Senate Bill 23
Preemption of city, village, town, or county ordinances requiring employers to provide employees with leave from employment to deal with family, medical, or health issues
Topics: County: Ordinance, Employment, Family, Municipality: Ordinance, Town: Laws, Village: Ordinance
Became law
The governor signed it on May 6, 2011. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Feb 23, 2011
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed 19 to 0
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed 59 to 35
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2011 Wisconsin Act 16
Latest entry in the official record, May 9, 2011: “Published 5-19-2011”
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Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, an employer, including the state, that employs at least 50 individuals on a permanent basis must permit an employee who has been employed by the employer for more than 52 consecutive weeks and who has worked for the employer for at least 1,000 hours during the preceding 52 weeks to take six weeks of family leave in a 12-month period and two weeks of medical leave in a 12-month period. Family leave may be taken for the birth or adoptive placement of a new child or to care for a child, spouse, or parent who has a serious health condition. Medical leave may be taken when the employee has a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the employee's employment duties. An employee is not entitled to receive wages or salary while taking family or medical leave, but may substitute, for portions of family or medical leave, other types of paid or unpaid leave provided by the employer.
This bill states that the provision of family and medical leave that is uniform throughout the state is a matter of statewide concern and that it would be logically inconsistent with, would defeat the purpose of, and would go against the spirit of the state family and medical leave law for a city, village, town, or county to enact an ordinance that requires employers to provide employees with leave from employment for any of the following reasons:
Read the full summary Show less
1. Because the employee has a physical or mental illness, injury, impairment, or condition (health condition); is in need of medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a health condition; or is in need of preventive medical care.
2. To care for a family member who has a health condition; who is in need of medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a health condition; or who is in need of preventive medical care. The bill defines "family member" as a spouse or domestic partner of the employee; a parent, child, sibling, including a foster sibling, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandparent, stepgrandparent, or grandchild of an employee or of an employee's spouse or domestic partner; or any other person who is related by blood, marriage, or adoption to an employee or to an employee's spouse or domestic partner and whose close association with the employee, spouse, or domestic partner makes the person the equivalent of a family member of the employee, spouse, or domestic partner.
3. Because the employee's absence from work is necessary in order for the employee to do any of the following:
a. Seek medical attention or obtain psychological or other counseling for the employee or a family member to recover from any health condition caused by domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking.
b. Obtain services for the employee or a family member from an organization that provides services to victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking.
c. Relocate the residence of the employee or of a family member due to domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking.
d. Initiate, prepare for, or testify, assist, or otherwise participate in any civil or criminal action or proceeding relating to domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking.
4. To deal with any other family, medical, or health issues of the employee or of a family member.
Therefore, the bill requires the state family and medical leave law to be construed as an enactment of statewide concern for the purpose of providing family and medical leave that is uniform throughout the state. As such, the bill prohibits a city, village, town, or county from enacting and administering an ordinance requiring an employer to provide employees with leave from employment, paid or unpaid, for any of the reasons specified in the bill and provides that a city, village, town, or county ordinance requiring leave from employment for those reasons that is in effect on the effective date of the bill is void.
Who's behind it
4 senators are its . All 4 are Republicans.
4 more lawmakers .
See all 8 names Hide the names
Authors (4)
- Alberta Darling · Republican, Senate
- Glenn Grothman · Republican, Senate
- Mary Lazich · Republican, Senate
- Leah Vukmir · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (4)
- Mark Honadel · Republican, Assembly
- Chris Kapenga · Republican, Senate
- Jeffrey Stone · Republican, Assembly
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt · Republican, Assembly
How lawmakers voted
There were 4 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Labor vote to recommend it
Passed, 3 to 0 · Mar 2, 2011
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Passed, 19 to 0 · Mar 3, 2011 · 14 didn't vote
See how each of the 33 senators voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (19)
- Alberta Darling (R, 8)
- Dale Schultz (R, 17)
- Dan Kapanke (R, 32)
- Frank G. Lasee (R, 1)
- Glenn Grothman (R, 20)
- Joe Leibham (R, 9)
- Leah Vukmir (R, 5)
- Luther S. Olsen (R, 14)
- Mary Lazich (R, 28)
- Michael Ellis (R, 19)
- Neal Kedzie (R, 11)
- Pam Galloway (R, 29)
- Randy Hopper (R, 18)
- Rich Zipperer (R, 33)
- Rob Cowles (R, 2)
- Scott L. Fitzgerald (R, 13)
- Sheila Harsdorf (R, 10)
- Terry Moulton (R, 23)
- Van Wanggaard (R, 21)
Didn't vote (14)
- Bob Wirch (D, 22)
- Chris Larson (D, 7)
- Dave Hansen (D, 30)
- Fred A. Risser (D, 26)
- Jim Holperin (D, 12)
- Jon Erpenbach (D, 27)
- Julie M. Lassa (D, 24)
- Kathleen Vinehout (D, 31)
- Lena Taylor (D, 4)
- Mark Miller (D, 16)
- Robert Jauch (D, 25)
- Spencer Coggs (D, 6)
- Tim Carpenter (D, 3)
- Timothy Cullen (D, 15)
Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 19, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly Committee on Labor and Workforce Development vote to recommend it
Passed, 6 to 3 · Apr 5, 2011
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report concurrence recommended by committee on Labor and Workforce Development, Ayes 6, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 59 to 35 · Apr 12, 2011
