Assembly Bill 281
The employment eligibility verification program and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
Topics: Employment, Federal-state relations, Public employee, Public works, Purchasing, Government, State agencies
Vetoed by the governor
Both chambers passed it, and the governor vetoed it on Apr 3, 2026. Lawmakers did not , so it stands.
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Introduced, passed
May 30, 2025
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed 54 to 45
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Mar 17, 2026
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Governor, stopped here
Vetoed Apr 3, 2026.
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, May 13, 2026: “Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82”
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The same bill was also filed in the Senate as SB 287. That version died when the session ended.
Terms on this page
Veto override
Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.
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 would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
State procurement Under current law, the Department of Administration, the legislature, the judiciary, and state authorities may purchase all necessary materials and contract for services. Current law also generally authorizes DOA to contract for construction work when the project cost is estimated to exceed $50,000. With some exceptions, such purchases or contracts must be awarded to the lowest bidder.
This bill creates a new exception to the lowest-bidder award by prohibiting the state from purchasing or contracting for materials or services with an employer that does not verify, by using the Federal Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify Program), that all of its employees are eligible to work in the United States or that employs an individual after the E-Verify Program identifies that the individual is not eligible to work in the United States. The E-Verify Program is a system operated by the federal Department of Homeland Security and the federal Social Security Administration that allows an employer to enroll in the system and verify that its employees are eligible to work in the United States.
Read the full summary Show less
State government and local government employment practices This bill provides that a state government agency or local governmental unit that intends to hire an employee after the bill’s effective date must verify the individual’s identity under the E-Verify Program. A state government agency or local governmental unit may not offer employment to any individual who is identified under the E-Verify Program as ineligible to work in the United States.
Who's behind it
13 representatives are its . All 13 are Republicans.
4 more lawmakers .
See all 17 names Hide the names
Authors (13)
- Lindee Brill · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Joy Goeben · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Rob Kreibich · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Maxey · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Melotik · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Piwowarczyk · Republican, Assembly
- David Steffen · Republican, Assembly
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (4)
- John Jagler · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
- Cory Tomczyk · Republican, Senate
- Eric Wimberger · Republican, Senate
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There were 3 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Commerce vote to recommend it
Passed, 4 to 2 · Oct 8, 2025
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 Commerce, Ayes 4, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 54 to 45 · Jan 13, 2026
See how each of the 99 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, R: Republican
Yes (54)
- Adam Neylon (R, 15)
- Alex Dallman (R, 39)
- Amanda Nedweski (R, 32)
- Barbara Dittrich (R, 99)
- Ben Franklin (R, 88)
- Bob Donovan (R, 61)
- Bob Wittke (R, 63)
- Brent Jacobson (R, 87)
- Calvin Callahan (R, 35)
- Chanz Green (R, 74)
- Chuck Wichgers (R, 84)
- Cindi Duchow (R, 97)
- Clint Moses (R, 92)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Dave Armstrong (R, 67)
- Dave Maxey (R, 83)
- Dave Murphy (R, 56)
- David Steffen (R, 4)
- Dean Kaufert (R, 53)
- Duke Tucker (R, 75)
- Elijah Behnke (R, 6)
- Gus Gustafson (R, 55)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jerry O'Connor (R, 60)
- Jessie Rodriguez (R, 21)
- Jim Piwowarczyk (R, 98)
- Joel Kitchens (R, 1)
- John Spiros (R, 86)
- Joy Goeben (R, 5)
- Karen Hurd (R, 69)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lindee Brill (R, 27)
- Mark Born (R, 37)
- Nancy VanderMeer (R, 70)
- Pat Snyder (R, 85)
- Paul Melotik (R, 22)
- Paul Tittl (R, 25)
- Rick Gundrum (R, 58)
- Rob Brooks (R, 59)
- Rob Kreibich (R, 28)
- Rob Summerfield (R, 68)
- Rob Swearingen (R, 34)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Ron Tusler (R, 3)
- Scott Allen (R, 82)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Shae Sortwell (R, 2)
- Shannon Zimmerman (R, 30)
- Todd Novak (R, 51)
- Tony Kurtz (R, 41)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Treig Pronschinske (R, 29)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Will Penterman (R, 38)
No (45)
- Alex Joers (D, 81)
- Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D, 90)
- Andrew Hysell (D, 48)
- Angela Stroud (D, 73)
- Angelina Cruz (D, 62)
- Angelito Tenorio (D, 14)
- Ann Roe (D, 44)
- Ben DeSmidt (D, 65)
- Brienne Brown (D, 43)
