Wisconsin Senate Bill SB202

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/14/25
• Refer: 4/14/25

Caption

Local guaranteed income programs.

Impact

The introduction of SB202 could significantly affect how local municipalities can allocate their financial resources regarding income support initiatives. By restricting the funding of guaranteed income programs, the bill effectively limits local councils' ability to experiment with innovative social safety nets aimed at alleviating poverty and providing financial security to their residents. This could hinder communities from developing tailored approaches to address local economic challenges, particularly as they emerge in diverse demographics.

Summary

Senate Bill 202 seeks to prohibit political subdivisions in Wisconsin from utilizing their funds to implement guaranteed income programs. The bill defines guaranteed income programs as initiatives offering unearned, regular cash payments to individuals, which they can use for any purpose. Importantly, the bill excludes programs that require individuals to work or participate in training in return for these payments, thus clearly distinguishing between guaranteed income and conditional programs.

Contention

Debate surrounding SB202 is likely to focus on issues of local autonomy and the effectiveness of guaranteed income as a poverty alleviation tool. Proponents of the bill may argue that it prevents misuse of public funds and ensures that taxpayer money is not used for unearned payments. Conversely, opponents could highlight the potential benefits of guaranteed income programs in promoting economic stability and argue that local governments should have the discretion to implement such programs as they see fit to meet their residents' needs.