, the commission is
21prohibited from awarding grant funding to that Internet service provider for the
22following 2 grant cycles and that Internet service provider is prohibited from
23participating in the challenge process under par. (b) for the following 2 grant cycles,
24unless the commission determines that the Internet service provider's failure to
25fulfill its commitment was the result of factors beyond the Internet service provider's

1control. The commission shall give priority scoring treatment to an application
2targeting a grant project area that remains unserved as a result of a successful
3challenge and an unfulfilled commitment.
AB43,2436 4Section 2436 . 196.504 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB43,1333,75 196.504 (3) (intro.) The commission shall encourage the development of
6broadband infrastructure in underserved unserved areas of the state and do all of the
7following:
AB43,2437 8Section 2437. 196.504 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1333,109 196.504 (10) The commission shall administer a digital equity program under
10which it may do all of the following:
AB43,1333,1111 (a) Provide outreach and assistance to promote digital equity.
AB43,1333,1212 (b) Coordinate the administration of federal and state digital equity funding.
AB43,1333,1313 (c) Provide digital navigation services.
AB43,1333,1414 (d) Implement digital inclusion activities.
AB43,2438 15Section 2438. 196.5048 of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1333,17 16196.5048 Internet service provider registration. No person may provide
17Internet service in this state unless the person registers with the commission.
AB43,2439 18Section 2439. 196.745 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB43,1333,2519 196.745 (2) (a) Any person violating sub. (1) (a), or any order or rule issued
20under sub. (1) (a), shall forfeit an amount not exceeding $25,000 $200,000. Each day
21of violation is a separate violation of sub. (1) (a). No person may forfeit an amount
22exceeding $500,000 $2,000,000 for a single persisting violation of sub. (1) (a) or any
23order or any rule issued under sub. (1) (a). The commission shall remit all forfeitures
24paid under this paragraph to the secretary of administration for deposit in the school
25fund.
AB43,2440
1Section 2440. 200.57 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB43,1334,5 2200.57 (title) Minority financial advisers and investment firms and
3disabled
and veteran-owned businesses, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or
4transgender-owned, and disability-owned financial advisers and
5investment firms
.
AB43,2441 6Section 2441. 200.57 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 200.57 (1) (f) and
7amended to read:
AB43,1334,108 200.57 (1) (f) “Disabled veteran-owned Veteran-owned financial adviser" and
9disabled veteran-owned investment firm" mean a financial adviser and investment
10firm, respectively, certified by the department of administration under s. 16.283 (3).
AB43,2442 11Section 2442 . 200.57 (1) (ae) of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1334,1412 200.57 (1) (ae) “Disability-owned financial adviser" and “disability-owned
13investment firm" mean a financial adviser and investment firm, respectively,
14certified by the department of administration under s. 16.289 (3).
AB43,2443 15Section 2443 . 200.57 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1334,1916 200.57 (1) (c) “Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-owned financial adviser"
17and “Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-owned investment firm" mean a
18financial adviser and investment firm, respectively, certified by the department of
19administration under s. 16.288 (3).
AB43,2444 20Section 2444. 200.57 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB43,1334,2521 200.57 (3) The commission shall make efforts to ensure that at least 1 percent
22of the total funds expended for financial and investment analysis and for common
23stock and convertible bond brokerage commissions in each fiscal year is expended for
24the services of disabled veteran-owned financial advisers or disabled
25veteran-owned investment firms.
AB43,2445
1Section 2445. 200.57 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1335,62 200.57 (4) The commission shall make efforts to ensure that at least 1 percent
3of the total funds expended for financial and investment analysis and for common
4stock and convertible bond brokerage commissions in each fiscal year is expended for
5the services of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-owned financial advisers or
6lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-owned investment firms.
AB43,2446 7Section 2446 . 200.57 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1335,128 200.57 (5) The commission shall make efforts to ensure that at least 1 percent
9of the total funds expended for financial and investment analysis and for common
10stock and convertible bond brokerage commissions in each fiscal year is expended for
11the services of disability-owned financial advisers or disability-owned investment
12firms.
AB43,2447 13Section 2447 . 224.55 of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1335,15 14224.55 Support accounts for individuals with disabilities. (1)
15Definitions. In this section:
AB43,1335,1616 (a) “ABLE account" means an account established under an ABLE program.
AB43,1335,1817 (b) “ABLE program” means a qualified ABLE program under section 529A of
18the Internal Revenue Code.
AB43,1335,23 19(2) Department to establish ABLE program. (a) Implementation directly or
20by agreement.
The department shall implement and administer an ABLE program,
21either directly or by entering into a formal or informal agreement with another state,
22or with an entity representing an alliance of states, to establish an ABLE program
23or otherwise administer ABLE program services for the residents of this state.
