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Bills from the 2017–18 session

Assembly Bill 917

Telecommuter Forward! community certification and creating a Telecommuter Forward! council

Became law

The governor signed it on Apr 17, 2018. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 2, 2018

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 22, 2018

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Mar 20, 2018

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2017 Wisconsin Act 342

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 17, 2018: “Published 4-17-2018”

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 allows a city, village, town, or county (political subdivision) to apply to the Public Service Commission for certification as a Telecommuter Forward!

community. The PSC must make the certification if the political subdivision adopts a resolution that states its support and commitment to promote the availability of telecommuting options and that provides for a single point of contact for coordinating telecommuting opportunities. The point of contact must have specified responsibilities, including the following: 1) coordination and partnership with telecommuting stakeholders; 2) collaboration with broadband providers and employers to identify, develop, and market telecommuter-capable broadband packages; and 3) communication and partnership with broadband providers and economic development professionals to develop common goals. In addition, the point of contact must be responsible for promoting telecommuter-friendly workspaces if such a workspace has been established in the political subdivision at the time it adopts the resolution. The PSC must prescribe the form and manner for making an application and a process for public notice and comment. Before approving an application, the PSC must consider any public comments.

Read the full summary

The bill also creates a Telecommuter Forward! council and requires the PSC to consult with the council in carrying out its duties under the bill. The council consists of 13 members appointed to three-year terms. The PSC appoints four members, each of whom represents one of the following: 1) an employer who uses and promotes telecommuting for its employees; 2) a chamber of commerce; 3) a local economic development organization; and 4) a regional economic development organization.

Each of the following appoints one of the remaining nine members: 1) the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; 2) the department of workforce development;

3) the department of tourism; 4) an association specified by the PSC that represents telecommunications providers; 5) an association specified by the PSC that represents video service providers; 6) a broadband providers stakeholder group specified by the PSC; 7) the League of Wisconsin Municipalities; 8) the Wisconsin Counties Association; and 9) the Wisconsin Towns Association.

Who's behind it

17 lawmakers are its ⁠. All 17 are Republicans.

3 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 20 names

Authors (17)

Signed on in support (3)

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 4 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Rural Development and Mining vote on an amendment

Passed, 10 to 1 · Feb 20, 2018

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 Rural Development and Mining, Ayes 10, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Rural Development and Mining vote to recommend it

Passed, 11 to 0 · Feb 20, 2018

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 Rural Development and Mining, Ayes 11, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 3 to 2 · Mar 15, 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 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 14 · Mar 20, 2018

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

What happened

  1. Apr 17, 2018

    The new law was published.

  2. Apr 17, 2018

    The governor signed it. It became 2017 Wisconsin Act 342.

  3. Apr 12, 2018

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 20, 2018

    The Senate passed it too.

  5. Mar 15, 2018

    “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  6. Mar 12, 2018

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.

  7. Feb 23, 2018

    The Senate received it.

  8. Feb 22, 2018

    The Assembly passed it.

  9. Feb 22, 2018

    The Assembly adopted it.

  10. Feb 20, 2018

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  11. Feb 20, 2018

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 11 to 0.

  12. Feb 14, 2018

    The committee held a public hearing.

  13. Feb 2, 2018

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rural Development and Mining.

  14. Feb 2, 2018

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Feb 2, 2018 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Quinn, Bernier, E. Brooks, Kulp, Nerison, Novak, Petryk, Spiros, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tranel, Tusler, VanderMeer, Zimmerman, Edming, Pronschinske and Mursau; cosponsored by Senators Marklein, Testin and Olsen

  2. Feb 2, 2018 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Rural Development and Mining

  3. Feb 14, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Quinn

  4. Feb 14, 2018 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  5. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  6. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Rural Development and Mining, Ayes 10, Noes 1

  7. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Rural Development and Mining, Ayes 11, Noes 0

  8. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  9. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 1:20 PM on 2-22-2018 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 27

  10. Feb 22, 2018 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  11. Feb 22, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  12. Feb 22, 2018 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  13. Feb 22, 2018 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  14. Feb 22, 2018 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  15. Feb 22, 2018 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  16. Feb 23, 2018 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  17. Mar 12, 2018 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  18. Mar 12, 2018 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  19. Mar 15, 2018 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  20. Mar 15, 2018 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-20-2018 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  21. Mar 20, 2018 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Vinehout, Johnson, Schachtner, Larson, L. Taylor, Hansen, Bewley and Shilling

  22. Mar 20, 2018 · Senate

    Read a second time

  23. Mar 20, 2018 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  24. Mar 20, 2018 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  25. Mar 20, 2018 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  26. Mar 20, 2018 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in

  27. Mar 20, 2018 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  28. Mar 21, 2018 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  29. Mar 30, 2018 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 3-30-2018

  30. Apr 12, 2018 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 4-12-2018

  31. Apr 17, 2018 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 4-16-2018. 2017 Wisconsin Act 342

  32. Apr 17, 2018 · Assembly

    Published 4-17-2018

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

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

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote

More in the glossary