collective bargaining for employees of the University of Wisconsin System, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation

Wisconsin Legislature: SB579: Bill Text

Skip navigation

Home

Documents

Senate

Assembly

Committees

Service Agencies

Docs

Options

Help

2025 Biennium

Statutes

Admin. Rules

Indices

Miscellaneous

Archives

Home

Bill, Rule, and Appointment Histories

Senators

Representatives

Committees

Text of Introduced Proposals

Amendment Text

Acts

Veto Messages

Enrolled Bills

Votes

Assembly and Senate Floor Calendars

Schedule of Committee Activities

Assembly and Senate Journals

Committee Records (ROCPs)

Legislative Rules

All Session-Related Documents

Subject Index to Acts

Subject Index to Legislation

Subject Index to Journals

Author Index to Legislation

Subject Index to Clearinghouse Rules

Miscellaneous Budget Documents

Executive Orders

Rulings of the Chair

Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules

Opinions of the Attorney General

Town Law Forms

Law

Districts

Session

Drafting Files

Feeds

Preferences

Show tree

Hide tree

Feedback

Help

Home

Senate Home

Senators

Committees

Session

Chief Clerk

Sergeant at Arms

Civics Education

Human Resources
Assembly Home

Representatives

Committees

Session

Chief Clerk

Sergeant at Arms

Human Resources
Schedule

Joint

Senate

Assembly

Study
Legislative Audit Bureau

Legislative Council

Legislative Fiscal Bureau

Legislative Human Resources Office

Legislative Reference Bureau

Legislative Technology Services Bureau

Menu
»
2025
»
Related Documents
»
Proposal Text
»
SB579: Bill Text

Up

Up

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-5101/1
MIM:wlj&cjs
2025 SENATE BILL 579
October 24, 2025 - Introduced by Senators
Larson
,
Carpenter
,
Dassler-Alfheim
,
Drake
,
Habush Sinykin
,
Hesselbein
,
L. Johnson
,
Keyeski
,
Pfaff
,
Ratcliff
,
Roys
,
Smith
,
Spreitzer
,
Wall
and
Wirch
, cosponsored by Representatives
Emerson
,
Billings
,
Anderson
,
Andraca
,
Arney
,
Bare
,
Brown
,
Clancy
,
Cruz
,
DeSanto
,
DeSmidt
,
Doyle
,
Fitzgerald
,
Goodwin
,
Haywood
,
Hong
,
Hysell
,
J. Jacobson
,
Joers
,
Johnson
,
Kirsch
,
Madison
,
Mayadev
,
McCarville
,
McGuire
,
Miresse
,
Moore Omokunde
,
Neubauer
,
Palmeri
,
Phelps
,
Prado
,
Rivera-Wagner
,
Roe
,
Sheehan
,
Sinicki
,
Snodgrass
,
Spaude
,
Stroud
,
Stubbs
,
Subeck
,
Taylor
,
Tenorio
and
Udell
. Referred to Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges.
SB579,1,12
1
An Act

to amend
7.33 (4), 13.111 (2), 16.50 (3) (e), 19.82 (1), 19.85 (3), 19.86,
2
20.425 (1) (a), 20.425 (1) (i), 20.505 (1) (ks), 20.505 (1) (kz), 20.917 (3) (b),
3
20.921 (1) (a) 2., 20.923 (6) (intro.), 36.09 (1) (j), 40.02 (25) (b) 8., 40.05 (4g) (a)
4
4., 40.80 (3), 40.81 (3), 111.81 (1), 111.81 (9g), 111.81 (12m), 111.81 (16),
5
111.825 (5), 111.83 (1), 111.83 (5) (d), 111.83 (5) (e), 111.83 (5) (f), 111.84 (1)
6
(f), 111.85 (1) (a), 111.85 (1) (b), 111.85 (1) (c), 111.85 (1) (d), 111.85 (2) (a),
7
111.85 (2) (b), 111.85 (4), 111.91 (1) (a), 111.91 (1) (b), 111.91 (1) (c), 111.93 (3)
8
(a), 230.01 (3), 230.046 (10) (a), 230.12 (3) (e) 1., 230.35 (2d) (e), 230.35 (3) (e) 6.
9
and 230.88 (2) (b);
to create
subchapter VI of chapter 111 [precedes 111.95] of
10
the statutes;
relating to:
collective bargaining for employees of the University
11
of Wisconsin System, granting rule-making authority, and making an
12
appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill allows most University of Wisconsin System employees to collectively bargain over wages, hours, and conditions of employment. The bill also allows faculty and academic staff of the UW System to organize and to collectively bargain over wages, hours, and conditions of employment. Under current law, public employers and employees are prohibited from bargaining collectively except as expressly provided in the statutes.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SB579,1
1
Section
1
.
7.33 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,2,11
2
7.33
(4)
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, each local
3
governmental unit, as defined in s. 16.97 (7), may, and each state agency shall, upon
4
proper application under sub. (3), permit each of its employees to serve as an
5
election official under s. 7.30 without loss of fringe benefits or seniority privileges
6
earned for scheduled working hours during the period specified in sub. (3), without
7
loss of pay for scheduled working hours during the period specified in sub. (3) except
8
as provided in sub. (5), and without any other penalty. For employees who are
9
included in a collective bargaining unit for which a representative is recognized or
10
certified under subch. V
or VI
of ch. 111, this subsection shall apply unless
11
otherwise provided in a collective bargaining agreement.
SB579,2
12
Section
2
.
13.111 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,2,15
13
13.111
(2)

