State Senator Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac) released the following statement after Wisconsin State Senate passed Senate Bill 374:

“Most of what gets done here in the capitol is common-sense, bipartisan fixes to state statute. SB 374 is exactly that.

“In 2023, Major League Baseball entered into their first-ever Minor League collective bargaining agreement. Under this agreement, Minor League players are now considered salaried employees with many new benefits including: increased pay, bumping the salary of minor league players in Wisconsin by 119% to 138%, team-paid health insurance, and increased housing benefits.

“Wisconsin is home to roughly 70 minor league players who are set to realize the benefits included in the new CBA. Unfortunately, a change in Wisconsin law is necessary for this new agreement to be upheld. SB 374 exempts minor league baseball players from Wisconsin’s wageand-hour laws by treating them as salaried professionals. This would line up Wisconsin’s statute with the new collective bargaining agreement.

“Being a professional baseball player is a unique job, to say the least. With countless hours of training, practicing, rehabbing, playing the game, and more. If minor league teams are forced to track hours and overtime, players could feel the effects through reduced playing time, practice, or training to avoid accruing overtime.

“SB 374 ensures players in Wisconsin can reap the benefits of the new CBA. Without this exemption, minor league players in our state would be ineligible.”

“I’m happy we were able to get this bipartisan bill through the Senate and am hopeful that we can get this through the Assembly and signed by the Governor this session.”