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AB 1146

Relating to: minimum nurse staffing ratios in hospitals, registered nurses’ right to refuse a work assignment, prohibiting mandatory overtime for registered nurses, and providing a penalty.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Margaret Arney and 14 co-sponsors

Establishes enforceable nurse staffing ratios, protects RNs’ right to refuse unsafe assignments, and bans mandatory overtime to improve patient safety and nurse working conditions.

Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 1146

Summary of Assembly Bill 1146 (Session 2025, Wisconsin)

1. Purpose and Intent

AB 1146 Relates to establishing minimum nurse staffing ratios in hospitals, clarifying the rights of registered nurses (RNs) to refuse a work assignment, prohibiting mandatory overtime for RNs, and providing penalties for noncompliance. The bill aims to improve patient safety and nurse working conditions by codifying staffing standards, protecting nurse decision-making about assignments, and restricting mandatory overtime.

2. Key Provisions and Changes

  • Minimum Nurse Staffing Ratios in Hospitals

    • Establishes enforceable staffing standards requiring a minimum number of registered nurses (RNs) relative to patient census or specific units/ services within hospitals.
    • Likely includes unit-based ratios (e.g., medical-surgical, ICU, labor and delivery) or patient-to-nurse ceilings.
    • May specify reporting, compliance, and possible enforcement mechanisms or penalties for facilities not meeting the ratios.

  • RN Right to Refuse a Work Assignment

    • Affirms or establishes the right of an RN to decline a work assignment that they reasonably believe endangers patient safety or violates staffing standards.
    • Defines the grounds for refusal and the process RN staff must follow when raising concerns or refusals.
    • Aims to support nurse professional judgment in assignment decisions.

  • Prohibition on Mandatory Overtime for RNs

    • Prohibits requiring RNs to work mandatory overtime.
    • May include exceptions or conditions (e.g., in emergencies or as permitted by other laws), but generally seeks to limit compulsory extended hours.

  • Penalties and Enforcement

    • Provides penalties for noncompliance by hospitals or responsible entities.
    • Penalty structure could involve fines, sanctions, or corrective action orders.
    • May establish an enforcement process and potential remedies for affected patients or staff.

3. Who/What Would Be Affected

  • Hospitals and Health Facilities

    • Hospitals would be required to meet specified nurse staffing ratios and adhere to overtime restrictions.
    • Subject to penalties and enforcement if noncompliant.

  • Registered Nurses (RNs) and Other Nursing Staff

    • Gain clearer rights to refuse assignments deemed unsafe or improperly staffed.
    • Protection against mandatory overtime, supporting work-life balance and patient safety.

  • Patients and Public

    • Indirectly benefits through improved nurse staffing levels and safer patient care practices.

4. Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status and Actions

    • Introduced in March 2026 by a cross-party group of representatives; co-sponsored by multiple state senators.
    • Referred to the Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care for consideration.
    • No reported lobbying activity from principals in the current session, according to the provided record, though the Wisconsin AFL-CIO is listed as a supporting entity.

  • Next Steps

    • If advanced out of committee, the bill would proceed to full chamber votes (Assembly, then Senate) and, if passed, move to the governor for signature or veto.
    • Specific dates, fiscal notes, or cost analyses would be determined by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau and committee considerations as the bill progresses.

5. Contextual Notes

  • The bill aligns with broader national discussions about nurse staffing, patient safety, and labor rights in healthcare settings.
  • No dollar amounts or explicit numerical ratio values are provided in the summary materials available here; the exact ratio formulas and enforcement details would be contained in the bill text and any fiscal analyses.

If you’d like, I can pull the actual bill language to extract the explicit ratio figures, defined penalties, and the precise process for assignment refusals and enforcement timelines.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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