# Wisconsin — State public works payment and performance bond thresholds (Little Miller Acts)

For Wisconsin, payment bond threshold is the state may not require a bond on contracts not exceeding $148,000. On contracts with local governments, the local government may not require a bond on contracts not exceeding $74,000; bond amount is At least equal to contract price; claim deadline is No later than one year after the completion of the work under the contract; preliminary notice required is within 60 days after the first provision of labor or materials, notified the prime contractor in writing; statutory citation is Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 779, §779.15, cited as Wis. Stat. §779.15, verified against its source on 2026-08-17.

- **State:** Wisconsin _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Payment bond threshold:** the state may not require a bond on contracts not exceeding $148,000. On contracts with local governments, the local government may not require a bond on contracts not exceeding $74,000 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Bond amount:** At least equal to contract price _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Claim deadline:** No later than one year after the completion of the work under the contract _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Preliminary notice required:** within 60 days after the first provision of labor or materials, notified the prime contractor in writing _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Statutory citation:** Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 779, §779.15, cited as Wis. Stat. §779.15 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_

## What the source says

> WISCONSIN Amount of Bond: At least equal to contract price. Labor and Material Covered: All labor services, materials, plans or specifications performed, furnished or procured for the purposed of making the public improvement or performing the public work where the claimant has a direct contract with the prime contractor or with any subcontractor of the prime contractor. However, in the case of state highway projects, any claimant that only contracts with a subcontractor has no bond rights under the statute. Notice Required: If a subcontractor or supplier has rights, then the subcontractor or supplier may only maintain an action if the claimant has, within 60 days after the first provision of labor or materials, notified the prime contractor in writing that the claimant has or will provide labor and materials on the project, except if the subcontractor or supplier is listed on the prime contractor’s contract with the public body. Time for Suit: No later than one year after the completion of the work under the contract. Contracts Excluded: On contracts with the state, the state may not require a bond on contracts not exceeding $148,000. On contracts with local governments, the local government may not require a bond on contracts not exceeding $74,000. Penalty for Failure to Take Bond: No special statutory provision. Lien on Public Funds: Any claimant who has a direct contract with the prime contractor shall have a lien on the funds due or to become due the prime contractor, before payment is made to the prime contractor. Written notice must be served on the public body and prime contractor before payment is made to the prime contractor. The prime contractor has 30 days to dispute the claim. If no dispute then the public entity shall pay the claim. If the prime contractor disputes the claim then suit must be filed within three months of notice of the dispute of the claim, otherwise the lien rights are barred. Lower tier subcontractors, suppliers and materialmen have no lien rights on public funds. Statutory Citation: Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 779, §779.15, cited as Wis. Stat. §779.15.

## Source

- https://fullertonlaw.com/50-state-summary-payment-bond-law

Last verified: 2026-08-17. Review by: 2027-08-17.
Part of [State public works payment and performance bond thresholds (Little Miller Acts)](https://referencesource.org/state-public-works-bond-thresholds/).