Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateWisconsinTo Governor
AB 39: Relating to: requiring state employees to perform their work at the offices of their employer.
Amanda Nedweski
AB 39 status: To Governor — Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (updated May 13, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
47OUT OF 100
Score:47/100 civic fit
Risk:Moderate Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 60/100
Constitutionality80%
Bipartisan20%
Public opinion45%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill mandates that all state employees must work from their physical office locations, effectively eliminating remote work or work-from-home arrangements.
Who is affected
All state government employees are subject to this requirement.
Requirements and enforcement
Employees must perform their work tasks exclusively at the offices of their employer.
Costs and funding
Potential costs include increased recruitment and retention expenses due to loss of flexibility, and possible loss of specialized talent.
When it takes effect
Not stated in the available source.
Potential benefits
Advocates argue this enhances physical presence, team collaboration, and direct management oversight.
Risks and tradeoffs
Significant concerns include the erosion of employee work-life balance, potential for mass resignation in competitive fields, and reduced organizational flexibility.
What is still unknown
The source does not specify if the law includes exemptions for emergencies, medical necessity, or specific roles that may already be optimized for remote work.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Mixed / Neutral
45%
Benefits
- Potential for increased spending at businesses near state office locations
- Increased physical presence could facilitate immediate administrative communication
- Uniformity in workplace operations across state departments
Risks
- Increased costs associated with potential employee attrition and turnover
- Potential recruitment disadvantages compared to remote-friendly private sector
- Additional overhead for maintaining physical office facilities
Society
Critical outlook
40%
Benefits
- Reinforcement of traditional in-person collaboration models
- Potentially stronger social ties within physical team environments
- Standardized work expectations for all state personnel
Risks
- Substantial reduction in work-life balance for employees
- Increased financial and time burden of daily commuting
- Disproportionate impact on caregivers and those with limited transit options
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Mixed / Neutral
55%
Benefits
- Increased visibility of public employees in central workplaces
- Direct oversight of attendance and work behavior by management
- Standardized physical presence requirements across all agencies
Risks
- Centralization of authority may stifle departmental managerial discretion
- Potential for rigid administrative focus over modern output-based metrics
- Lack of flexibility in responding to individual or situational worker needs
Public Health & Safety
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
The mandate may lead to significant brain drain within specialized state agencies that rely on hybrid flexibility to compete for talent.
Analysis scope
Source provided is a brief summary, lacking specific implementation timelines or exemptions.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorCurrent
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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