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Bills from the 2017–18 session

Assembly Bill 422

Creating the Hire Heroes program to provide transitional jobs to veterans, granting rule-making authority, and making appropriations. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Apr 4, 2018. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jun 30, 2017

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Nov 9, 2017

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 32 to 0

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2017 Wisconsin Act 195

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 4, 2018: “Published 4-4-2018”

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 requires the Department of Workforce Development to establish a program to provide transitional jobs to veterans, in cooperation with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Children and Families. Under the bill, DWD, DCF, and DVA are required to enter into a memorandum of understanding to implement the program.

Under the new program, called “Hire Heroes” under the bill, a veteran is eligible to participate if he or she is at least 18 years old, has been unemployed for at least four weeks, is ineligible for the Wisconsin Works program, is a veteran as verified by DVA, and passes the required drug screening tests. Under the bill, preference for participation in the program will be given to veterans whose household income is less than 60 percent of the state median household income.

Read the full summary

Under the bill, an individual may participate in the program for up to 1,040 work hours. DWD compensates a participating employer for costs including a wage subsidy, federal social security and Medicare taxes, state and federal unemployment insurance contributions or taxes, and worker's compensation insurance premiums, if any.

The bill requires DWD to commit up to $400,000 in each fiscal year in funding for the program, and also requires DWD to prepare an annual report on the program to be submitted to the governor, the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, DCF, and DVA.

Who's behind it

29 lawmakers are its ⁠. 15 are Republicans and 14 are Democrats.

6 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 35 names

Authors (29)

Signed on in support (6)

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 8 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Workforce Development vote on an amendment

Passed, 14 to 0 · Nov 1, 2017

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

Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Workforce Development, Ayes 14, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Workforce Development vote on an amendment

Passed, 14 to 0 · Nov 1, 2017

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

Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 2 adoption recommended by Committee on Workforce Development, Ayes 14, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Workforce Development vote to recommend it

Passed, 14 to 0 · Nov 1, 2017

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 Workforce Development, Ayes 14, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 93 to 0 · Nov 9, 2017 · 5 didn't vote

See how each of the 98 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (93)

Didn't vote (5)

Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 5 to 0 · Jan 19, 2018

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 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Joint Committee on Finance vote to recommend it

Passed, 16 to 0 · Feb 9, 2018

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

Official motion: “Report concurrence recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 16, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 16, 2018

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

Official motion: “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 32 to 0 · Feb 20, 2018

See how each of the 32 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “CONCURRENCE”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Apr 4, 2018

    The new law was published.

  2. Apr 4, 2018

    The governor signed it. It became 2017 Wisconsin Act 195.

  3. Apr 2, 2018

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 20, 2018

    The Senate passed it too, 32 to 0.

  5. Feb 16, 2018

    “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  6. Feb 9, 2018

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 16 to 0.

  7. Jan 19, 2018

    Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.

  8. Nov 14, 2017

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.

  9. Nov 9, 2017

    The Senate received it.

  10. Nov 9, 2017

    4 more representatives signed on in support.

  11. Nov 9, 2017

    The Assembly passed it, 93 to 0.

  12. Nov 9, 2017

    The Assembly adopted it.

  13. Nov 1, 2017

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  14. Nov 1, 2017

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 14 to 0.

  15. Sep 12, 2017

    The committee held a public hearing.

  16. Aug 3, 2017

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  17. Jul 28, 2017

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  18. Jul 10, 2017

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  19. Jun 30, 2017

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Workforce Development.

  20. Jun 30, 2017

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jun 30, 2017 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Horlacher, Riemer, Allen, Anderson, Berceau, Brandtjen, R. Brooks, Brostoff, Edming, Genrich, Goyke, Hebl, Hintz, Jacque, Jagler, Kleefisch, Kolste, Krug, Mason, Milroy, Mursau, Petryk, Ripp, Sinicki, Skowronski, Summerfield, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt and Vruwink; cosponsored by Senators Cowles, Carpenter, Feyen, Hansen and L. Taylor

  2. Jun 30, 2017 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Workforce Development

  3. Jul 10, 2017 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Jul 28, 2017 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Aug 3, 2017 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Sep 12, 2017 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  7. Oct 3, 2017 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Horlacher and Riemer

  8. Oct 3, 2017 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representative Horlacher

  9. Oct 24, 2017 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  10. Nov 1, 2017 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Workforce Development, Ayes 14, Noes 0

  11. Nov 1, 2017 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 2 adoption recommended by Committee on Workforce Development, Ayes 14, Noes 0

  12. Nov 1, 2017 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Workforce Development, Ayes 14, Noes 0

  13. Nov 1, 2017 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  14. Nov 7, 2017 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 11-9-2017 by Committee on Rules

  15. Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  16. Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  17. Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 adopted

  18. Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  19. Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  20. Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 93, Noes 0

  21. Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly

    Representatives Steffen, Rohrkaste, Barca and Shankland added as coauthors

  22. Nov 9, 2017 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  23. Nov 9, 2017 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  24. Nov 14, 2017 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  25. Nov 14, 2017 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  26. Jan 19, 2018 · Senate

    Referred to joint committee on Finance by Committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 5, Noes 0

  27. Feb 8, 2018 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  28. Feb 9, 2018 · Senate

    Report concurrence recommended by Joint Committee on Finance, Ayes 16, Noes 0

  29. Feb 9, 2018 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  30. Feb 16, 2018 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0

  31. Feb 16, 2018 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-20-2018 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  32. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Read a second time

  33. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  34. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  35. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 32, Noes 0

  36. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  37. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  38. Feb 26, 2018 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 2-26-2018

  39. Apr 2, 2018 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2018

  40. Apr 4, 2018 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 4-3-2018. 2017 Wisconsin Act 195

  41. Apr 4, 2018 · Assembly

    Published 4-4-2018

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