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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Senate Bill 44

Prohibiting as a condition of employment membership in a labor organization or payments to a labor organization and providing a penalty

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 9, 2015. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 23, 2015

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 62 to 35

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 1

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 9, 2015: “Published 3-10-2015”

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 creates a state right to work law. This bill generally prohibits a person from requiring, as a condition of obtaining or continuing employment, an individual to refrain or resign from membership in a labor organization, to become or remain a member of a labor organization, to pay dues or other charges to a labor organization, or to pay any other person an amount that is in place of dues or charges required of members of a labor organization. Any person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Who's behind it

The Committee on Senate Organization introduced it.

1 more lawmaker ⁠.

See all the details

Signed on in support (1)

  • Vos, Jacque, Loudenbeck, Mursau, Brandtjen, Gannon, Kuglitsch, Craig, Sanfelippo, Kapenga, Tittl, J. Ott, Kleefisch, Tauchen, Hutton, Thiesfeldt, Born, Kremer, Skowronski, August, Schraa, E. Brooks, Knodl, Czaja, Jagler and Kerkman

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 20 votes on this bill. Taking a bill up right away needs two-thirds of the members, a higher bar than passing it, so that vote can draw more yeses than the final one.

Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 1 · Feb 24, 2015

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 and Government Reform, Ayes 3, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 24, 2015

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

Official motion: “Referred to joint committee on Finance by Committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 24, 2015

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

Official motion: “Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Failed, 14 to 18 · Feb 25, 2015

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

Official motion: “Refused to refer to committee on Labor and Government Reform, Ayes 14, Noes 18”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 14 · Feb 25, 2015

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 14 · Feb 25, 2015

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 2 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 14 · Feb 25, 2015

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 3 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 14 · Feb 25, 2015

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 4 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 14 · Feb 25, 2015

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 14 · Feb 25, 2015

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 6 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 14 · Feb 25, 2015

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 7 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to take it up right away

Passed, 18 to 14 · Feb 25, 2015

See how each of the 32 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “Rules suspended, Ayes 18, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 17 to 15 · Feb 25, 2015

See how each of the 32 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “Passed, Ayes 17, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 63 to 35 · Mar 5, 2015

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

Official motion: “Assembly Amendments 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 laid on table en masse pursuant to Assembly Rule 71m, Ayes 63, Noes 35”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 62 to 35 · Mar 5, 2015

See how each of the 97 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (62)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 62, Noes 35, Paired 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 54 to 44 · Mar 5, 2015

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

Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 54, Noes 44”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 62 to 36 · Mar 5, 2015

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

Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 62, Noes 36”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 62 to 36 · Mar 5, 2015

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

Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 4 laid on table, Ayes 62, Noes 36”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 62 to 36 · Mar 5, 2015

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

Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 62, Noes 36”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 62 to 36 · Mar 5, 2015

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

Official motion: “Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 62, Noes 36”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 9, 2015

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 9, 2015

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 1.

  3. Mar 6, 2015

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 5, 2015

    The Assembly passed it too, 62 to 35.

  5. Mar 5, 2015

    26 more representatives signed on in support.

  6. Feb 26, 2015

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Feb 25, 2015

    The Senate passed it, 17 to 15.

  8. Feb 25, 2015

    “Read a third time” (the official wording)

  9. Feb 24, 2015

    “Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  10. Feb 24, 2015

    Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.

  11. Feb 24, 2015

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 1.

  12. Feb 24, 2015

    The committee held a public hearing.

  13. Feb 23, 2015

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform.

  14. Feb 23, 2015

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Feb 23, 2015 · Senate

    Introduced by Committee on Senate Organization

  2. Feb 23, 2015 · Senate

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

  3. Feb 24, 2015 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Feb 24, 2015 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  5. Feb 24, 2015 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Labor and Government Reform, Ayes 3, Noes 1

  6. Feb 24, 2015 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  7. Feb 24, 2015 · Senate

    Referred to joint committee on Finance by Committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  8. Feb 24, 2015 · Senate

    Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  9. Feb 24, 2015 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-25-2015 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  10. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Shilling, Risser, Erpenbach, Carpenter, Miller, Vinehout, Ringhand, Bewley, Harris Dodd, C. Larson, L. Taylor, Wirch, Hansen and Lassa

  11. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senators Hansen, Shilling, Risser, Erpenbach, Miller, Vinehout, Ringhand, Bewley, Harris Dodd, C. Larson, L. Taylor, Carpenter, Wirch and Lassa

  12. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Read a second time

  13. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Refused to refer to committee on Labor and Government Reform, Ayes 14, Noes 18

  14. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 offered by Senators Erpenbach, Shilling, Risser, Carpenter, Miller, Vinehout, Ringhand, Bewley, Harris Dodd, C. Larson, L. Taylor, Wirch, Hansen and Lassa

  15. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 4 offered by Senators Wirch, Shilling, Risser, Erpenbach, Miller, Vinehout, Ringhand, Harris Dodd, C. Larson, L. Taylor, Carpenter, Hansen and Lassa

