Madison, WI- Rep. Ortiz-Velez, wants to thank the following people for the Passage of AB759- DACA Occupational Licensing, in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Former Rep. Macco, Rep. Joel Kitchens, his entire staff, Justin Morales and Common Council President Jose Perez, Daryl Morin, Tony Gonzales, all the original co-authors, all the co-sponsors, and the entire assembly.
AB759, is a pragmatic and necessary update to our occupational licensing laws. It expands access to professional licensing for a group of individuals who are already, well vetted, authorized to work in the United States, and actively contributing to our economy, yet are currently barred from working in the very professions they were trained for.
Wisconsin has a shortage of workers. We invest in people through our K-12 schools, our colleges, and our workforce training programs only to lose that talent to other states, because of unnecessary licensing barriers. By allowing individuals who are otherwise eligible to work in the United States to obtain professional licenses in Wisconsin, we open the door to filling workforce gaps across multiple industries. This bill strengthens our workforce, supports our economy, and ensures that Wisconsin remains competitive in retaining skilled, reliable, and hardworking talent.
AB759, is smart policy, it is pro-workforce, and it reflects our shared commitment to strengthening our state’s future. I look forward to working together to unlock employment opportunities and remove unnecessary barriers for the people who are ready to contribute to Wisconsin’s workforce.