See how each of the 94 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, I: Independent, R: Republican
Yes (59)
- Alvin Ott (R, 3)
- Amy Loudenbeck (R, 31)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Bill Kramer (R, 97)
- Bob Ziegelbauer (I, 25)
- Chad Weininger (R, 4)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Dale Kooyenga (R, 5)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Dan Meyer (R, 34)
- Daniel LeMahieu (R, 59)
- Dean Kaufert (R, 53)
- Dean Knudson (R, 30)
- Don Pridemore (R, 22)
- Edward Brooks (R, 50)
- Erik Severson (R, 28)
- Evan Wynn (R, 43)
- Garey Bies (R, 1)
- Gary Tauchen (R, 6)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Jeff Fitzgerald (R, 39)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jeffrey Stone (R, 82)
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R, 52)
- Jerry Petrowski (R, 29)
- Jim Ott (R, 23)
- Jim Steineke (R, 5)
- Joan Ballweg (R, 14)
- Joe Knilans (R, 44)
- Joel Kleefisch (R, 38)
- John Klenke (R, 88)
- John Murtha (R, 29)
- John Nygren (R, 89)
- Karl Van Roy (R, 90)
- Kathleen Bernier (R, 23)
- Keith Ripp (R, 42)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lee Nerison (R, 96)
- Louis Molepske Jr. (D, 71)
- Margaret Krusick (D, 7)
- Mark Honadel (R, 21)
- Mary Williams (R, 87)
- Michelle Litjens (R, 56)
- Mike Endsley (R, 26)
- Mike Kuglitsch (R, 84)
- Pat Strachota (R, 58)
- Paul F. Farrow (R, 33)
- Richard Spanbauer (R, 53)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Roger Rivard (R, 75)
- Samantha Kerkman (R, 61)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Scott Suder (R, 69)
- Steve Kestell (R, 27)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Thomas Larson (R, 67)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Warren Petryk (R, 93)
No (35)
- Amy Sue Vruwink (D, 70)
- Andy Jorgensen (D, 43)
- Barbara Toles (D, 17)
- Brett Hulsey (D, 78)
- Chris Danou (D, 92)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Cory Mason (D, 66)
- David Cullen (D, 13)
- Donna Seidel (D, 85)
- Elizabeth Coggs (D, 10)
- Fred Clark (D, 81)
- Frederick Kessler (D, 12)
- Gary Hebl (D, 46)
- Gordon Hintz (D, 54)
- Janet Bewley (D, 25)
- Jason Fields (D, 11)
- Jennifer Shilling (D, 32)
- JoCasta Zamarripa (D, 8)
- Joe Parisi (D, 48)
- John Steinbrink (D, 65)
- Jon Richards (D, 19)
- Josh Zepnick (D, 9)
- Kelda Roys (D, 26)
- Leon Young (D, 16)
- Mark Pocan (D, 78)
- Mark Radcliffe (D, 92)
- Nick Milroy (D, 73)
- Penny Bernard Schaber (D, 57)
- Peter Barca (D, 64)
- Robert Turner (D, 61)
- Sandy Pasch (D, 10)
- Sondy Pope (D, 80)
- Tamara Grigsby (D, 18)
- Terese Berceau (D, 77)
- Tony Staskunas (D, 15)
Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 59, Noes 35, Paired 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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May 9, 2011
The new law was published.
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May 6, 2011
The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 16.
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May 4, 2011
Sent to the governor.
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Apr 12, 2011
The Assembly passed it too, 59 to 35.
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Apr 12, 2011
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Apr 5, 2011
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Apr 5, 2011
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 6 to 3.
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Mar 30, 2011
The committee held a public hearing.
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Mar 8, 2011
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Labor and Workforce Development.
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Mar 8, 2011
The Assembly received it.
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Mar 3, 2011
The Senate passed it, 19 to 0.
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Mar 2, 2011
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 0.
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Mar 2, 2011
The committee held a public hearing.
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Feb 23, 2011
Sent to the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs.
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Feb 23, 2011
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Feb 23, 2011 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Vukmir, Grothman, Lazich and Darling;Cosponsored by Representatives Kapenga, Stone and Honadel
- Feb 23, 2011 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs
- Mar 2, 2011 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 2, 2011 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 2, 2011 · Senate
Report passage recommended by committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 0
- Mar 2, 2011 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 2, 2011 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-3-2011 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 3, 2011 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 3, 2011 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 3, 2011 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Mar 3, 2011 · Senate
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 19, Noes 0
- Mar 3, 2011 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 8, 2011 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Mar 8, 2011 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Labor and Workforce Development
- Mar 30, 2011 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Apr 5, 2011 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Apr 5, 2011 · Assembly
Report concurrence recommended by committee on Labor and Workforce Development, Ayes 6, Noes 3
- Apr 5, 2011 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Apr 5, 2011 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 11:01 A.M. on 4-12-2011 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 5
- Apr 12, 2011 · Assembly
Representative Thiesfeldt added as a cosponsor
- Apr 12, 2011 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Apr 12, 2011 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Apr 12, 2011 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Apr 12, 2011 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 59, Noes 35, Paired 2
- Apr 12, 2011 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Apr 13, 2011 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Apr 15, 2011 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled on 4-15-2011
- May 4, 2011 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 5-4-2011
- May 6, 2011 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 5-5-2011. 2011 Wisconsin Act 16
- May 9, 2011 · Senate
Published 5-19-2011
Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote