AB 1156

This bill requires the Department of Administration and any agency making purchases to attempt to ensure that at least 20 percent of the total amount expended for procurement in each fiscal year is for products and services from Wisconsin-based businesses and that, in any fiscal year, the percentage of the total amount expended for products and services from Wisconsin-based businesses is not lower than it was in the previous fiscal year. To measure compliance with this requirement, the bill requires DOA to collect data from a person who bids for a contract regarding the person’s principal place of business and make the information publicly available on its website.

The bill also sets a goal that at least 20 percent of the aggregate value of the annual purchases of products and services by a local governmental unit (which includes cities, villages, towns, counties, and special purpose districts, which include schools and technical college districts) will be from Wisconsin-based businesses. A further goal is that, in any year, the percentage of the aggregate value of routine purchases of products and services from Wisconsin-based businesses will not be lower than it was in the previous year. The bill also requires a local governmental unit to annually evaluate its performance in reaching these goals and make the evaluation available to the public, but the local governmental unit’s governing body may vote to opt out of these requirements.