A bill authored by State Sen. Steve Nass in the Wisconsin Senate aims to broaden the circumstances under which employers and licensing agencies may consider pending charges in employment and licensing decisions, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “discrimination based on arrest record under the fair employment law”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends the fair employment law to modify when an employer or licensing agency can consider pending charges against an individual. Previously, exceptions to the prohibition on arrest record discrimination required that the pending charge be criminal if it substantially related to the job or licensed activity. The bill removes this requirement, allowing noncriminal pending charges to be considered under the same condition. Essentially, it broadens the scope of acceptable considerations an employer or licensing agency can use when evaluating an individual’s arrest record related to employment or licensing decisions, effective immediately upon enactment.
The bill was co-authored by Rep. Cindi Duchow (Republican-97th District). It was co-sponsored by Rep. Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Rep. Chanz J. Green (Republican-74th District), and Rep. Joel Kitchens (Republican-1st District), along with three other co-sponsors.
Steve Nass has co-authored or authored another 117 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with five of them being enacted.
Nass graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1978 with a BS.
Nass, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2015 to represent the state’s 11th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Neal Kedzie.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB431 | 09/29/2025 | Discrimination based on arrest record under the fair employment law |
| SB420 | 09/04/2025 | Prohibiting rights of nature ordinances. (FE) |
| SB417 | 09/04/2025 | Visitation of a long-term care facility resident or hospital patient during a communicable disease outbreak |
| SB395 | 08/25/2025 | Requirement for certain telecommunications providers to provide basic voice service |
| SB391 | 08/25/2025 | Equipment of school buses with audiovisual recording devices |
| SB389 | 08/11/2025 | The per pupil adjustment for school district revenue limits. (FE) |
| SB376 | 07/16/2025 | A tax credit for employer-provided child care. (FE) |
| SB365 | 07/09/2025 | Fleet registration of certain motor vehicles. (FE) |
| SB364 | 06/27/2025 | The regulation of family and group child care centers. (FE) |
| SB357 | 06/27/2025 | Establishing English as the official state language, use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing English language interpreters, and use of English for governmental oral and written communication and for nongovernmental purposes. (FE) |
| SB312 | 06/04/2025 | Changing an individual’s sex on a birth certificate |
| SB311 | 06/04/2025 | Prohibiting funding for health services for unlawfully present individuals. (FE) |
| SB304 | 06/02/2025 | Hours for voting by absentee ballot in person at the office of the municipal clerk or an alternate site. (FE) |
| SB277 | 05/21/2025 | The expiration of administrative rules. (FE) |
| SB270 | 05/20/2025 | The right of appeal for complainants aggrieved by decisions of the Elections Commission concerning the conduct of election officials |
| SB262 | 05/20/2025 | Assisted living facility referral agencies and providing a penalty |
| SB237 | 05/09/2025 | A sales and use tax exemption for equipment associated with the use of a search and rescue dog. (FE) |
| SB235 | 04/29/2025 | Criminal trespass at a campground and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB202 | 04/14/2025 | Local guaranteed income programs |
| SB191 | 04/14/2025 | Requiring a subpoena to a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer served in official capacity to be served at the officer’s work address |
| SB177 | 04/03/2025 | Standard industrial classification codes for linen supply and industrial launderers and modifying the manufacturing and agriculture tax credit. (FE) |
| SB174 | 04/03/2025 | Coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions and benefit limits under health plans |
| SB167 | 04/03/2025 | Possession of a firearm on school grounds by school employees and fees for licenses to carry a concealed weapon. (FE) |
| SB166 | 03/27/2025 | Consumer data protection and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB163 | 03/27/2025 | Income change notifications for child support or maintenance orders |
| SB151 | 03/21/2025 | Requests for information from employers about unemployment insurance claims |
| SB137 | 03/14/2025 | The duty of a pharmacist to dispense lawfully prescribed drugs and devices. (FE) |
| SB136 | 03/14/2025 | School bus back-up lamps |
| SB123 | 03/14/2025 | Investment securities under the Uniform Commercial Code |
| SB97 | 03/07/2025 | Parental notification of alleged sexual misconduct by a school staff member. (FE) |
| SB81 | 02/26/2025 | School district operating referenda |
| SB77 | 02/26/2025 | Entering certain places with intent to commit battery and providing a penalty |
| SB76 | 02/26/2025 | Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes |
| SB75 | 02/26/2025 | Venue for actions in which there is a governmental party |
| SB61 | 02/21/2025 | Excluding expenditures funded by referenda from shared costs for the purpose of determining equalization aid for school districts. (FE) |
| SB53 | 02/21/2025 | Requiring the display of the national motto in public schools and on public buildings. (FE) |
| SB43 | 02/12/2025 | Allowing advanced practice nurse prescribers to pronounce the date, time, and place of a patient’s death for purposes of the preparation of death records |
| SB22 | 02/05/2025 | Requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents |
| SB16 | 02/05/2025 | Participation in interscholastic athletics and application of the public records and open meetings laws to interscholastic athletic associations |
| SB13 | 02/03/2025 | Incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades. (FE) |
| SB11 | 02/03/2025 | Allowing representatives of certain federally chartered youth membership organizations to provide information to pupils on public school property |
| SB5 | 01/24/2025 | Battery or threat to jurors and providing a penalty |