  16. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  17. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  18. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  19. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 5 offered by Senators Vinehout, Shilling, Risser, Erpenbach, Miller, Ringhand, Bewley, Harris Dodd, C. Larson, L. Taylor, Carpenter, Wirch, Hansen and Lassa

  20. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 6 offered by Senators L. Taylor, Shilling, Risser, Carpenter, Miller, Vinehout, Ringhand, Bewley, Harris Dodd, C. Larson, Wirch, Hansen and Lassa

  21. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 4 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  22. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  23. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 7 offered by Senators Shilling, Lassa, Hansen, L. Taylor, Wirch, C. Larson, Harris Dodd, Carpenter, Bewley, Ringhand, Vinehout, Miller, Erpenbach and Risser

  24. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 6 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  25. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 7 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  26. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  27. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Rules suspended, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  28. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Read a third time

  29. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Passed, Ayes 17, Noes 15

  30. Feb 25, 2015 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  31. Feb 26, 2015 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  32. Mar 3, 2015 · Assembly

    Referred to calendar of 3-5-2015 pursuant to Assembly Rule 93

  33. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  34. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Representatives Vos, Jacque, Loudenbeck, Mursau, Brandtjen, Gannon, Kuglitsch, Craig, Sanfelippo, Kapenga, Tittl, J. Ott, Kleefisch, Tauchen, Hutton, Thiesfeldt, Born, Kremer, Skowronski, August, Schraa, E. Brooks, Knodl, Czaja, Jagler and Kerkman added as cosponsors

  35. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Mason, Sinicki, Ohnstad, Barca, Barnes, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Meyers, Milroy, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Wachs, Young, Zamarripa and Zepnick

  36. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representatives Mason, Sinicki, Ohnstad, Barca, Barnes, Billings, Berceau, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Meyers, Milroy, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Wachs, Young, Zamarripa and Zepnick

  37. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 withdrawn and returned to author

  38. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Genrich, Barca, Shankland, Jorgensen, Zamarripa, Berceau, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Mason, Meyers, Milroy, Ohnstad, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Wachs, Young and Zepnick

  39. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 62, Noes 36

  40. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 54, Noes 44

  41. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 3 offered by Representatives Mason, Ohnstad, Sinicki, Barca, Barnes, Berceau, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Meyers, Milroy, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Wachs, Young, Zamarripa and Zepnick

  42. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 62, Noes 36

  43. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 4 offered by Representatives Kahl, Barca, Barnes, Berceau, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kessler, Kolste, Mason, Meyers, Milroy, Ohnstad, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Wachs, Young, Zamarripa and Zepnick

  44. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 4 laid on table, Ayes 62, Noes 36

  45. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 5 offered by Representatives Shankland, Barca, Berceau, Barnes, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Mason, Meyers, Milroy, Ohnstad, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Wachs, Young, Zamarripa and Zepnick

  46. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 62, Noes 36

  47. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 6 offered by Representatives Sinicki, Barca, Barnes, Berceau, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Mason, Meyers, Milroy, Ohnstad, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Wachs, Young, Zamarripa and Zepnick

  48. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 7 offered by Representatives Mason, Sinicki, Ohnstad, Barca, Barnes, Berceau, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Meyers, Milroy, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Wachs, Young, Zamarripa and Zepnick

  49. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 8 offered by Representatives Wachs, C. Taylor, Zamarripa, Barca, Barnes, Berceau, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Mason, Meyers, Milroy, Ohnstad, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, Zepnick and Young

  50. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 9 offered by Representatives Mason, Wachs, Danou, Zamarripa, Barca, Barnes, Berceau, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Doyle, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Meyers, Milroy, Ohnstad, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Young and Zepnick

  51. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 10 offered by Representatives Hebl, Barca, Mason, Jorgensen, Subeck, Sinicki, Barnes, Berceau, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Goyke, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Meyers, Milroy, Ohnstad, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Spreitzer, Stuck, C. Taylor, Wachs, Young, Zamarripa and Zepnick

  52. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 11 offered by Representatives Mason, Sinicki, Ohnstad, Barca, Barnes, Berceau, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Meyers, Milroy, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Wachs, Young, Zamarripa and Zepnick

  53. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 12 offered by Representatives Mason, Sinicki, Ohnstad, Barca, Barnes, Berceau, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Considine, Danou, Doyle, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Meyers, Milroy, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Wachs, Young, Zamarripa and Zepnick

  54. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendments 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 laid on table en masse pursuant to Assembly Rule 71m, Ayes 63, Noes 35

  55. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  56. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  57. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 62, Noes 35, Paired 2

  58. Mar 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  59. Mar 6, 2015 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  60. Mar 6, 2015 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  61. Mar 6, 2015 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 3-6-2015

  62. Mar 9, 2015 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-9-2015. 2015 Wisconsin Act 1

  63. Mar 9, 2015 · Senate

    Published 3-10-2015

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

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

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

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