Duties.
The joint committee on employment relations shall
14
perform the functions assigned to it under
subch.

subchs.
V
and VI
of ch. 111,
15
subch. II of ch. 230
,
and ss. 16.53 (1) (d) 1., 20.916, 20.917, and 20.923.
SB579,3
16
Section
3
.
16.50 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,3,3
1
16.50
(3)
(e) No pay increase may be approved unless it is at the rate or within
2
the pay ranges prescribed in the compensation plan or as provided in a collective
3
bargaining agreement under subch. V
or VI
of ch. 111.
SB579,4
4
Section
4
.
19.82 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,3,13
5
19.82
(1)
“Governmental body” means a state or local agency, board,
6
commission, committee, council, department or public body corporate and politic
7
created by constitution, statute, ordinance, rule or order; a governmental or quasi-
8
governmental corporation except for the Bradley center sports and entertainment
9
corporation; a local exposition district under subch. II of ch. 229; a long-term care
10
district under s. 46.2895; or a formally constituted subunit of any of the foregoing,
11
but excludes any such body or committee or subunit of such body which is formed for
12
or meeting for the purpose of collective bargaining under subch. I, IV,
or
V
, or VI
of
13
ch. 111.
SB579,5
14
Section
5
.
19.85 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,3,18
15
19.85
(3)
Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to authorize a
16
governmental body to consider at a meeting in closed session the final ratification or
17
approval of a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I, IV,
or
V
, or VI
of ch.
18
111 which has been negotiated by such body or on its behalf.
SB579,6
19
Section
6
.
19.86 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,4,2
20
19.86

Notice of collective bargaining negotiations.
Notwithstanding s.
21
19.82 (1), where notice has been given by either party to a collective bargaining
22
agreement under subch. I, IV,
or
V
, or VI
of ch. 111 to reopen such agreement at its
23
expiration date, the employer shall give notice of such contract reopening as
1
provided in s. 19.84 (1) (b). If the employer is not a governmental body, notice shall
2
be given by the employer’s chief officer or such person’s designee.
SB579,7
3
Section
7
.
20.425 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,4,5
4
20.425
(1)
(a)
General program operations.
The amounts in the schedule for
5
the purposes provided in subchs. I, IV,
and
V
, and VI
of ch. 111 and s. 230.45 (1).
SB579,8
6
Section
8
.
20.425 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,4,19
7
20.425
(1)
(i)
Fees, collective bargaining training, publications, and appeals.

8
The amounts in the schedule for the performance of fact-finding, mediation,
9
certification, and arbitration functions, for the provision of copies of transcripts, for
10
the cost of operating training programs under ss. 111.09 (3), 111.71 (5m), and
11
111.94 (3), for the preparation of publications, transcripts, reports, and other copied
12
material, and for costs related to conducting appeals under s. 230.45. All moneys
13
received under ss. 111.09 (1) and (2), 111.70 (4) (d) 3. b., 111.71 (1) and (2), 111.83
14
(3) (b), 111.94 (1) and (2),
111.9993,
and 230.45 (3), all moneys received from
15
arbitrators and arbitration panel members, and individuals who are interested in
16
serving in such positions, and from individuals and organizations who participate
17
in other collective bargaining training programs conducted by the commission, and
18
all moneys received from the sale of publications, transcripts, reports, and other
19
copied material shall be credited to this appropriation account.
SB579,9
20
Section
9
.
20.505 (1) (ks) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,5,8
21
20.505
(1)
(ks)
Collective bargaining grievance arbitrations.
The amounts in
22
the schedule for the payment of the state’s share of costs related to collective
23
bargaining grievance arbitrations under s. 111.86
and related to collective
1
bargaining grievance arbitrations under s. 111.993
. All moneys received from state
2
agencies for the purpose of reimbursing the state’s share of the costs related to
3
grievance arbitrations under s. 111.86 and to reimburse the state’s share of costs for
4
training related to grievance arbitrations
, and all moneys received from
5
institutions, as defined in s. 36.05 (9), for the purpose of reimbursing the state’s
6
share of the costs related to grievance arbitrations under s. 111.993 and to
7
reimburse the state’s share of costs for training related to grievance arbitrations

8
shall be credited to this appropriation account.
SB579,10
9
Section
10
.
20.505 (1) (kz) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,5,16
10
20.505
(1)
(kz)
General program operations.
The amounts in the schedule to
11
administer state employment relations functions and the civil service system under
12
subch.

subchs.
V
and VI
of ch. 111 and ch. 230, to pay awards under s. 230.48, and
13
to defray the expenses of the state employees suggestion board. All moneys received
14
from state agencies for materials and services provided by the division of personnel
15
management in the department of administration shall be credited to this
16
appropriation.
SB579,11
17
Section
11
.
20.917 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,5,21
18
20.917
(3)
(b) This subsection applies to employees in all positions in the civil
19
service, including those employees in positions included in collective bargaining
20
units under subch. V
or VI
of ch. 111, whether or not the employees are covered by
21
a collective bargaining agreement.
SB579,12
22
Section
12
.
20.921 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,6,3
23
20.921
(1)
(a) 2. If the state employee is a public safety employee under s.
1
111.81 (15r),
or an employee represented by a collective bargaining unit under s.
2
111.825 (1r) (a) to (e) or (f) or (1t) (a) to (e) or (f),
payment of dues to employee
3
organizations.
SB579,13
4
Section
13
.
20.923 (6) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,6,9
5
20.923
(6)

