WisconsinBill would tie public jobs and contracts to work eligibility checks
If enacted, the measure would require public employers to check applicants and restrict certain government contracts based on federal work eligibility findings.
What it does
State purchasing officials and covered agencies and authorities could not award certain purchase contracts to employers that are not enrolled in the federal work eligibility program or knowingly employ someone it identifies as ineligible.
The state department could not award covered construction contracts to employers that are not enrolled in the federal work eligibility program or knowingly employ someone it identifies as ineligible.
Local governments and state agencies would check job applicants through the federal program and could not offer jobs to people it identifies as ineligible to work in the United States.
Argument forChecking applicants through the federal system could help public employers avoid offering jobs to people it identifies as ineligible to work in the United States.
Argument againstSome employers could lose public contracts for not enrolling in the federal system, which may narrow the pool of businesses able to bid.
More detail
State purchasing officials and covered agencies and authorities could not award certain purchase contracts to employers that fail the work eligibility rules. This covers purchases of materials, supplies, equipment, or services by the department, designated purchasing agents, agencies making purchases under the cited law, and authorities. The rule against contracting with an employer that is not enrolled would not apply if the federal program is discontinued. The contract restriction also applies to employers that knowingly employ someone the federal program identifies as ineligible to work in the United States. Contracts must notify employers of these rules and include a place for the awarded employer to sign that it complies. If officials discover a contract or order violates these rules, they must end it without liability for the uncompleted portion or for materials or services the employer bought or paid for to complete it. These rules would first apply to a covered contract or order entered into on the effective date of the relevant section; the text does not provide that date.
The department could not award covered construction contracts to employers that fail the work eligibility rules. This covers construction work let by contract under the state construction contracting law. The rule against contracting with an employer that is not enrolled would not apply if the federal program is discontinued. The restriction also applies to an employer that knowingly employs someone the federal program identifies as ineligible to work in the United States. Contracts must notify employers of these rules and include a place for the awarded employer to sign that it complies. These rules would first apply to a covered contract entered into on the effective date of the relevant section; the text does not provide that date.
Local governments and state agencies would check applicants through the federal program and could not offer jobs to people it identifies as ineligible. Local governments would check people they intend to hire. State agencies would check people they intend to appoint to a position. These rules would not apply if the federal program is discontinued. The local government rule would apply to hires on or after its effective date, and the state agency rule would begin on its effective date. The text leaves both dates blank.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- Apr 3Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-3-2026Major
- Apr 2Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026To Governor
- Mar 25Report correctly enrolled on 3-25-2026Minor
- Mar 18Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Mar 17Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 17Read a third time and concurred inPassed Senate
- Mar 17Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Mar 17Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Mar 17Read a second timeMinor
- Mar 16Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Vote recorded Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 16Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 16Available for scheduling
- Mar 16Withdrawn from committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development and rereferred to committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)Minor
- Jan 14Read first time and referred to committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic DevelopmentMinor
- Jan 14Received from AssemblyMinor
- Jan 13Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 13Read a third time and passed, Ayes 54, Noes 45Passed Assembly
- Jan 13Rules suspended
- Jan 13Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Jan 13Read a second timeMinor
- Jan 8Placed on calendar 1-13-2026 by Committee on Rules
- 2025
- Nov 3Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Oct 22Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Oct 14Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Oct 10Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Oct 9Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Oct 9Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Oct 8Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Commerce, Ayes 4, Noes 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Oct 8Report passage recommended by Committee on Commerce, Ayes 4, Noes 2Minor
- Oct 6Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Oct 2Executive action taken
- Oct 2Public hearing held
- May 30Read first time and referred to Committee on CommerceMinor
- May 30Introduced by Representatives Piwowarczyk, Brill, Brooks, Dittrich, Goeben, Knodl, Kreibich, Maxey, Melotik, Murphy, Mursau, Steffen and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Wimberger, Jagler, Nass and TomczykIntroduced
ImmigrationGovernment & Ethics