Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB94

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/28/25
• Refer: 2/28/25
• Engrossed: 3/18/25
• Enrolled: 3/20/25
• Chaptered: 3/28/25
• Passed: 3/28/25

Caption

An Act Relating to: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE)

Summary

AB94 ratifies the 2024-25 fiscal year tentative labor agreement between the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee for employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit. The bill confirms that the agreement, as approved by the employees and recommended by the Joint Committee on Employment Relations, is legally authorized and may be implemented by the state. The act also authorizes the necessary expenditure of state funds to carry out the agreement, drawing from existing appropriations under s. 20.865(1), subject to the applicable statutory provisions. It requires the Division of Personnel Management to file an official certified copy of the agreement with the Secretary of State and makes clear that only the official agreement is approved by the legislature, not any side understandings outside that document. The act takes effect the day after publication, except for any provisions in the agreement that specify different effective dates.

Impact

The bill affects Wisconsin labor and appropriations law by giving legislative approval to a negotiated collective bargaining agreement for a specific state employee bargaining unit and by authorizing spending needed to implement that agreement. It does not broadly rewrite employment law, but it does bind state agencies to the terms of the ratified contract and confirms the use of state funds for wages, benefits, and other contract provisions covered by the agreement.

Sentiment

The available voting record suggests strong bipartisan support and little public controversy around the bill. The Assembly passed it unanimously, 94-0, and the Senate concurred by a wide margin, 31-1. No committee transcripts were provided, but the overwhelming votes indicate the agreement was generally viewed as routine and acceptable to both chambers.

Contention

The main point of potential contention in bills of this type is usually the cost of implementing the labor agreement and the scope of benefits or compensation being authorized, but no specific objections are documented in the provided materials. The bill also limits approval to the official copy of the agreement, which can matter if there were any side letters or informal understandings not included in the ratified text. The lone Senate dissent suggests at least one legislator objected, but the record provided does not identify the reason.