On April 5, 2012, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed Senate Bill 202 into law. The new law (2011 Wisconsin Act 219) repeals the Wisconsin Equal Pay Enforcement Act, which had allowed workers with workplace discrimination claims to sue for damages in state court under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act if the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) found their claims meritorious. Under the new law, the DWD can still award back pay, costs and attorneys' fees, but workers must bring their claims in federal court to be awarded damages.

For more information on discrimination claims under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, see State Q&A, Anti-discrimination Laws: Wisconsin.