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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Senate Bill 422

Exclusion of a franchisor as the employer of a franchisee or of an employee of a franchisee. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 2, 2016. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Dec 3, 2015

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 9, 2016

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 18, 2016

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 203

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 2, 2016: “Published 3-2-2016”

Read the bill

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What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill excludes a franchisor as the employer of a franchisee or of an employee of a franchisee for purposes of certain laws relating to employment. Specifically, the bill provides that for purposes of the laws relating to worker's compensation, unemployment insurance, employment discrimination, minimum wage, and wage payments, a franchisor is not considered to be the employer of a franchisee or of an employee of a franchisee, unless any of the following applies:

1. The franchisor has agreed in writing to assume that role.

Read the full summary

2. The franchisor has been found to have exercised a type or degree of control over the franchisee or the franchisee's employees that is not customarily exercised by a franchisor for the purpose of protecting the franchisor's trademarks and brand.

Who's behind it

3 senators are its ⁠. All 3 are Republicans.

13 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 16 names

Authors (3)

Signed on in support (13)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

How lawmakers voted

There were 3 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform vote on an amendment

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 4, 2016

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Labor and Government Reform, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 4, 2016

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Labor and Government Reform, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 19 to 13 · Feb 9, 2016 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Didn't vote (1)

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 19, Noes 13”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 2, 2016

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 2, 2016

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 203.

  3. Feb 18, 2016

    The Assembly passed it too.

  4. Feb 12, 2016

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  5. Feb 9, 2016

    The Assembly received it.

  6. Feb 9, 2016

    The Senate passed it, 19 to 13.

  7. Feb 9, 2016

    The Senate adopted it.

  8. Feb 4, 2016

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  9. Feb 4, 2016

    “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Labor and Government Reform, Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  10. Feb 3, 2016

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  11. Jan 14, 2016

    The committee held a public hearing.

  12. Dec 3, 2015

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform.

  13. Dec 3, 2015

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Dec 3, 2015 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Kapenga, Marklein and Stroebel; cosponsored by Representatives Kuglitsch, Born, R. Brooks, Craig, Gannon, Hutton, Jarchow, Knodl, Murphy, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Skowronski and Tittl

  2. Dec 3, 2015 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Labor and Government Reform

  3. Jan 14, 2016 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Feb 3, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Kapenga

  5. Feb 3, 2016 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Feb 4, 2016 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  7. Feb 4, 2016 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Labor and Government Reform, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  8. Feb 4, 2016 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Labor and Government Reform, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  9. Feb 4, 2016 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  10. Feb 8, 2016 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-9-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  11. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Read a second time

  12. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  13. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  14. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  15. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 19, Noes 13

  16. Feb 9, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  17. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  18. Feb 12, 2016 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  19. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 2:25 PM on 2-18-2016 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 29

  20. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  21. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  22. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  23. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  24. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  25. Feb 18, 2016 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  26. Feb 25, 2016 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  27. Mar 2, 2016 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-1-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 203

  28. Mar 2, 2016 · Senate

    Published 3-2-2016

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

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. 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

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

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate

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