The new bill authored by State Sen. Chris Kapenga in the Wisconsin Senate seeks to amend regulations governing supervision ratios in apprenticeship programs, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “required ratio of journeyworkers to apprentices in apprenticeship programs and contracts”.
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 current law regulating the ratio of journeyworkers to apprentices in apprenticeship programs and contracts. Specifically, it adjusts the permissible ratio by allowing one journeyworker to supervise two apprentices, a change from the previous requirement of having at least one journeyworker for each apprentice. The Department of Workforce Development is prohibited from prescribing or enforcing any different ratio through rules or orders. This change applies to apprenticeship contracts under collective bargaining agreements that are inconsistent with this new ratio at the time the agreement expires, is extended, modified, or renewed, whichever happens first.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Dave Maxey (Republican-83rd District), Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Rob Hutton (Republican-5th District), Senator André Jacque (Republican-1st District), Senator Jesse L. James (Republican-23rd District). It was co-sponsored by Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), and Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), along 19 other co-sponsors.
Chris Kapenga has authored or co-authored another 15 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Kapenga graduated from Calvin College in 1994 with a BA.
Kapenga, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2015 to represent the state’s 33rd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Paul Farrow.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB242 | 05/09/2025 | Required ratio of journeyworkers to apprentices in apprenticeship programs and contracts |
| SB157 | 03/27/2025 | Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age |
| SB154 | 03/21/2025 | Requiring the Department of Health Services to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. (FE) |
| SB81 | 02/26/2025 | School district operating referenda |
