Wisconsin Legislative Council
AMENDMENT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Memo published: February 2, 2024 Contact: Ethan Lauer, Senior Staff Attorney
2023 Assembly Bill 956 Assembly Amendment 1
Among other provisions, 2023 Assembly Bill 956 addresses: (1) requirements for state construction
contracting; and (2) procedures for state construction project budget increases.
STATE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTING
Under current law, state construction projects must comply with several contracting requirements.
One requirement is that all projects over $600,000 generally must be let through single prime
contracting.
Another requirement relates to agreements with labor organizations.
1
Under that requirement, the
Department of Administration may not do any of the following:
Require that a bidder enter into or adhere to an agreement with a labor organization.
Consider whether or not a bidder has entered into an agreement with a labor organization.
Require that a bidder’s employees become or remain members of a labor organization or pay any
dues, fees, assessments, or other charges to a labor organization or its benefit plan.
Under 2023 Assembly Bill 956, for any project costing $200 million or more, the agency for which
the project is to be constructed may request that the Building Commission waive many of the current
contracting requirements, including those relating to single prime contracting and agreements with
labor organizations.
Under Assembly Amendment 1 , the Building Commission may not waive the contracting
requirement relating to agreements with labor organizations.
STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BUDGET INCREASES
Under current law, the Building Commission may authorize limited changes in a project’s budget if
the commission determines that unanticipated program or bidding conditions require a change to
effectively and economically construct the project.
Under 2023 Assembly Bill 956, the commission may not increase the budget of any enumerated
state building project by more than 10 percent without first submitting the proposed budget increase to
the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) for passive review.
Under Assembly Amendment 1, the commission is not required to submit such a proposed budget
increase to JCF for passive review if the budget increase is funded solely from program revenue, gifts,
grants, other receipts, or federal funds.
1
An “agreement with a labor organization” means any agreement with a labor organization, including a collective
bargaining agreement, a project labor agreement, or a community workforce agreement. - 2 -
BILL HISTORY
Representative Born offered Assembly Amendment 1 on January 30, 2024. On January 31, 2024, the
Assembly Committee on State Affairs recommended adoption of the amendment and passage of the
bill, as amended, each on a vote of Ayes, 6; Noes, 5.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
EL:jal