Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB1114

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/23/24
• Refer: 2/23/24
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

State procurement of products and services from businesses located in this state and setting a goal for local governments to purchase a certain percentage of products and services from businesses located in this state. (FE)

Impact

If enacted, AB1114 will introduce significant changes to current state purchasing requirements, emphasizing local sourcing. The bill necessitates that the Wisconsin Department of Administration take active measures to track and report on procurement spending. Notably, local governmental units, such as cities and counties, will be required to evaluate their procurement performance annually against the set goals, ensuring transparency and accountability. Although local units can opt-out of the evaluation, the public availability of the data collected is designed to promote informed decision-making about local spending.

Summary

Assembly Bill 1114, introduced in the Wisconsin legislature, aims to enhance state procurement practices by mandating that at least 20 percent of total expenditures by state agencies on products and services be allocated to Wisconsin-based businesses. This legislative effort is geared towards boosting the local economy by ensuring that state-funded contracts benefit local enterprises, thus fostering a more robust economic environment within Wisconsin. The bill also sets a similar goal for local governmental units, encouraging them to prioritize purchases from businesses located within the state.

Contention

While supporters of AB1114 argue that this bill will stimulate the state economy and support local jobs, there are concerns regarding its implementation. Critics point out potential challenges in monitoring compliance and fear that mandating local purchases could lead to increased costs for state contracts. Additionally, there are concerns about the practicality for local governmental units opting out of the mandated evaluations, which may undermine the overall effectiveness of the bill in promoting local business development.