Wisconsin Legislative Session Report (2025–26)

The Alliance had a targeted and meaningful impact on the recent legislative session. All bills supported by the Alliance achieved a 100 percent passage rate through the Legislature and are well-positioned for gubernatorial approval. Thank you to Rep. Scott Allen for his leadership on the court fee legislation. We also helped secure advancement of the I-94 Waukesha County project to the study phase through WISDOT/TPC, where it was selected as one of only two projects this year. These successes would not have been possible without our engaged members, whether signing onto coalitions, traveling to Madison to meet with legislators, or supporting our efforts more broadly. The Alliance will continue to build on this momentum heading into the fall election season and the next legislative session.

Legislative Action

• State Assembly: 1,238 bills introduced
• State Senate: 1,149 bills introduced

Executive Action

• 197 bills signed into law
• 85 vetoed

Alliance Legislative Priorities

The Alliance supported 5 bills this session:

• 3 signed into law
• 2 enrolled (awaiting Governor action)

Enacted

• Act 78 (AB 280 / SB 286): Expands Wisconsin’s Business Development Tax Credit to support workforce housing and childcare investments. Businesses can now receive credits for contributions to third parties, such as nonprofits or developers, not just for their own capital expenditures.
• Act 179 (AB 320 / SB 333): Increases and indexes court fees and surcharges across the state to account for inflation. The law generates additional revenue for the court system while modernizing fee structures for various judicial services.
• Act 173 (AB 453 / SB 472): Streamlines rezoning for residential development by requiring approvals when certain conditions in comprehensive plans are met. It ensures local zoning aligns with long-term housing plans and reduces regulatory barriers for new housing projects.

Enrolled

• AB 194 / SB 180: Expands WHEDA housing programs by allowing multiple financing tools to be combined and broadening eligibility, particularly in rural areas. The goal is to increase the supply of affordable and workforce housing across Wisconsin.
• AB 451 / SB 480: Authorizes municipalities to create residential Tax Incremental Districts (TIDs) for owner-occupied housing. These TIDs use pay-as-you-go financing to support infrastructure and encourage new home construction and homeownership.

Note on Enrolled Bills

• “Enrolled” bills have passed both houses and are awaiting action by the Governor.
• The Legislature has 7 to 30 days after the end of a floor period to submit bills to the Governor.
• Additional enactments or vetoes are expected.

Alliance Non-Legislative Activity

• I-94 Waukesha County Project
  • WISDOT staff recommended the project as the #1 priority to the TPC
  • TPC selected it as one of two projects for further study