Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB940

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/28/26
• Refer: 1/28/26
• Engrossed: 2/10/26
• Refer: 2/11/26
• Enrolled: 3/19/26
• Chaptered: 3/27/26
• Passed: 3/27/26

Caption

An Act to repeal 238.03 (5) and 238.04 (15) of the statutes; Relating to: eliminating defunct references to certain economic development positions (suggested as remedial language by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation).

Summary

AB940 is a narrow remedial bill that cleans up Wisconsin statutes by repealing two obsolete provisions in chapter 238 related to Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) staffing. Specifically, it removes a requirement that WEDC’s board hire an electronics manufacturing small business development director and a separate provision requiring appointment and supervision of an economic development liaison project position. Both positions had already expired on December 31, 2022, so the bill updates the law to match current reality. The bill was introduced as a Law Revision Committee measure at the request of WEDC and is described in the prefatory note as remedial legislation. It does not create new programs, funding, or regulatory duties; instead, it eliminates outdated statutory references that could otherwise cause confusion or suggest continuing obligations where none exist. The act takes effect under Wisconsin’s general effective-date rule after publication.

Impact

AB940 has a limited but clarifying effect on state law by removing two expired WEDC-related statutory mandates from the Wisconsin Statutes. It amends chapter 238 by repealing s. 238.03 (5) and s. 238.04 (15), thereby eliminating references to positions that no longer exist and reducing the risk of statutory inconsistency or misinterpretation. The practical impact is primarily on WEDC governance and statutory maintenance rather than on businesses, local governments, or the public.

Sentiment

The available context suggests broad, routine support for the bill’s purpose. Because it is a technical cleanup measure requested by WEDC and characterized as remedial language, the general sentiment appears neutral to favorable, with the Law Revision Committee concluding that the bill makes minor substantive changes that are desirable as a matter of public policy. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided showing opposition or debate.

Contention

There is little apparent contention in the materials provided. The only potentially notable issue is that the bill is described as making “minor substantive changes,” which can sometimes draw scrutiny in technical cleanup legislation, but here those changes are limited to removing expired references. Any concern would likely be confined to whether the repeal is purely clerical or whether it subtly affects WEDC’s statutory structure, though the text and notes indicate the provisions had already lapsed and no longer had operative effect.