Senator Patrick Testin’s ‘Make My Move’ Plan Aims to Attract New Residents to Wisconsin

With businesses across Wisconsin facing a critical workforce shortage and the state bracing for a long-term population decline, Senator Patrick Testin believes it’s time to take action. His bipartisan legislation, known as the “Make My Move Act,” has officially been signed into law as part of Wisconsin’s 2025-27 state budget.

At its core, the new law is designed to reverse two troubling trends: a labor market with more than 150,000 job openings, and a projected loss of nearly 200,000 residents by 2050. “We can’t afford to sit back,” said Testin. “This legislation is about taking control of our state’s future—bringing people in, filling jobs, and building vibrant communities.”

The Make My Move Act directs the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to create and oversee a talent recruitment grant program that empowers cities, towns, counties, tribes, and nonprofit organizations to offer relocation incentives and market their communities to out-of-state residents. To qualify for funding, applicants must submit a detailed plan with measurable goals, including how many households they aim to attract, projected economic impact, and how they’ll contribute at least 20% of the total program cost.

Grant recipients can receive up to $500,000 per year, with half of the funding released upfront and the remainder contingent on reaching 50% of their recruitment goal. These strict performance metrics, according to Testin, are key to ensuring the program delivers real results.

Households applying to move to Wisconsin through this initiative must currently live outside the state and earn at least $55,000 annually. Testin noted that the threshold ensures the economic benefit of new residents, with studies showing each new household can inject over $90,000 in annual economic activity.

“This law is about smart growth,” said Testin. “It’s a targeted, results-driven strategy to help employers who are desperate for workers and towns that need a population boost.”

Support for the bill was bipartisan, with Senators Pfaff and Feyen joining Testin, and cosponsorship in the Assembly from Representatives Armstrong, Kitchens, Kreibich, Mursau, Novak, Swearingen, Wittke, and later, Representative O’Connor.

Backed by strong legislative momentum and now embedded in Wisconsin law, the Make My Move Act positions the state as a national leader in aggressive, data-driven talent recruitment. For communities struggling with aging populations and stagnant growth, it could prove to be a turning point.

As Senator Testin put it: “This is about planting seeds today that will keep Wisconsin strong, competitive, and full of opportunity tomorrow.”