Assembly Bill 720
Creation of a wage council to study and make recommendations concerning increases in the living wage, increasing the state minimum wage, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
Stopped in committee
It never got a , so it never came up for a vote. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Feb 3, 2014
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Committee, stopped here
Stopped here. No public hearing was held.
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Senate vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 8, 2014: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It never got a hearing in the Assembly Committee on Labor. See every bill that never got a hearing this session.
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Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under the current state minimum wage law, employers are required to pay to their employees a living wage, which is defined as compensation that is sufficient to enable an employee to maintain himself or herself under conditions consistent with his or her welfare. Under that law, the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is required to investigate and determine the living wage. If, upon investigation, DWD finds that there is reasonable cause to believe that the wages paid to any employee are not a living wage, DWD must appoint a wage council, selected so as fairly to represent employers, employees, and the public, to assist DWD in its investigations and determinations. In determining the living wage, DWD may consider the effect that an increase in the living wage might have on the economy of the state, including the effect of a living wage increase on job creation, retention, and expansion; on the availability of entry-level jobs; and on regional economic conditions within the state.
This bill creates a permanent wage council in DWD and requires the wage council, early in each regular session of the legislature, to convene for the purpose of studying the need for an increase in the living wage and making recommendations to DWD for any changes in the living wage that may be necessary to ensure that the wages paid to any employee are a living wage. The wage council, in conducting that study and making those recommendations, and DWD, in revising the living wage, must consider: 1) any changes in the consumer price index; 2) the effect of those changes on the real income of employees in this state; and 3) the effect that an increase in the living wage might have on the economy of the state, including the effect of a living wage increase on job creation, retention, and expansion; on the availability of entry-level jobs; and on regional economic conditions within the state.
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If DWD approves the findings and recommendations of the wage council, DWD may promulgate rules to revise the living wage.
In addition, the bill specifies that the biennial living wage revision procedure created under the bill does not preclude DWD from convening the wage council at other times during the regular session of the legislature if, upon investigation, DWD finds that there is reasonable cause to believe that the wages paid to any employee are not a living wage. If DWD so convenes the wage council, the wage council so convened must study the need for an increase in the living wage and report its recommendations as provided in the bill.
Finally, the bill increases the minimum wage for employees generally, beginning on January 1, 2015, from $7.25 per hour to $8 per hour or an amount determined by DWD by rule, whichever is greater.
Who's behind it
Christine Sinicki, a Democrat, is its .
See all the details Hide the names
Author (1)
- Christine Sinicki · Democrat, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
What happened
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Apr 8, 2014
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Mar 12, 2014
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Feb 3, 2014
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Labor.
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Feb 3, 2014
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Feb 3, 2014 · Assembly
Introduced by Representative Sinicki
- Feb 3, 2014 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Labor
- Mar 12, 2014 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 8, 2014 · Assembly
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate