Senate Bill 781
Actions against certain third parties by injured employees under the worker's compensation law. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Feb 28, 2018. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Feb 7, 2018
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Feb 20, 2018
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 20, 2018
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2017 Wisconsin Act 139
Latest entry in the official record, Feb 28, 2018: “Published 3-1-2018”
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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
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill eliminates the right of action in tort by an injured employee against certain third parties by reason of the injury if the injured employee has the right to make a claim for compensation against his or her employer under the worker's compensation law.
Under current law, worker's compensation is the exclusive remedy for an employee who is injured while performing services growing out of and incidental to his or her employment, except that, subject to certain exceptions, an injured employee may claim worker's compensation from his or her employer and bring an action in tort against a third party for damages by reason of the injury. Current law also provides that certain specified types of employee are prohibited from making claims against certain third parties, such as a “temporary help agency” or “employee leasing company,” if the injured employee makes a claim for compensation under the worker's compensation law.
Read the full summary Show less
The bill prohibits an injured employee from maintaining an action in tort against certain third parties, specified under current law, regardless of whether the employee makes a claim for compensation under the worker's compensation law against his or her employer. For example, an injured employee of a temporary help agency engaged in work for the employer to which the employee is placed or leased may not maintain a tort action against the employer to which the employee is placed or leased if the employee has the right to make a claim for compensation under the worker's compensation law.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
2 more lawmakers .
See all 4 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Rob Cowles · Republican, Senate
- Duey Stroebel · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (2)
- Cindi Duchow · Republican, Assembly
- Rick Gundrum · Republican, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform vote to recommend it
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: “Report passage recommended by Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Feb 28, 2018
The new law was published.
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Feb 28, 2018
The governor signed it. It became 2017 Wisconsin Act 139.
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Feb 27, 2018
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 20, 2018
The Assembly passed it too.
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Feb 20, 2018
“Read” (the official wording)
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Feb 20, 2018
The Assembly received it.
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Feb 20, 2018
The Senate passed it.
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Feb 16, 2018
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Feb 16, 2018
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Feb 14, 2018
The committee held a public hearing.
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Feb 9, 2018
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Feb 7, 2018
Sent to the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform.
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Feb 7, 2018
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Feb 7, 2018 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Stroebel and Cowles; cosponsored by Representative Duchow
- Feb 7, 2018 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform
- Feb 9, 2018 · Senate
Representative Gundrum added as a cosponsor
- Feb 14, 2018 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Feb 16, 2018 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Feb 16, 2018 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Feb 16, 2018 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Feb 16, 2018 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 16, 2018 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-20-2018 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 20, 2018 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 20, 2018 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 20, 2018 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Feb 20, 2018 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Feb 20, 2018 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly
Read
- Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly
Rules suspended and taken up
- Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 21, 2018 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 27, 2018 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Feb 27, 2018 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 2-27-2018
- Feb 28, 2018 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 2-28-2018. 2017 Wisconsin Act 139
- Feb 28, 2018 · Senate
Published 3-1-2018
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
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
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote