Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB786

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/23/25
• Refer: 12/23/25
• Engrossed: 1/13/26
• Refer: 1/14/26
• Enrolled: 1/26/26
• Chaptered: 2/6/26
• Passed: 2/6/26

Caption

Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2025-26 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE)

Impact

The passage of AB786 has significant implications for state laws concerning collective bargaining agreements. By formalizing this agreement through legislative ratification, it reinforces the authority of collective bargaining units in negotiating contracts that affect state employees, particularly in the building trades. This bill effectively ensures that employees will receive the benefits and terms agreed upon during the negotiation process, thereby bolstering labor relations and worker rights within the state. It also necessitates the allocation of funds from the appropriations as stipulated in state financing laws.

Summary

AB786 is a legislative proposal designed to ratify an agreement negotiated between the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee for the fiscal year 2025-26. This bill specifically addresses employees within the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit and seeks to authorize necessary expenditures to fund the cost of this agreement. The legislation underscores the state's commitment to honoring negotiated labor agreements and ensuring proper funding for such contracts, aligning with statutory requirements under the State Employment Labor Relations Act.

Contention

While the text of AB786 primarily serves to authorize expenditures and ratify an existing agreement, considerations surrounding collective bargaining practices and public funding may generate discussions among legislators. Possible points of contention could arise regarding the appropriateness of expenditures derived from state appropriations, especially in the context of budget constraints or competing fiscal priorities. Stakeholders might also debate the broader implications of such agreements on state labor policies and their impact on future negotiations with labor unions.