AB43,1336,424 (b) Review of other states' partnership programs. The department shall review
25section 529A ABLE state partnership programs offered by other states and, no later

1than the first day of the 10th month beginning after the effective date of this
2subsection, determine whether, as the best option for Wisconsin residents, the
3department will implement the ABLE program under par. (a) directly or by entering
4into an agreement.
AB43,1336,75 (c) Agreement terms. An agreement under par. (a) may require the party
6contracting with the department, in addition to providing any other services, to do
7any of the following:
AB43,1336,128 1. Develop and implement an ABLE program in accordance with all
9requirements under section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code, and modify this
10ABLE program as necessary for participants in the ABLE program to qualify for the
11federal income tax benefits or treatment provided under section 529A of the Internal
12Revenue Code and rules adopted under section 529A.
AB43,1336,1513 2. Engage the services of vendors on a contractual basis for rendering
14professional and technical assistance and advice in developing marketing plans and
15promotional materials to publicize the ABLE program.
AB43,1336,1816 3. Work with organizations with expertise in supporting people with
17disabilities and their families in administering the agreement and ensuring
18accessibility of the ABLE program for people with disabilities.
AB43,1336,2019 4. Take any other action necessary to implement and administer the ABLE
20program.
AB43,1336,2221 (d) Information about ABLE accounts. The department shall include on its
22website information concerning ABLE accounts.
AB43,1336,24 23(3) Confidentiality. The department shall keep confidential any personal and
24financial information maintained by the department relating to an ABLE account.
AB43,1337,2
1(4) Funding; rules. (a) All expenses incurred by the department under this
2section shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.144 (1) (g).
AB43,1337,43 (b) The department may promulgate rules to implement and administer this
4section.
AB43,2448 5Section 2448 . 224.56 of the statutes is created to read:
AB43,1337,7 6224.56 Small business retirement savings program. (1) Definitions. In
7this section:
AB43,1337,98 (a) “Account" means a retirement savings account established for an eligible
9employee under the program under this section.
AB43,1337,1010 (b) “Board" means the small business retirement savings board.
AB43,1337,1211 (c) “Eligible employee” means an individual who resides in this state and who
12is any of the following:
AB43,1337,1413 1. Employed by a private employer that does not offer a retirement savings
14plan.
AB43,1337,1615 2. Employed by a private employer and not eligible to participate in a
16retirement savings plan offered by the private employer.
AB43,1337,1817 (d) “Investment administrator” means the vendor with which the board has
18contracted under sub. (2) (b).
AB43,1337,2019 (e) “Participating employer” means a private employer that qualifies for and
20has elected to participate in the program as provided in sub. (4) (a).
AB43,1337,2121 (f) “Roth IRA” has the meaning given in 26 USC 408A (b).
AB43,1337,2322 (g) “Traditional IRA” means an individual retirement account under 26 USC
23408
.
AB43,1338,3
1(2) Establishment of program. (a) Subject to par. (b), the board shall establish
2and oversee a small business retirement savings program that meets the
3requirements specified in this section.
AB43,1338,64 (b) After soliciting competitive sealed proposals under s. 16.75 (2m), the board
5shall select and contract with a vendor to provide the following services in
6administering the small business retirement savings program:
AB43,1338,77 1. Investment services.
AB43,1338,88 2. Accounting and record-keeping services.
AB43,1338,99 3. Any other professional services considered necessary by the board.
AB43,1338,11 10(3) General program requirements. The board shall design the program
11under this section so that it meets all of the following requirements:
AB43,1338,1512 (a) The program allows eligible employees to contribute to their accounts
13through payroll deductions and requires participating employers to withhold from
14employees' wages, through payroll deductions, employees' account contributions and
15remit those contributions directly to the investment administrator.
AB43,1338,1916 (b) Subject to the record-keeping requirement under sub. (6) (b), the program
17allows the investment administrator to pool accounts for investment purposes and
18designates the investment administrator as the trustee of account contributions and
19earnings.
AB43,1338,2220 (c) The administrative costs of the program are low, and the fee that the
21investment administrator may charge an eligible employee is limited to a fixed
22monthly fee in an amount approved by the board.
AB43,1338,2423 (d) The program does not require an eligible employee to maintain a minimum
24account balance if the employee makes contributions to the account each pay period.
AB43,1339,3
1(e) The program allows account consolidation and roll over, including roll over
2to a retirement savings option not part of the program to the extent allowed under
3the Internal Revenue Code.
AB43,1339,64 (f) The program allows an eligible employee who has established an account to
5continue the account after separating from employment with a participating
6employer if the account is maintained with a positive balance.
AB43,1339,117 (g) The program incorporates maximum contribution limits established by the
8board in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code contribution limits for Roth
9IRAs, separately and in combination with traditional IRAs, as well as any similar
10contribution limit for account types other than a Roth IRA if the account type is
11offered under sub. (5) (a) 2.
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