- Christian Phelps (D, 93)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Clint Anderson (D, 45)
- Darrin Madison (D, 10)
- Deb Andraca (D, 23)
- Francesca Hong (D, 76)
- Greta Neubauer (D, 66)
- Jenna Jacobson (D, 50)
- Jill Billings (D, 95)
- Joan Fitzgerald (D, 46)
- Jodi Emerson (D, 91)
- Joe Sheehan (D, 26)
- Kalan Haywood (D, 16)
- Karen DeSanto (D, 40)
- Karen Kirsch (D, 7)
- Lee Snodgrass (D, 52)
- Lisa Subeck (D, 79)
- Lori Palmeri (D, 54)
- Margaret Arney (D, 18)
- Maureen McCarville (D, 42)
- Mike Bare (D, 80)
- Priscilla Prado (D, 9)
- Randy Udell (D, 47)
- Renuka Mayadev (D, 77)
- Robyn Vining (D, 13)
- Russell Goodwin (D, 12)
- Ryan Clancy (D, 19)
- Ryan Spaude (D, 89)
- Sequanna Taylor (D, 11)
- Shelia Stubbs (D, 78)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Supreme Moore Omokunde (D, 17)
- Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D, 8)
- Tara Johnson (D, 96)
- Tip McGuire (D, 64)
- Vinnie Miresse (D, 71)
Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 3 to 2 · Mar 16, 2026
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
What happened
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May 13, 2026
The veto stood. Lawmakers didn't override it.
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Apr 3, 2026
The governor vetoed it.
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Apr 2, 2026
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 17, 2026
The Senate passed it too.
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Mar 16, 2026
“Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)
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Mar 16, 2026
Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.
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Jan 14, 2026
Sent to the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development.
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Jan 14, 2026
The Senate received it.
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Jan 13, 2026
The Assembly passed it, 54 to 45.
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Nov 3, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 22, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 14, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 10, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 9, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 8, 2025
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Oct 8, 2025
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 2.
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Oct 6, 2025
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Oct 2, 2025
The committee held a public hearing.
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May 30, 2025
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Commerce.
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May 30, 2025
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- May 30, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Piwowarczyk, Brill, Brooks, Dittrich, Goeben, Knodl, Kreibich, Maxey, Melotik, Murphy, Mursau, Steffen and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senators Wimberger, Jagler, Nass and Tomczyk
- May 30, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Commerce
- Oct 2, 2025 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Oct 2, 2025 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Oct 6, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Oct 8, 2025 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by Committee on Commerce, Ayes 4, Noes 2
- Oct 8, 2025 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Oct 9, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Oct 9, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Oct 10, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Oct 14, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Oct 22, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Nov 3, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Jan 8, 2026 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 1-13-2026 by Committee on Rules
- Jan 13, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jan 13, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 13, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jan 13, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 54, Noes 45
- Jan 13, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 14, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Jan 14, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development
- Mar 16, 2026 · Senate
Withdrawn from committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development and rereferred to committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 46(2)(c)
- Mar 16, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 16, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 16, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 18, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Mar 25, 2026 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 3-25-2026
- Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026
- Apr 3, 2026 · Assembly
Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-3-2026
- May 12, 2026 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- May 13, 2026 · Assembly
Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82
Terms on this page
Veto override
Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.
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
Veto override
Lawmakers can still pass a bill the governor vetoed, but it takes two-thirds of each chamber.
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