Advocacy
Center
Stay current on legislation and policy that impacts employee ownership in Wisconsin. WICEO tracks key bills, supports smart policy, and helps you stay informed and engaged.
Legislation Shapes the Future of Employee Ownership
Employee ownership has the power to transform how Wisconsin businesses are built, transferred, and sustained — but it reaches its full potential when supported by smart public policy. Tax incentives, technical assistance programs, and reduced administrative barriers can mean the difference between a business owner choosing employee ownership or walking away.
WICEO actively monitors state and federal legislation that affects ESOPs, Employee Ownership Trusts, and Worker Cooperatives. We advocate for policies that make employee ownership more accessible and affordable for Wisconsin businesses of all sizes — and we keep our community informed every step of the way.
Below you'll find the latest on active legislation in Wisconsin. Check back regularly as bills move through the legislative process.
Tax Incentives Work
Research consistently shows that tax credits and capital gains relief for employee ownership transitions directly increase the number of businesses that convert — benefiting owners, employees, and communities.
Wisconsin Has Momentum
Both the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate have shown strong bipartisan support for employee ownership legislation — making Wisconsin a national leader in this space.
Education Programs Help Too
Outreach and education funding ensures that more business owners and employees are aware of employee ownership as a real, viable option — not just an abstract concept.
Your Voice Matters
Legislators respond to constituents. Business owners, employees, and advisors who contact their representatives make a measurable difference in moving employee ownership legislation forward.
Wisconsin Bills to Watch
These bills are currently active in the Wisconsin legislature and directly impact employee ownership transitions in our state.
Wisconsin Senate Bill 21
SB21 is a landmark piece of Wisconsin legislation that would make employee ownership transitions more affordable and accessible for business owners across the state. The bill creates three major mechanisms to support employee ownership:
Employee Ownership Conversion Costs Tax Credit — A tax credit for businesses and owners covering qualified costs associated with converting to employee ownership, including legal, valuation, and advisory fees.
Capital Gains Deduction — A deduction for capital gains realized when a business owner transfers their business to an employee ownership structure — reducing the tax burden on the exit and incentivizing the choice of employee ownership over a traditional sale.
Employee Ownership Education & Outreach Program — Funding for a statewide program to educate business owners, employees, and advisors about employee ownership options — exactly the kind of work WICEO does every day.
Wisconsin Assembly Bill 17
AB17 is the Assembly companion bill to SB21, containing the same core provisions for employee ownership conversion cost credits, capital gains relief, and education program funding. Notably, AB17 has already cleared a major hurdle — it was passed by the full Wisconsin State Assembly on June 24, 2025, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for employee ownership policy in Wisconsin.
With AB17 already passed by the Assembly, SB21's passage through the Senate would pave the way for these landmark employee ownership provisions to become Wisconsin law — creating a real, meaningful financial incentive for business owners to choose employee ownership as their succession path.
Support Employee
Ownership Legislation
The best way to move these bills forward is to let your Wisconsin legislators know that employee ownership matters to you — whether you're a business owner, an employee, or an advisor who works with both.
WICEO can help you understand the bills, prepare talking points, and connect with the right people. Reach out and we'll guide you through it.
Contact WICEO to Get InvolvedLearn the Bills
Read SB21 and AB17 to understand exactly what employee ownership tax benefits they would create for Wisconsin business owners.
Find Your Legislators
Visit legis.wisconsin.gov to find your State Senator and Assembly Representative and their contact information.
Make Your Voice Heard
Contact your Senator and ask them to support SB21. A brief, personal message from a constituent is one of the most effective tools in advocacy.
Stay Connected with WICEO
Sign up to receive updates as the legislation moves forward — and share WICEO's resources with other business owners in your network.
Employee Ownership Policy at Every Level
Wisconsin's legislation doesn't exist in a vacuum. Employee ownership policy is advancing at the federal level and in states across the country — and Wisconsin has an opportunity to lead.
Federal Legislation
Multiple federal bills have been introduced in recent years to expand ESOP access, create EOT incentives, and strengthen worker cooperative development — building a national policy foundation that complements state-level action.
Other State Models
Colorado, Maine, and several other states have already passed employee ownership tax incentive legislation. Wisconsin's AB17 and SB21 follow their lead — putting Wisconsin on the map as a forward-thinking state for business succession and worker wealth.
WICEO's Role
WICEO advocates at both the state and federal level — participating in listening sessions, submitting comments, and working with EOX and NCEO to advance policies that make employee ownership more accessible for Wisconsin's business community.
Questions About the Legislation?
WICEO is here to help you understand what these bills mean for your business — and how you can support their passage.
