Employment eligibility verification program bill vetoed

Wisconsin Legislative Events

Published April 3rd, 2026

Detected April 4th, 2026

Summary

Wisconsin Assembly Bill 281, which would have created an employment eligibility verification program and granted rule-making authority to state agencies, was vetoed by the Governor on April 3, 2026. The bill had passed the Assembly 54-45 on January 13, 2026. Since the veto prevents the bill from becoming law, no changes to Wisconsin statutes 16.75, 16.855, 66.05025, or 230.144 will occur.

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What changed

Wisconsin AB281 has been vetoed by the Governor, preventing the bill from becoming law. The bill would have amended Wisconsin statutes to create an employment eligibility verification program and granted rule-making authority to state agencies under sections 16.75(10r), 16.856, 66.05025, and 230.144. The legislation passed the Assembly 54-45 but was rejected before reaching full implementation.

No compliance actions are required as the bill did not become law. Employers and government contractors in Wisconsin will continue operating under existing employment eligibility verification requirements (E-Verify). The vetoed bill would have affected state procurement and contracting procedures but this legislative effort has concluded without effect.

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Wisconsin / AB281 Vetoed AB281 Assembly Bill Vetoed 2026-04-03

The employment eligibility verification program and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

An Act to amend 16.75 (1) (a) 1. and 16.855 (1m); to create 16.75 (10r), 16.856, 66.05025 and 230.144 of the statutes; Relating to: the employment eligibility verification program and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

Bill Details

State Wisconsin

Session 2025-2026 Regular Session

Chamber House

Official Source docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/re...

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Action History

2026-04-03 A Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-3-2026 2026-04-02 A Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026 2026-03-25 A Report correctly enrolled on 3-25-2026 2026-03-18 A Received from Senate concurred in 2026-03-17 S Ordered immediately messaged 2026-03-17 S Read a third time and concurred in 2026-03-17 S Rules suspended to give bill its third reading 2026-03-17 S Ordered to a third reading 2026-03-17 S Read a second time 2026-03-16 S Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1) 2026-03-16 S Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2 2026-03-16 S Available for scheduling 2026-03-16 S Withdrawn from committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development and rereferred to committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c) 2026-01-14 S Read first time and referred to committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development 2026-01-14 S Received from Assembly 2026-01-13 A Ordered immediately messaged 2026-01-13 A Read a third time and passed, Ayes 54, Noes 45 2026-01-13 A Rules suspended 2026-01-13 A Ordered to a third reading 2026-01-13 A Read a second time 2026-01-08 A Placed on calendar 1-13-2026 by Committee on Rules 2025-11-03 A Fiscal estimate received 2025-10-22 A Fiscal estimate received 2025-10-14 A Fiscal estimate received 2025-10-10 A Fiscal estimate received 2025-10-09 A Fiscal estimate received 2025-10-09 A Fiscal estimate received 2025-10-08 A Referred to committee on Rules 2025-10-08 A Report passage recommended by Committee on Commerce, Ayes 4, Noes 2 2025-10-06 A Fiscal estimate received 2025-10-02 A Executive action taken 2025-10-02 A Public hearing held 2025-05-30 A Read first time and referred to Committee on Commerce 2025-05-30 A Introduced