Salaries set by appointing authorities.
(intro.) Salaries for the
6
following positions may be set by the appointing authority, subject to restrictions
7
otherwise set forth in the statutes and the compensation plan under s. 230.12,
8
except where the salaries are a subject of bargaining with a certified representative
9
of a collective bargaining unit under s. 111.91
or 111.998
:
SB579,14
10
Section
14
.
36.09 (1) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,7,10
11
36.09
(1)
(j) Except where such matters are a subject of bargaining with a
12
certified representative of a collective bargaining unit under s. 111.91
or 111.998
,
13
the board shall establish salaries for persons prior to July 1 of each year for the next
14
fiscal year, and shall designate the effective dates for payment of the new salaries.
15
In the first year of the biennium, payments of the salaries established for the
16
preceding year shall be continued until the biennial budget bill is enacted. If the
17
budget is enacted after July 1, payments shall be made following enactment of the
18
budget to satisfy the obligations incurred on the effective dates, as designated by
19
the board, for the new salaries, subject only to the appropriation of funds by the
20
legislature and s. 20.928 (3). This paragraph does not limit the authority of the
21
board to establish salaries for new appointments. The board may not increase the
22
salaries of employees under this paragraph unless the salary increase conforms to
23
the proposal as approved under s. 230.12 (3) (e) or the board authorizes the salary
1
increase to recognize merit, to correct salary inequities under par. (h), to fund job
2
reclassifications or promotions, or to recognize competitive factors. The granting of
3
salary increases to recognize competitive factors does not obligate inclusion of the
4
annualized amount of the increases in the appropriations under s. 20.285 (1) for
5
subsequent fiscal bienniums. No later than October 1 of each year, the board shall
6
report to the joint committee on finance and the secretary of administration and
7
administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of
8
administration concerning the amounts of any salary increases granted to
9
recognize competitive factors, and the institutions at which they are granted, for the
10
12-month period ending on the preceding June 30.
SB579,15
11
Section
15
.
40.02 (25) (b) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,7,14
12
40.02
(25)
(b) 8. Any other state employee for whom coverage is authorized
13
under a collective bargaining agreement pursuant to subch. V
or VI
of ch. 111 or
14
under s. 230.12 or 233.10.
SB579,16
15
Section
16
.
40.05 (4g) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,7,21
16
40.05
(4g)
(a) 4. Has received a military leave of absence under s. 230.32 (3)
17
(a) or 230.35 (3), under a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V
or VI
of
18
ch. 111 or under rules promulgated by the administrator of the division of personnel
19
management in the department of administration or is eligible for reemployment
20
with the state under s. 321.64 after completion of his or her service in the U.S.
21
armed forces.
SB579,17
22
Section
17
.
40.80 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,8,2
1
40.80
(3)
Any action taken under this section shall apply to employees covered
2
by a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V
or VI
of ch. 111.
SB579,18
3
Section
18
.
40.81 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,8,5
4
40.81
(3)
Any action taken under this section shall apply to employees covered
5
by a collective bargaining agreement under subch. IV
or
,
V
, or VI
of ch. 111.
SB579,19
6
Section
19
.
111.81 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,8,17
7
111.81
(1)
“Collective bargaining” means the performance of the mutual
8
obligation of the state as an employer, by its officers and agents, and the
9
representatives of its employees, to meet and confer at reasonable times, in good
10
faith, with respect to the subjects of bargaining provided in s. 111.91 (1), with
11
respect to public safety employees
and employees represented by a collective
12
bargaining unit under s. 111.825 (1r) (a) to (e) or (f) or (1t) (a) to (e) or (f)
, and to the
13
subjects of bargaining provided in s. 111.91 (3), with respect to general employees,
14
with the intention of reaching an agreement, or to resolve questions arising under
15
such an agreement. The duty to bargain, however, does not compel either party to
16
agree to a proposal or require the making of a concession. Collective bargaining
17
includes the reduction of any agreement reached to a written and signed document.
SB579,20
18
Section
20
.
111.81 (9g) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,8,21
19
111.81
(9g)
“General employee” means an employee who is not a public safety
20
employee
or an employee who is represented by a collective bargaining unit under s.
21
111.825 (1r) (a) to (e) or (f) or (1t) (a) to (e) or (f)
.
SB579,21
22
Section
21
.
111.81 (12m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,9,7
23
111.81
(12m)
“Maintenance of membership agreement” means an agreement
1
between the employer and a labor organization representing public safety
2
employees
or a collective bargaining unit under s. 111.825 (1r) (a) to (e) or (f) or (1t)
3
(a) to (e) or (f)
which requires that all of the
public safety
employees whose dues are
4
being deducted from earnings under s. 20.921 (1) or 111.84 (1) (f) at the time the
5
agreement takes effect shall continue to have dues deducted for the duration of the
6
agreement, and that dues shall be deducted from the earnings of all
public safety

7
such
employees who are hired on or after the effective date of the agreement.
SB579,22
8
Section
22
.
111.81 (16) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB579,9,17
9
111.81
(16)
“Referendum” means a proceeding conducted by the commission
10
in which public safety employees in a collective bargaining unit may cast a secret
11
ballot on the question of directing the labor organization and the employer to enter
12
into a fair-share or maintenance of membership agreement or to terminate such an
13
agreement
or a proceeding conducted by the commission in which employees
14
represented by a collective bargaining unit under s. 111.825 (1r) (a) to (e) or (f) or
15
(1t) (a) to (e) or (f) may cast a secret ballot on the question of directing the labor
16
organization and the employer to enter into a maintenance of membership
17
agreement or to terminate such an agreement
.
SB579,23
18
Section
23
.
111.825 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

Down

Down

/2025/related/proposals/sb579

true

proposaltext

/2025/related/proposals/sb579

proposaltext/2025/REG/SB579

proposaltext/2025/REG/SB579

section

true

Menu
»
2025
»
Related Documents
»
Proposal Text
»
SB579: Bill Text

×

Details for

PDF view

Link
(Permanent link)

Bookmark this location

View toggle

Go to top of document

Search in this chapter

Search in this section

Search in this agency

Search in this chapter group

Search in this chapter

Search in this section

Cross references for section

Acts affecting this section

References to this

1970 Statutes Annotations

Appellate Court Citations

Administrative Code Index

Reference lines

Clear highlighting